[jbuyrum]

What is everyone's goto setup for jigging ajs and tuna?
Do you use spinning or conventional and why?
What rod length do you like for private boats and party boats?
How much does that change depending on your fishing grounds? East Coast, west coast, and GoM
What would your top jigs be?

 

[a1flyfishr]

For me conventional, except for top water. With my AJ experience, as far as rod length for boats I like a longer rod for party boats just to have a bit more reach to avoid any of the party boat mishaps. I definitely go shorter on private charters especially boats closer to the water. As far as jigs any of the longer jigs with heavy assist hooks without the costly overseas prices. Definitely costly brand name jigs are not necessary. For AJ’s any longer, fast moving jig usually works best.

Benny

 

[jbuyrum]

For me conventional, except for top water. With my AJ experience, as far as rod length for boats I like a longer rod for party boats just to have a bit more reach to avoid any of the party boat mishaps. I definitely go shorter on private charters especially boats closer to the water. As far as jigs any of the longer jigs with heavy assist hooks without the costly overseas prices. Definitely costly brand name jigs are not necessary. For AJ’s any longer, fast moving jig usually works best.

Benny

Do you have any brand loyalty as far as rods go

 

[a1flyfishr]

I am probably not the best person to ask on preference. Once I like a rod or reel I go all out with every model until I find another that’s better. My speed jigging or vertical jigging rods are Synit’s. Never had any problems with power or any rod issues. For SPJ my rods are Hearty Rise. Reels are jigging master, both PowerSpell and wiki’s. There are plenty of great rods and reels other than what I prefer. Thrasher has some great blanks at a really reasonable price. I’m sure you’ll get a variety of choices from members. So look each of them up and compare specs and if possible get a hands on feel.

Benny

 

[Picklepork]

I only have 1 speed jigging set up and 1 SPJ set up, but love them both.

For speed jigging, its a Stella 10k on a Shimano GTJS56HA Game Type J. I personally prefer a spinning set up so I can focus on the rhythm of speed jigging without having to worry about thumbing the line back onto the spool.

For SPJ, its a Shimano Ocea Jigger 1500 conventional on a Temple Reef Innovate. I love this set up, but plan to get a heavier set up soon for bigger fish. I got the Innovate because its longer than a traditional SPJ rod and works better for party boats on the west coast. I've also used it a number of times on pangas on international trips.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sure you'll get more info from those more advanced than me in jigging.

 

[nicknotsebast]

i think you’re fine if you’re targeting smaller fish not so deep. like you said - and def needed for where i fish - “get a heavier set up for bigger fish”.

 

[jbuyrum]

My current vertical jigging setup is a temple reef rampage 100-250s. I'm thinking about getting a Phenix Megalodon pe4-8 but I'm not sure if I want to go spining or casting.

 

[nicknotsebast]

i’m east coast and 98% on one of my own boats (parker 23 se cc, parker 2501, reg 32).

if i’m actively jigging, i’m personally always using spinning. for the depths we’re typically jigging - 50-300’, i am just more used to and prefer spinning. but - when jigging for cod in arctic norway - at 300m (1000ft), i’m using a talica for line capacity and the fast retrieve option. i have friends that use talicas and accurates for all j. they do just fine.

i think its some personal preference and and a matter of line capacity if going really deep.

for a jigging rod, depends mostly on the size fish i’m targeting but if def 99% only jigging (no casting) - i like shorter and stiffer. if i know i’m starting a fight strait up and down - especially on bigger fish - i want some sensitivity but i also want as much leverage as i can get.

we don’t use rail rods on my boats - but i get it. if i had a rail and was targeting larger fish, i’d likely have one and use it.

what jigs ? its 101% a matter of match the hatch and the target species. if i was jigging for rec size (under 72”) bluefin off cape cod and i could only bring 1 lure to jig with - it’d probably be a 4oz XH 10” Ronz in silver/metallic.

 

[Illy]

For AJs I like the OJ2001 with either my black hole 400g SPJ rod or my Ocean's Legacy SPJ 450g rod. I think the lighter gear is more fun for AJs

Tuna - I just bought a jigging world rod that I really like, the last couple trips have been awful so I haven't been able to put it to the test against anything of real size. Before that I was using the black hole cape cod 400g rod and that thing I've caught 7ft sharks on, its a beast, I only changed because I was looking for something that could work the jig a little better, and the jury is still out on that one. Reel was a valiant 600 with an upgraded accurate spj handle. I also just got a fathom 2 40 that I will be trying out with my combos and although I haven't used it yet, it feels good in the hand and its not as noisy as the accurate.

