Jiggin Tuna NJ - Questions from addicted newbiw

[JfISHkING]

When you get out to your spot, do you guys troll a spreader or two or throw a cpl of feathers/cedar plugs out and cruise around until you start marking bait?

Whats the most important thing to do once i hit the tuna grounds im fishing... be patient and wait until i mark bait, then anchor up????? and start jiggin and chunking?

What do you do if you aren't really having luck marking anything on the sounder...

Also, when you're anchored up and not marking baits, do you just drop all the way down and bring your jig all the way up... or do you tend to work different sections of the water column.

Any pointers would be greatly appreicated.

Thanks

[paul708]

some trips we troll till we get fish, then start jigging/chunking.

sometimes we drive around looking for marks, bait or fish, birds. any signs of fishey area.

we usually drift when we jig/chunk..once in a while we anchor.

usually if not marking anything ..drop to bottom and jig up from there.

most times guys are using different jigs, and trying different methods of jigging till we see what is catching.
Then hope you have the hot jig with you

[Sea Draggin]

I have always been a firm believer in committing to the trip. If I'm going jigging, the trolling stuff stays at home. The only exception is two high speed setups to use when moving from spot to spot.

[jig42na]

Jfishking
SOme good questions there. I think it is what you are passionate about. I will be the first to admit that jigging is not always the best method to catch fish, we'll stick to BFT in NJ. There are days when we get outfished by the trollers....BUT that is rare and for me it doesn't matter. I love to jig.
With that said, I suggest keeping up with the reports, water temps, sea conditions, etc. and plan a jigging trip. Leave all the stuff at home. These type of trips will build your confidence because now the only way to catch a tuna is on your jigging rod. After some trips and some fish you'll never go back or stop jigging.
Generally we only jig, or chunk and jig on the drift. I tend to fish lumps and ledges and always try to drift up hill. The inshore areas for our BFT are usually never over 250ft of water. In those depths speed jigging I always cover the entire water colum consentrating on the bottom 75%. It is not that much coverage so you can get away with this. If east coast jigging definately focus on the bottom 25%. Areas of deep water say BFT in NC where the fish could be in 1000ft of water use the sounder to pick you zone to focus on. After 2 drops in that depth you'll be hurting.

NOTE: NEVER wait for marks or only fish where marks are seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not catch as many fish. Simple as that.
When you do a jigging trip, take some motrin/advil with you and jig your ass off. That is the best tip I have for you. It gets easier after awhile and the confidence builds. There is nothing better than catching BFT on jigs and poppers. PS If you get into popping always take a long rod with you ready to be fired at any moment.
Keep asking away, as there is too much to cover in one post.

[Sea Draggin]

NOTE: NEVER wait for marks or only fish where marks are seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not catch as many fish. Simple as that.

We made that mistake on our last NC trip of the season and the bad thing was that I knew it was happening.

We came across a ripped up spot. Two tones flying every which direction, but two of the 4 insisted that since we weren't marking them, we should run 35 miles to the south to do something different. My day ended right there and I was just along for the ride after that. I think I took a nap.

[paul708]

We made that mistake on our last NC trip of the season and the bad thing was that I knew it was happening.

We came across a ripped up spot. Two tones flying every which direction, but two of the 4 insisted that since we weren't marking them, we should run 35 miles to the south to do something different. My day ended right there and I was just along for the ride after that. I think I took a nap.

yeah, any time you see a fishy area...drop and jig.
we have caught alot of fish with no marks on the screen.

[JfISHkING]

Guys this stuff is great, i really appreciate it... we ended up going 1 for 1 yesterday and landed a 60lb BFT on the jig. It was a gorgeous october day (shorts and t-shirt), flat as a lake... I took into consideration everything that i've learned on the website and put it to work on yesterdays trip.

That PR Knot = Awesome.... thanks for pointing me in that direction.

I made my bobin by wraping a old wooden spool with soldering wire (to add weight, as they dont sell lead tape ne more) and then some electrical tape on top. It worked like a champ.

thanks again to everyone her on SFO.