For bottom fish on jig - Zest baitfish, Cultiva & Ima Ro in 80-120g size, colour orange/blue/silver flash etc.....weight & action paramount!

hey ryan

which of your recommended jigs do you stock ??

def keen to give this a bash

i've got a couple of shout lightens which are going to get a go soon

Yep the Lighten is still my #1, worked nice and slow.

shout lighten in 50g up pilly colour is my got to jig although the evergreen caprice kids look awesum just got to get out and try them the trick is nice and slow ive found

Ah, good ol demersal jigging. Pretty much my main method of catching demersals for the whole year. 17 species this year (though, not all demersal, but a good chunk are)

My goto jig is a zest baitfish 100g. Others ones that consistently catch are the smith CB's and shout lightens. Have some ima ros and some caprice kids and some other shout jigs that I want to try out (but I got them during the ban, so havent had a chance yet). I've caught a bunch of fish on other jigs, but the zest, the smith and the shouts are the best so far. I've used a fisherman jig for a little and one got absolutely smashed so if you can get a hold of them, they're good (but not cheap). Smith forecasts are good but only in smaller sizes. The mejiyumes have caught me a few fish as well, but not a go to dermersal jig (I prefer a little slower action). Havent had much luck on sacrifice leafs or the cultivas, but in certain situations a slow flutter is good (but using the CBs atm for that). I need to do more testing on them though, as i've only used them a handful of times. I have a few others I like, but need to check my jig bag to remember that they are.

The CB's are pretty long, but fish still eat them, so dont be put off by the size. Really versatile too as you can slide them, flutter them ultra slow, or make them wobble, so can catch demersals, sambos and even smaller fish.

Action wise, I like a medium, long stroke of the rod, then drop to give the jig slack and wind in a bit of the slack and repeat. For the zests I usually lift until they 'bump' then let them flutter and dart back. You can also try yo-yo-ing by kinda bumping the jig when its off balance to get it to bounce/flutter around a bit like a panicking baitfish. Theres lots and lots of retreives to try though. The main two points are mix it up, and also, try working your jigs just under the boat so you learn how they work in the water with different speed/length jerks and how they flutter/slide/sink/etc on the drop given full slack, partial tension and full tension. This is a really good way to get an idea of what your jig is doing so you know what its doing at the bottom of the ocean.

I usually work the jig 10-20m up. I've had dhuies (and a fair few SB's) follow it 10m up before hitting it. Though I have had some fish smash it on the first jig as well, so it varies. It could just be the stop and change that triggers the strike, so always mix it up. Sometimes stop the jig, sometimes stop it and twitch it and drop. Just think like a baitfish and know your jig.

Light lines and colour marked braid is very useful when working the jigs. A suitable rod also makes it a hell of a lot easier to jig with. I also prefer reasonably light reels with infinite anti-reverse as it allows me to have a bit more control over the combo/jig. I use a 4000 sized shimano and 20lb braid for the most part (or a 4000 sized daiwa and PE3)

You're free to use/try out some of my jigs (as long as i'm not more than a few meters away, hehe)

using pretty simliar jigs here down south.

probably first on is the zest and then swap from there. Use shouts, smith, caprice and Ima alternatively. this does depend on whats on the sounder, may as well drop a jig intended for sambos if they light up the bommie......or if plenty of demersals then drop a fluttering jig, say lighten/Ima which is worked real slow to entice the demersals..... also depends on water conditions......thus weight of jig, but anywhere from 60-150g.

like finnese fishing with plastics I like to jig light as possible. prefer to pull out the PE 2-3 gear but always have the PE 6 rigged and ready. techinque is as matt indicates and just mix it up.

we have had sambos at the back of the boat in big schools just smashing the jigs repeatedly.....

likewise demesals hitting the bottom jigs but like all fishing perserverance pays......

best to just get out with no bait and experiment and surround yourself with keen jiggers as your learning curve will expotentially climb. plenty of members here to show you the ropes; you have to work but the results are very gratifying

Check out the Jan issue of WAFM

It looks a bit like a really small turkey slider, but i dont think it is.

You've still got me stumped, Kasey.

That jig looks like something made by Daiwa or an Atelier G.L?