Extreme Jigging: Dogtooth Tuna, Yellowtail Kingfish (Hiramasa), Amberjack, Samson Fish > Tackle & Techniques

jigging with Stella 8k HG

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chris yuen:


  greetings everybody...

  would like your thoughts and opinions here.

  i have been using this medium jigging step up which consist of a Yamaga Galahad 59/5 PE4 rod paired with Shimano Stella 8k High Gear (Blue colour series) for my jigging trips in the Maldives over the past couple of years.

  i have to confess that my catch n hit rate while using this setup is really disappointing!! while everybody is jigging and landing fish... I'm perhaps the only one with ZERO hit!! in summary...everybody outfished me.

  ok..lets put luck aside. i cant be so unlucky for 6 trips rite?? I've tried changing jigs (colours/size/weight/length) and also tried other methods of jigging style (short strokes/ long stroke/ fast/ slow). still on my recent trip.. i probably landed 01 fish with this jigging outfit!! its very frustrating when everybody is catching fish the moment their jigs land on the ocean floor (OK i admit luck plays a big part here)..but even when theres a frenzy in the mid water with GTs n Doggies being landed.. i could be the hardest working guy then..but theres just no hit on this jigging gear!!

  question here is... besides me..is there something wrong with this jigging setup?? i cant help but suspect that the reel..being High Geared.. does effect the jig action when retrieved?? if it is..shld i use a slow retrieving jigging method?? for this method... wat kind of jigs are most suitable?? or shld i capitalise the High Gear reel and use a fast action jig with the long fast/short fast jigging action??

  i have a trip coming in May n Im really confused now.. hope yr opinions/thoughts/info/techniques/advice can enlighten me!!\

  many thanks in advance n have a nice weekend!!
 

Mark Harris:
Hi Chris

My first reaction is... Hmmm......

A high speed reel for jigging should not really effect the number of the fish you catch providing you understand your gear ratio (which you clearly do). What it does do is make the fish much harder to raise once caught, and for that reason you might want to consider a slower speed PG reel. But that in itself will not solve your problem.

The only advice I can think of is rather obvious. Watch the guys fishing with you:

What type of jigs are they using (type is much more important than colour IMO)?
What jigging styles are they using?
What are you doing differently to cause your lack of success?
Try to replicate the successful techniques and retrieve speeds, remembering to make an adjustment if they are using slower speed reels than you (likely).

When jigging, it is important to never get stuck into a rut of repeating a failing technique. Mix it up it terms of technique, speed, rhythm etc., and don't be frightened to experiment. As an example I have lost count of the number of times I have caught a fish using a simple slow straight retrieve for 20 metres off the bottom then drop again and repeat, when other much "cleverer" jigging techniques have failed. Also, mixing up the speed (but maintaining a rhythm) can often work - eg 3 quick then 2 slow... repeated over and over.

Good luck. You story does surprise me a bit especially as it relates to The Maldives. Everything I have read and heard points to this being  one of the easiest places on earth to catch fish!

Bwanna Surya:
Agree on Mark's point above...just to add...you may also check your size of the hook..lenght of the assist vs length of your jig..for me I go fast short stroke when I am using bottom weighted jig..and medium to slow long stroke when I am using cetre weighted jig..good luck

Andrew Smart:
I prefer high speed overhead reels for jigging,but a spinner is quite different and alot harder so I stick to PG models.

As long as your action is not hindered by the fact your using a HG model there should be no issue's,and as the others have suggested mix it up and maybe try jigs others are catching fish on.
Sometimes you just have a bad run that cant be explained logically.

DarrylMartin:
what 'size' jigs are you using? Having fished Maldives before, I can suggest a few jigs which proved highly successul amongst the anglers I fished with. The technique we employed was very simple slow mechanical jigging.

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