Has anyone jigged a Marlin?

bigfishjaeck · 05-03-2008, 09:46 AM

I have some big sea mounts and drop-offs available close to my shores that have been rated world class for light tackle small blue marlin fishing from August to November (West Coast of Puerto Rico).... The fish run anywhere from 90-150 pounds on average (some get bigger). Some of the spots fished are roughly 10 square miles.... and on a good day, some boats have released up to 18 blue marlin within this " small" area...so the odds of a fish seeing a jig is high. I have personally had 4 rods hooked to blues and have 2 more fish slashing the outrigger teasers at the same time! That's six blue marlin in a spread at one time.

Has jigging for marlin been purposely done before? Can someone provide feedback as to what jigs to use and at what depth do they mostly hang out (I've only trolled surface baits for them)? I would like to try it out this next season... Am I insane for thinking about it?

I believe they would go for a jig if they see it " walking" in front of them. Any input is welcome.

gman · 05-03-2008, 10:33 AM

Yes I jigged a Striped Marlin last year. Cabo San Lucas last year over a deep drop off I hooked one with a 270 pink butterfly jig. Wasn't intentional but I will take it anyway. Here are some shots of the marlin with the jig flying around ts mouth. It was estimated in the 150 class, I was very lucky this trip as I landed many marlin on popper and stickbait. The captain couldn't believe his eyes when the Marlin surfaced. Great experience

gman · 05-03-2008, 10:51 AM

Your not insane. I went to Cabo witha goal of catching Marlin on a popper. Luckily I got one on a jig and several on poppers.

Honestly if you can get the fish in your spread you would have a great chance on hooking them on any top-water as they are already hot from the teasers. We were trolling live hookless teaser baits until the fish would show and then I would cast beyond the fish and pull the popper in front of them. We were very successfull doing this

I also threw them to tailing marlin that were sunning themselves. The key is to switch out your trebel hooks for large single hooks like the Decoys available at APS. This aides in the release and makes for a better hook-set. It is very hard to land them once hooked because of the bill but very fun. I lost more than i landed but I didn't really care

The sub surface Volador and the Mangrove studio popper that looks like Mahi-Mahi/Dorado was perfect. Here was the full report

Live from Cabo

JFLORES · 05-03-2008, 06:11 PM

Hi Glenn,

Wow, very nice pictures.

How was the fight.

gman · 05-03-2008, 06:30 PM

two questions for you - are you going to NC next month and did you use PE6 or 8

Regarding the fight - On the jig very hard as the fish was hooked about 450 feet deep and then made a mad break for the surface so I reeled like mad. It went airborne most of the fight, watching that jig swing out of its mouth every second was nerve racking. I didn't know what I had until it came up and on that Blue Rose rod its hard to tell because it is very stiff

One Marlin fought really really hard on the popper, even though it wasn't huge it sounded deep and was a beast to raise. Marlin are very funny and unpredictable as they all seem to fight different. Some stay on the surface and some go deep. if I had to sum it up in two words ...

stubborn and unpredictable

Sportfisherman · 05-03-2008, 11:47 PM

Fantastic catches , bravo .

Jon .

bigfishjaeck · 05-04-2008, 05:42 AM

To Gman... Thanks for the update and congrats on those fish... I'm sure you had a blast.... and the fact that you hooked it deep (450') makes it even more interesting... When working these small and steep drop offs I have available near to my shores, you can be accompanied by as much as 30 boats. There are times when NOONE sees a fish and the bight just turns on RED HOT. I've seen as much as 13 boats hooked up at the same time when everything was dead 30 minutes before. The fact that you hooked your jigged stripey 450' below make me want to try jigging for marlin even more.

What brand + hook size is that on you pictures?

JFLORES · 05-04-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman

two questions for you - are you going to NC next month and did you use PE6 or 8

Regarding the fight - On the jig very hard as the fish was hooked about 450 feet deep and then made a mad break for the surface so I reeled like mad. It went airborne most of the fight, watching that jig swing out of its mouth every second was nerve racking. I didn't know what I had until it came up and on that Blue Rose rod its hard to tell because it is very stiff

One Marlin fought really really hard on the popper, even though it wasn't huge it sounded deep and was a beast to raise. Marlin are very funny and unpredictable as they all seem to fight different. Some stay on the surface and some go deep. if I had to sum it up in two words ...

stubborn and unpredictable

Glenn,

Are you talking about the trip with Chip or with Randy, im not on the trip with Chip.

I used PE8 for jigging and PE6 for casting. Make sure to bring a casting stick
as there should be lots of YFT,BFT and wahoo last time i caught several
BFT on stickbait.

gman · 05-04-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfishjaeck

To Gman... Thanks for the update and congrats on those fish... I'm sure you had a blast.... and the fact that you hooked it deep (450') makes it even more interesting... When working these small and steep drop offs I have available near to my shores, you can be accompanied by as much as 30 boats. There are times when NOONE sees a fish and the bight just turns on RED HOT. I've seen as much as 13 boats hooked up at the same time when everything was dead 30 minutes before. The fact that you hooked your jigged stripey 450' below make me want to try jigging for marlin even more.