When it comes to jigging a lot comes down to preference. If i was only going to use flat fall jigs I would stick with the cape cod. But because I am using more slow type jigs you need different properties in the rod. I don't like jigging tuna with a spinner, I just don't really even like spinners in general, but again its a preference thing, I've seen people catch with both. But I've also seen a lot of fish lost on spinning gear because they want to set the rod on the rail like they are using a conventional set up and that won't go over well for you

 

[jbuyrum]

So you caught that jumbo bigeye on slow pitch gear?

 

[Illy]

Oh hell no. I caught it with a broom stick and an avet hx. I horsed that thing in. I don’t recommend slow pitch for big tuna.
There is a pic going around promoting a slow pitch rod that claims they caught this giant bluefin with it in 3 hrs. There’s no way, and there’s a lot of holes in the story. It would have took 3 hrs with a stand up rod and an 80w so to say it was done on spj gear is a bold lie. I’ve caught sharks that have given me trouble on that gear, a tuna that big would either break you off or spool you even with the bigger ocea jiggers.
You can catch ‘em on spj but on a head boat it’s a bad idea. And if you hook into something big you’re gonna have a hard time getting it to the boat and have a very small chance of actually landing it before something breaks.

 

[bnz]

When I’m fishing local here off the GA coast, aj’s and almacos are my most common speed jigging fish to catch. My go to rod is the Smith AMJ-52h and maxel Oceanmax 09 (aj’s up to 80 lbs). They’re a lot of fun on my Phenix titan L rods (with maxel transformers) but the titans are no longer produced.

Recently bought and had my builder put together a thrasher jigging blank TRJ 100-250 and like it too. If I was going after tuna regularly I’d step it up to the 200-325.

 

[jbuyrum]

How is our coastal offshore fishery? I'm about 4½ hours from Savanah and 5 from destin so I mostly go to Destin area.

 

[bnz]

I never get skunked. 😊. All just depends on where you go as to what you are going to get into. Most spots I go to you never know. Aj’s, almacos, African pompano, red snapper, vermillion snapper, Black Sea bass, triggers, cobia, blackfin, mahi, grouper…

 

[ChrisW]

for vertical jigging in NZ, I use Jig Star Twisted Sista ML rod with Maxel Transformer F70 or Rage 90 overhead reels. This gear is perfect for medium to monster fish. Best personal fish jigging is 66kg Wreakfish and 42kg Yellowtail.

 

[BADASSCHINITO]

When I’m fishing local here off the GA coast, aj’s and almacos are my most common speed jigging fish to catch. My go to rod is the Smith AMJ-52h and maxel Oceanmax 09 (aj’s up to 80 lbs). They’re a lot of fun on my Phenix titan L rods (with maxel transformers) but the titans are no longer produced.

Recently bought and had my builder put together a thrasher jigging blank TRJ 100-250 and like it too. If I was going after tuna regularly I’d step it up to the 200-325.

where are you in GA? I'm visiting Savannah end of April- wanted to see if there are any charters i should check out. seems like everyone is targeting redfish around that time

 

[BADASSCHINITO]

What is everyone's goto setup for jigging ajs and tuna?
Do you use spinning or conventional and why?
What rod length do you like for private boats and party boats?
How much does that change depending on your fishing grounds? East Coast, west coast, and GoM
What would your top jigs be?

I am in Socal, we fish bluefin from football to 200lbs starting April thru late Nov, even December some years. Alot of night jigging during the prime months may through october. Love the megalodons for this purpose, brought in a 90lb in about 5 mins on a 609 and Ocea Jigger 4000 last year

currently using the following for jigging:
Megalodon 607 with SOM BH50
Megalodon 608 with Ocea Jigger 4000
BH Cape Cod 52b with Saltiga LD55
BH Cape Cod 50s with Saltiga Dogfight

been using a variety of jigs from 150g all the way up to 500g depending on current and conditions- Mustad Rip Rollers, Westcoastjiggers Knife jigs, Majorcraft Vertical long, Nomad Buffalo, Shimano Flatfalls (all glow/zebra)

 

[bnz]

where are you in GA? I'm visiting Savannah end of April- wanted to see if there are any charters i should check out. seems like everyone is targeting redfish around that time

I’m down in Brunswick, an hour south of Savannah. Forget the charter, if we can work out the dates I’ll take you out in my boat for a jigging trip off our coast.

 

[jbuyrum]

You should take him up on that. In my opinion jigging is always more fun than catching redfish.

 

[nmc02]

IMO conventional is easier on the body & out produces the spinning gear. I love my saltywatertackle obx 400 (5'8) rod paired w an Ocea Jigger 4000hg for bigger bluefin in cape cod. My go to jig is a blue hots drift tune.