Jigging bottom on a drift?

[Barefootin]

I am looking forward to persuing my vertical jigging tactic this year.
My bottom fishing tactic was usually anchoring up and dropping conventional jigs or bait rigs with a TN30 on a Cape Fear 20/40.
This year, I plan to spend more time off the hook, drifting the nearshore reefs and wrecks in 50' - 120' targetting Red Snapper and Grouper with vertical jigs. JPR Paul is building me an OTI 100/300 for a Stella 8000.
I have a good collection of jigs that I figure will work well for the tactic: Shimano flatsides, Jim's flat jigs & OTI Jagers mostly in the 100 to 150g range. I figure I may need some heavier jigs for strong current / winds.
Should I be looking to keep the jig as close to 90 degree with heavier jigs or will the flat side / rear weighted jigs still produce on a near 45 degree angle if I can still bang the bottom?
In other words; what jigs and tactics work well for the bottom fishes on a drift?

[calebw]

You want to keep your lines as vertical as possible... Backtroll works great for this

[Jesse Lockowitz]

You want to keep your lines as vertical as possible... Backtroll works great for this

yep. bump it in reverse every now and then to keep it on the spot, of if currents rippin keep it in reverse.


works like a champ xcept when one rolls over the motor

[Sea Draggin]

I figure I may need some heavier jigs for strong current / winds.

Boat handling is an art and Dihrd is the master. Ole' Zack can get it just right also.

With proper boat power drifting technique, you can use much lighter jigs, than if you just bob along.

The concept is simple. Put the motor just into reverse and turn it so the lines are running parallel to the side of the boat if you do get any drift one way or another.

When the captain is good, folks on both sides rarely end up fishing under the boat.

[Paul H]

Another reason to keep verticle is you are much less likely to get hung up on bottom and loose jigs. I rarely anchor up, and will jig down to 400'

[Barefootin]

I get the premise of jigging vertical and can hang on or target a spot pretty well, but I thought those flat side jigs were designed to fish at an angle and with a certain technique like yo - yoing.
Shimano & others market & sell these flat side, stern weighted jigs to be fished on the drift or less than vertical.
Am I missing something?

[Ponce]

Back trolling is the way to go. You'll find some days are easy and some are almost impossible depending on the wind / current.

[mythosbeer]

Unless I am mistaken, flatsides aren't designed to fish at a 45degree angle. They have more action at the 90. They will have a different action at 45, but may still work. The shimano lucanus jigs are designed to be fished more at a 45. The key for me is to not leave your jig down for 10 minutes at a time. Drop it down, jig it on the bottom for a minute or two and then jig it back to the surface and start over again. If you leave it down for too long you'll have a much higher chance of getting hung up on the structure or getting cut off. These are just my opinions though and I'm sure there are a ton of them out there.

Mitch

[andrew whitman]

I have been jigging these waters for five years now. i would be happy to go or take you fishing and we can perfect the technics. i spent the last few years working the FH's and mid water rigs with great success. i dont use anything less than 150g unless im in real shallow water(FH 1/2/3/5) looking for snapper. the 200g jig will get to the bottom quicker so you dont have to try as hard to keep the boat in the right position. i have come up with some pretty odd technics for snapper in particular. i hope we can fish sometime and we can discuss this further.

Andrew

[Gmoney!]

also dont forget the good ole fast retrieve and pause.....i was taught that by gman and the other experts on here.. worked like a champ for me...especially groupers which makes sense since they are not lightning quick. But I have heard of guys almost losing their rods on the pause to big AJs etc..so be careful