deep water Jigging...

[bundopeace]

hi guys..this is my first post..so please help me out...
i found a new interest in deep water jigging and bought this 230g knife jig..havent used it though and thought of using it next week on a charter off gold coast.
seen lots of pics of it catching huge amberjack. and kingfish and the occassional snapper....
i have a few qns...
1> is it really that productive?
2> when do i use it...how do i noe there is fish big enuff to take it... when i am off shore looking at the sounder.
3>how do i rig it? issit juz a leader to it , swivel then to mainline? do i need a swivel juz b4 the jig?wat strength leader?
4>how do i use it? juz drop it all the way to the bottom and lifting my rod up and down? do i have to wind?
5> how does the bite feel like?
6> wat colours and wat model works best?? so many out there...

Thanks guys... sorry for all the qns... and ur time.. but really hope u experts out there can really help me....

Nick.

[Jeremy]

There are a few guys on this site who can probably answer all those questions for you, but alternatively, you may like to come along to our club meeting Wed 19th Oct as Aaron Concorde who used to be a regular decky on Nomad Sportfishing Charters (www.nomadsportfishing.com.au)will be speaking about all aspects of deepwater jigging for kings, AJs etc. Nomad specialise in deepwater jigging off Sandy Cape and the Capricorn Bunker Group (as well as huge trevally on poppers).

Details are Brisbane 16ft Skiff sailing club, Quay St Bulimba. Doors open 7.30 for 8 pm start.

Jeremy

[banshee]

G'day Nick,definately no expert but I'll give you a run down on what works for me.I am not aware of the conditions and depth you are likely to encounter off the gold coast if you bought your jig localy then I'll assume the blokes in the shop know there stuff,where I fish in Nth NSW a jig that size would not be my choice for a speculator trip,R2S knifes are fine but I would want atleast four, two at 300g and two at 400g colours would be a combo of a Black in each size and either a Pink or Bronze in each size keeping in mind that you are likely to lose some or all of these jigs if the fish are on.It is very productive if the fish are schooling it can be a bit slow to completely dead if there not,I've had mornings of over twenty fish and I've had eight hour sessions where I've only boated two.As for rigging etc you'll have to do a search on this site under jigging,there is a thread that runs over quite a few pages.With technique I prefer to lift and wind at a fair rate,there is no bite,the rod will simply buckle over and the jig will be taken down at a fair clip if you can't stop the fish you lose the jig.There is no doubt that the harder you pull on a serriola the harder they pull back,a lot of bait fishermen I know have success with the softly softly approach I think the idea of jigging is to beat the fish at it's own game,for me the attraction is a short brutal encounter that results in the fish swiming away in reatively good condition,it can at times have it's pitfalls namely busted gear and lost jigs.What sort of gear are you going to use?

[bundopeace]

Thanks Banshee, so i guess my jig is too small..LOL..it is pretty expensive these jigs..well i am using a penn 340 GTI with 30LBS mono.. and a custom boat rod abt 5.5ft..think its too heavy to do jiggging w it...how abt using a 7ft rod w a abu 6500 on 20lbs? anywayz...
so do u mean i drop it to the bottom and jig my way up? do i have to stay at the depth where the fish are?
Thanks again.....

[banshee]

Your jig may be perfect it will depend on the depth and the run in the current,I don't think mono is a good choice for jigging the stretch may take away from the action of the jig and 30lbs is way to light in my opinion,I would not recomend using anything under 65lbs braid I personaly use 80lbs with 150lbs jinkai for the leader.The 340 GTI is going to strugle to produce enough drag but should do at a pinch if it's the toughest reel you've got,if you take a liking to this style of fishing you will need to upgrade to stronger gear at a later date,the 5'5" rod should also do till you work out if it's for you.I genneraly jig the bottom 50-60m of the water column then drop back if it's still prety verticle and baseicly rip it up through this water again.If you think this sort of fishing is for you then I would recomend you take Jeremy up on his offer to listen to the lad off Nomad,these blokes are arguably the best jiggers this side of the country.

[Kiktz]

Hey Jeremy

Are all welcome to come along?
Been Keen to come if its all good

cheers Aj

[Jeremy]

Aj,

guest welcome, free admission.

Jeremy

[bundopeace]

THanks Banshee...
think i will have to upgrade then...a few more bucks out my pocket..i i will try it next tues.... at least if the line breaks, i will still be happy..that i noe it actually works...
i should be there tmr..i will c you guys.. thanks jeremy for the offer...

will update u..!!!!!

Nick

[Kiktz]

Thanks Jeremy,

I have informed the Boss about my intention of coming along
Just need to make sure that she doesn't go ahead and stuff my plans


Cheers