I use 40-100lb leader depending on depth and jig weight. As for not using wire, you just need to be prepared to lose jigs, which I am. You may get some toothies on wireless jigs but bite offs are inevitable.

In the entee we used to jig big plackys with single strand wire and an 80lb wind on for macks. For demersals the 60lb should be plenty for pe3 and the like but would up it to 80lb for pe5. For shallow water stuff 30lb and 50lb should do. You will get more bites without wire and more bites with a lighter leader but it is a risk worth taking especially if the fish are a bit gun shy!! With the metal jigs an asist hook is usually used on a loop of kevlar braid and can withstand a far amount of roughing up. Another one is, once hooked up, to keep a tight line as slack line will often fall in a fishes mouth causing a bite off!!

Cheers Guy's

 I have seen a few pics around where they have used the tubing on the leader what do you recon? I will be targeting everthing possible as the weather will dictate to us what we go for...

Got Red's on my list to catch along with some Coral Trout, Baldies and Spanglies any tips, tricks or GPS spots I am willing to listen :) 

and you can also get wire assist hooks too, helps with the Mackies.

Either way you have to be prepared to lose a few jigs. Pays to only use cheapies >$20 in Exmouth.

As the guys have said be prepared to lose a few. Last year I lost about $250 worth by the second day.

Its not always the toothies, there is some big unstoppable cods that don't mind a jig.

Cheers Guy's 

I have already spent a sheyit load on good jigs and now you all tell me I am gonna loose them, you know how to hurt a guy I tell ya :( they are all so pretty and shiny not to mention expensive.

So they go for the cheapies just as well as the expensive one's hey,  well I guess I will be going to the tackle shop and spending more hope the mrs dont find the receipt...

Any cheapies that you would recommend?

 just get a few cheap shiny spanners from k mart and throw an assist hook on it with a couple of other bits. as long as its shiny it should work

when i was out with whitey a few months back i caught 4 mackies jigging with 100lb leader and the forth one cut through the kevlar on the assist hook at the boat.  its luck in that sense i guess cause honsu was next to me lost 4 jigs on the first strike. (drop to the bottom, jig once and nothing left)

they were on a surecatch jig so not too pricey.

Jigging with wire is just a waste of time from my experience as the fish (demersals and pelagics) just aren't anywhere near as keen on it for some reason. Just better off the traditional way and be prepared to lose some jigs in order to land some good fish. I've landed heaaaaaaps of mackies without wire but also lost quite a few :(