Jigging techniques for big fish

Recently, I took advice from Will Smith and have been "getting jiggy wit it" when it comes to my fishing. No you won’t see me busting any of the latest dance moves, I have been adapting a vertical jigging technique I first used when fishing the waters of Amsterdam for Zander. And I have had great success on many Australian species.

The jigging process is simple: put your jig head down, let it hit the bottom, and begin jigging by lifting up and down. The lure needs just a tiny lift, actually, the smaller you can jig and the slower you can get it back down the better the results. Every time your lure hits the bottom just lift again and repeat the process until you find success.

The jigging technique can be adapted to suit many situations, such as penetrating through large schools of baitfish to target big fish down underneath. If you have fish busting up, or in a school situation, try dropping your jig beneath the school. Quite often the big fish sit below the little fish and this is a great way of catching some absolute quality.

Bait jigs are great in creating vibrations. Do yourself a favor and drop a bait jig, especially when things are quiet, as the activity creates activity. The hooked fish you have on, and the vibrations sent out by the moving jig, will be sensed by other fish’s lateral lines, attracting inquiries and potential hookups.

Experience has taught me to always have a jig rig set and ready to go. Southern bluefin tuna, for example, live in massive schools and when hooked they often bring more fish to the boat. When someone hooks up, drop a jig over the side and watch the results. Try also pre-rigging your plastics on jig head before your trip. In a hot bite, you can afford the time to rig them properly. When in the heat of the moment you can use a lure clip attached to quickly change lures.

Jigging is, of course, highly effective on yellowtail kingfish and Samson Fish. Let your jig free spool to the bottom, then flick and pump and wind in a very fast pumping motion. When a big Sambo or king nails your jig, your rod and back will bend and the pain will begin. There is no doubt you will still be smiling through it all.

So, remember, the jigging method is a viable technique for many Australian species. Try a Bucktail jig (also known as a marabou jig), which is one of the most versatile lures ever made. They don’t look pretty, but they catch just about everything.

Yours in fishing and jigging,