Offshore Seabass Jigging Setup

[kilsong]

Many fishermen ask me about setups for seabass jigging.

When you fish seabass on wrecks, seabass don't respond to jigs well, but you usually can outfish bait fishermen with jigs on rocky areas if you know how to jig with proper setups.



Rods

I prefer 7'7"to 8' rod with thin diameter, but stiff tip.

My favorite is GLoomis 7'6" MUR15C rated 25 lbs to 50 lbs. The rod is light so that you can jig all day and sensitive enough to detect bottom and bites while the trip is stiff enough to use 6 - 8 oz jig in 250 - 300 ft.



Reels

Most fishermen use small 2/0 or 3/0 size reels for offshore seabass.

While heavy drag is not required, you need a reel light enough for long hour jigging and with excellent casting as casting is very important part of successful seabass jigging.

Many fishermen use fancy Satiga 15/20,Trinidad TN16/20 or Ocea Jigger 1500P, but I found reels like Torium 20 work as well.



Lines

You definitely need braided lines to jig deep with light lines. 30 - 40 lbs braided lines with 40 -50 lbs mono leader lines are recommended.


Jigs

My favorite jigs are still 6 -8 oz hammered diamond jigs. I tested my new 7 1/2 oz hammered diamond jigs and caught 48 seabass with them and I kept 6. But any jigs which has similar size and weight works for them as well. Some prefer attach one or two teaser hooks above jigs, but I always prefer to use jig only. I even prefer plain hooks for jigs to bucktailed hooks as I don't see any difference whether I use bucktailed hooks or plains hooks. But it is your choice and preference.

I found Gamatatsu Siwash 5/0 hooks work best for me.



Casting Ability

Even you use right setups, they are not effective unless you know how to cast. To cast as far as you can and to work the bottom toward the boat has tremendous advantage. But when the boat drift, casting is not required.

[paul708]

thanks for that write kil.

check the new batson swimbait rods, good feel, and power.
they come appox 7'10"
we are doing a few now.
hope to get them tested soon on the seabass.

[Gettinwet]

i will be picking up a different rod in the near future but for now i a penn mariner 20-50lb with a diawa saltist30th loaded with 60lb powerpro...i love the reel...works great for the deepwater jigging....

[kilsong]

i will be picking up a different rod in the near future but for now i a penn mariner 20-50lb with a diawa saltist30th loaded with 60lb powerpro...i love the reel...works great for the deepwater jigging....

As long as you feel bottom with the setups, that's fine. But sometimes you don't feel bottom with 60 lbs lines when you jig with 6 - 8 oz.

[di hrd]

It is interesting, here in the Wilmington area our best seabass fishing is in shallow water compared to northern (NJ, MD, VA) I have never caught a seabass deeper than about 110' here. We also don't get the 5-6 lbers that are common to the north. They like colder water and our cold water is from the beach to about 30 miles out.

I am able to use much smaller jigs (less than 140g). Smaller rods and reels like Calcutta 400 with graphite rods.

When I lived in VA I fished jigs for seabass most times. I found that the larger fish would be more aggressive and go for the jig first.

Kil makes a good point wtih casting from an anchored boat. It is good to "prospect" all around the boat as seabass will school off wrecks over sand also.

[kilsong]

I watched underwater video by Charlie White a few days ago for the preparation of jigging sessions of Canyon Runner seminars. I don't know how many times I saw the video.
Charlie explained that small salmon prefer fast rolling lures/baits trolled and big salmon prefer slow rolling lures/baits. When I target for big cod or grouper or even tuna, I intentionally slow down my jigging motion. The only exception is when I jig for AJ or bluefish.
My usually jigging motion for seabass is to lift rods up and down gently. I caught one pound seabass and 8 lbs seabass with the same motion.

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

I watched underwater video by Charlie White a few days ago for the preparation of jigging sessions of Canyon Runner seminars. I don't know how many times I saw the video.
Charlie explained that small salmon prefer fast rolling lures/baits trolled and big salmon prefer slow rolling lures/baits. When I target for big cod or grouper or even tuna, I intentionally slow down my jigging motion. The only exception is when I jig for AJ or bluefish.
My usually jigging motion for seabass is to lift rods up and down gently. I caught one pound seabass and 8 lbs seabass with the same motion.

Kil,tell the truth most are in the 1pound range arent they?

[kilsong]

Kil,tell the truth most are in the 1pound range arent they?

To tell the truth, you rarely get one pound seabas on 8 oz jigs. I am wondering how you describe the size of seabass you catch tomorrow. But I know you would say I never saw such big seabass in my life.

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

to tell the truth, you rarely get one pound seabas on 8 oz jigs. I am wondering how you describe the size of seabass you catch tomorrow. But I know you would say I never saw such big seabass in my life.

Im just running the boat thats all!!!If I see that you guys are not fishing up to par,I will then pull my special rod out of its holder and show you guys how to do IT!!!LOL

[kilsong]

Im just running the boat thats all!!!If I see that you guys are not fishing up to par,I will then pull my special rod out of its holder and show you guys how to do IT!!!LOL

We are going to catch many 4 - 7 lbs range as I will ask you to move the boat when we catch 2 -3 lbs.
You can catch 5 -7 lbs seabass among many 2 - 3 lbs seabass, but big humpback seabass over 5 lbs generally stay together.