The Jig is Up
(Continued from page 7.)
To which the helmsman replies:
“Hang on!”
That’s the only warning you’ll get
before he hits the throttle and dashes
away from the rig. Separating a hooked
fish – cobia or amberjack – from his
fortress is really your only hope of
boating your opponent, so keep the
motors running and make sure everyone
knows what to expect.
Diamond Jigs: On the rigs, as well
as wrecks, reefs, rock piles, breaks and
springs, you’ll also find enthusiastic
response to diamond jigs. They boast
light-reflecting angled sides and dangling
treble or single hooks to snare any takers.
Brands such as Bead Tackle, Fin Strike
and Williamson offer effective models to
tempt a host of predators with darting
presentations intended to mimic wounded
baitfish.
Bead also makes a diamond jig with
a glow finish for greater appeal in deeper
water where sunlight is less impactful.
Blade Jigs: A different slant on the
diamond jig tactic, blade style jigs like
the Shimano Butterfly jig, Offshore
Angler Freestyle or Knife Jig and Pelagic
Warrior’s Viking Squid jig feature slim
bodies with one or two hook harnesses
attached via the loop at the head end.
(Some models also include a bottom look
for an optional stinger.)
In either case, the streamlined form
is ideal for ultra-erratic action that makes
the bait zip up and down through the
water column. Throttle down a bit and a
lift and drop action results in the
irresistible fluttering look that mimics a
vulnerable baitfish.
Specialized jigging rods that marry
extreme flexibility with fish-whipping
backbone are what you need for the blade
models. For this technique, Capt. Jesse
Mayer, of St. Petersburg, FL, said the
fast-paced presentation is usually most
productive, but he advises against
unnecessary overexertion.
“You don’t want to work your rod
so hard that you tire yourself out,” he
said. “Hold your elbow on your jigging
arm against your ribs to keep your arm
close and just make short upward jigging
motions like you’re doing curls with a
dumbbell.” (Tip: try sweetening those
dangling hooks with cuts of sardine.)
Similar blade designs with only aftdangling hooks include the 4-ounce
Hopkins No=EQL Spoon, the Williamson
Vortex and Gomoku and the Offshore
Angler Sling Jig. The Salt Life Salty
Blade Jig offers a hybrid design with a
single harness rigged hook at the head
and a second hook dangling from
the rear. The latter sports a flash
skirt for added appeal, while the
body profile includes fins the
enhance the darting movement for
vertical presentations and keep the
bait tracking well for trolling or cast
and retrieve options.
Keep it Compact
Now, the majority of offshore
jigging activity is going to require
baits of at least 3-4 ounces and often
double that. However, there is a
specific application for jigs of an
ounce or less – chum slick snapper.
Yellowtail and mangrove are
the most common targets and the
whole plan relies on getting these
wary fish to rise from whatever
bottom fortress they inhabit to the
surface. The only way you’re going
to do that is to convince them
there’s a meal to be had.
Florida’s Capt. Dan Hayes
won’t make an offshore stop
without a frozen chum block
melting in a mesh bag. However,
for his surface snapper efforts,
he’s a big fan of glass minnows.
Hayes buys these tiny silver shards in
large frozen blocks, thaws a chunk in a
5-gallon bucket and dribbles a few at a
time off his stern.
Complementing the scented appeal
of a melting chum bloc