What brand + hook size is that on you pictures?

In Cabo they fish for Marlin very different than anywhere I've ever seen in all my travels. They actually bottom fish for them. They will drop drop a large live bait with 12 ounces or more of lead similar to a grouper rig. Large swivel with a 200# plus leader and a 16/0 circle hook. Its very condusive to jigging.

There were literally 50 boats in a very small area off the lighthouse point less than 2 miles from the beach. On the second day we changed tactics because I wanted to cast for them so we trolled in the late afternoon when they occasionally sun themselves

Now Blue Marlin act totally different and really are fished on the surface so I would think casting to them would be your best option.

gman · 05-04-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFLORES

Glenn,

Are you talking about the trip with Chip or with Randy, im not on the trip with Chip.

I used PE8 for jigging and PE6 for casting. Make sure to bring a casting stick
as there should be lots of YFT,BFT and wahoo last time i caught several
BFT on stickbait.

Thanks John, I will be on that trip. I normally jig with PE6 but I didnt know what teh structure was like and if I needed to spool PE8 instead. I'm bringing my casting outfit, I just got some craftbait stickbaits that I ordered months ago so I will put them to use

05-03-2008, 09:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
bigfishjaeck Junior member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	Has anyone jigged a Marlin? I have some big sea mounts and drop-offs available close to my shores that have been rated world class for light tackle small blue marlin fishing from August to November (West Coast of Puerto Rico).... The fish run anywhere from 90-150 pounds on average (some get bigger). Some of the spots fished are roughly 10 square miles.... and on a good day, some boats have released up to 18 blue marlin within this " small" area...so the odds of a fish seeing a jig is high. I have personally had 4 rods hooked to blues and have 2 more fish slashing the outrigger teasers at the same time! That's six blue marlin in a spread at one time. Has jigging for marlin been purposely done before? Can someone provide feedback as to what jigs to use and at what depth do they mostly hang out (I've only trolled surface baits for them)? I would like to try it out this next season... Am I insane for thinking about it? I believe they would go for a jig if they see it " walking" in front of them. Any input is welcome.

05-03-2008, 10:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,122	Yes I jigged a Striped Marlin last year. Cabo San Lucas last year over a deep drop off I hooked one with a 270 pink butterfly jig. Wasn't intentional but I will take it anyway. Here are some shots of the marlin with the jig flying around ts mouth. It was estimated in the 150 class, I was very lucky this trip as I landed many marlin on popper and stickbait. The captain couldn't believe his eyes when the Marlin surfaced. Great experience Last edited by gman : 05-03-2008 at 10:37 AM.

05-03-2008, 06:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,122	whats up John ... two questions for you - are you going to NC next month and did you use PE6 or 8 Regarding the fight - On the jig very hard as the fish was hooked about 450 feet deep and then made a mad break for the surface so I reeled like mad. It went airborne most of the fight, watching that jig swing out of its mouth every second was nerve racking. I didn't know what I had until it came up and on that Blue Rose rod its hard to tell because it is very stiff One Marlin fought really really hard on the popper, even though it wasn't huge it sounded deep and was a beast to raise. Marlin are very funny and unpredictable as they all seem to fight different. Some stay on the surface and some go deep. if I had to sum it up in two words ... stubborn and unpredictable

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05-03-2008, 10:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,122	Your not insane. I went to Cabo witha goal of catching Marlin on a popper. Luckily I got one on a jig and several on poppers. Honestly if you can get the fish in your spread you would have a great chance on hooking them on any top-water as they are already hot from the teasers. We were trolling live hookless teaser baits until the fish would show and then I would cast beyond the fish and pull the popper in front of them. We were very successfull doing this I also threw them to tailing marlin that were sunning themselves. The key is to switch out your trebel hooks for large single hooks like the Decoys available at APS. This aides in the release and makes for a better hook-set. It is very hard to land them once hooked because of the bill but very fun. I lost more than i landed but I didn't really care The sub surface Volador and the Mangrove studio popper that looks like Mahi-Mahi/Dorado was perfect. Here was the full report Live from Cabo

05-03-2008, 06:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
JFLORES Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 47	Hi Glenn, Wow, very nice pictures. How was the fight.

05-03-2008, 11:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sportfisherman Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jakarta/Bali - Indonesia Posts: 47	Fantastic catches , bravo . Jon .

05-04-2008, 05:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
bigfishjaeck Junior member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 14	To Gman... Thanks for the update and congrats on those fish... I'm sure you had a blast.... and the fact that you hooked it deep (450') makes it even more interesting... When working these small and steep drop offs I have available near to my shores, you can be accompanied by as much as 30 boats. There are times when NOONE sees a fish and the bight just turns on RED HOT. I've seen as much as 13 boats hooked up at the same time when everything was dead 30 minutes before. The fact that you hooked your jigged stripey 450' below make me want to try jigging for marlin even more. What brand + hook size is that on you pictures?

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