A Couple Questions

[PurpleGold]

Let me start this off by saying that I am into the whole jigging thing. I am not my any means hardcore about it but I do enjoy it a lot as I do other types of fishing.

Now to the questions. There are some trends in the jigging "community" that I just do not understand, and considering myself somewhat a part of that "community", I am trying to understand so here they are...

1. - Why on earth do you need gloves to jig? I have done several all day jigging trips and never found myself wishing I had gloves on.

2. - Why is it necessary to hold your rod and reel in your teeth while posing for a picture with your fish?

3. - What is the infatuation with catching Amberjacks all about? I understand the fact that they get big and pull hard, but after you've caught a few AJ's you've pretty much caught them all. I myself enjoy catching one or two but after that they become a nuisance, especially when you're grouper, tuna, or pompano fishing.

4. - What is the deal with licking the eyeballs of fish? Maybe an inside joke or something but I'm very confused on this one.

These are just a couple questions I find myself wondering about occasionally and hoping ya'll can help enlighten me a little bit.

[Tenacious]

Very valid questions!

[swell rider]

Boy, I can't wait to see the responce to this one. There going to come out of the wood work on this thread!!! Standing By...

[fishduck]

PurpleGold I think I can answer you questions.
1. Some guys need gloves because there hands are very soft. The gloves give you protection when a big fish is striping line and you thumb the spool or palm the spool. Braid line is small and cuts easy.

2. You need to hold your rod in your teeth because your hands are full of fish and when you have a $1500 rod and reel you never want to miss the opportunity to get a picture of it.

3. Amberjacks are hard fighters and easy to find. Sometimes some people have trouble finding fish that are worth catching. I'm with you I don't mind catching 2 but after that I'm off looking for something for the box.

4. If you hands are full of big fish what else can you lick. Plus good luck finding a woman that will let you lick her eye ball.

[gman]

There are no right answers to these type of questions, your going to get different answers. Its like asking why do you like the color purple

1. Why do you need gloves - I fish very high drag, and those gloves come in handy and the constant motion of jigging also wears off my skin in addition they help holding up fish or releasing them. Like I say if you dont like em' dont wear them

2. There isnt a need to hold rod in your mouth some people do some people dont. It started becuase peopel show off their gear that catches fish, and if your hands are full of fish slime and you have a $2,000 set up your mouth is easiest but not neccisary

3. Amberjacks - the infatuation isnt catching the smaller ones, the infatuation is catching 100 pounders and up. They aren't the same as a 40 pounder. They fight like a truck. I don't know many people who can catch as many as we do in a single day while jigging the way we do. It will absolutely push you to the limits. Ive caught enough yellowfin and bluefin to last a lifetime so this is my new fad

4. Licking eyes balls - I will personally take responsability for this one. I do some funny things while fishing including biting fish, licking eyes and humping fish, I also smear blood on my face as well. I started it and it caught on. Simple enough. Now we make it almost like an initiation of sorts


Hope that enlightened you

[Joey Herring]

and there you go..what he said.......

To add to it......hoping that you don't mind G..

We "jiggers" are a different sort of fishermen, I think. I don't fish to fill the box (but have been know to on several occasions), I fish because I like to catch fish...
Thats why many, but not all of us enjoy catching AJs..they fight hard and are plentiful..kind of like tarpon, marlin or bonefish... to each his own.

I wear gloves because I get cut up too bad from the braid..and rough hands can ruin a Saturday night with a lady.....

[gman]

and rough hands can ruin a Saturday night with a lady.....

thats the best reason I've heard yet LMFAO you da man bro

[Tenacious]

1. - Why on earth do you need gloves to jig? I have done several all day jigging trips and never found myself wishing I had gloves on.

It's a northern thing, it must get really cold up there

2. - Why is it necessary to hold your rod and reel in your teeth while posing for a picture with your fish?
It's a Shoefish thang!

3. - What is the infatuation with catching Amberjacks all about? I understand the fact that they get big and pull hard, but after you've caught a few AJ's you've pretty much caught them all. I myself enjoy catching one or two but after that they become a nuisance, especially when you're grouper, tuna, or pompano fishing.

It's another way to keep yourself busy and not get bored waiting on bites, you create the bite

4. - What is the deal with licking the eyeballs of fish? Maybe an inside joke or something but I'm very confused on this one.

Once again crazy northerners

[Stormtrooper]

Glenn take credit for the "war paint" as well,still my personal favorite.Cobia blood is nice and thick but Bluefin blood after a fight on a jigging setup smears really well (On gellcoat or sunburned skin.)

[swell rider]

and there you go..what he said.......

To add to it......hoping that you don't mind G..

We "jiggers" are a different sort of fishermen, I think. I don't fish to fill the box (but have been know to on several occasions), I fish because I like to catch fish...
Thats why many, but not all of us enjoy catching AJs..they fight hard and are plentiful..kind of like tarpon, marlin or bonefish... to each his own.

I wear gloves because I get cut up too bad from the braid..and rough hands can ruin a Saturday night with a lady.....

Saturday night with the lady's !!!! Im still laughing ...

As far as the questions asked it's all personel.. I hate wearing gloves and I don't wear all the fancy clothes I kind of consider myself and my operation Old School and Blue collar but we beat the balls off the fish more than most!! But to each his own!!
As a charter captain and owner, THANK GOD for the AJ'S it's bailed many a trip out but now I target them because alot of my charters are Jigging trips and these fish can pull and like Glenn said I don't target the small ones even though there mixed in with the larger fish as well.
Now as for the eye ball licking and all the other stuff for the camara well just turn on ESPN or Versus on Saturday morning everyone is posing with something..We all like show off what we've caught.
Glenn, your going to have to start doing something new now!!! This weekend Im fishing a couple wrecks in the deep off MHC were we caught a bunch of AJ'S over 100# this winter Commercial fishing, if I land one over 100# this weekend I'll do some licking myself..