Tuna Jigging

[Reel Sharp]

I also gotta say that Penn is not in the same category anymore. My father was a Penn fan growing up and I started on Shimano and still do(I do have gold Penn 30sw). Of the 19 rods I have, 15 are Shimano 1 Penn. My father has since moved over to Daiwa. Just do a little more research and see if you wait a month or two to add a few more bucks to the reel fund. I think you will be happier in the end with a better reel.

[mikehalseyjr]

Allegiance to Penn in this day and time when looking at substantial fish is a poor start in my book. They are not the same Penn of your grandfathers day. Lots of Penns including the large spinners are no longer made in the US and the owners of Penn now are responsible for their freefall in the International market.

Yes you will be just using braid. Tuna are usually suspended so you need jigs meant to fall slowly and with lots of flutter and arcs to take them. Most bottom jigs do a much poorer job. Long bottom jigs can be cranked through tuna schools at high speed and take them sometimes.

Money spent on the Penns will be money lost as you will buy good stuff when you get some experience.

A suggestion: When you don't even know that jigging means BRAID, it is not a good idea to pick your equipment when there is a wealth of people actually taking large YFT and BFT with spinners regularly, and few are Penns.

Randy,

This is why I asked more experienced jiggers their opinion insted of just going out and throwing the visa down. I can not help to be a little "stand offish" about your post.

I stick with Penn because they're made in the USA, I attempt to keep all business in USA.

What reels do you like?

What jigs do you like?

Mike

[tileman]

OK , I'll bite....what spinner would be better than the Penn for the same price point?

[kilsong]

Randyt gave a good advice.
One tuna trip cost $300-$600. Though the initial investment for quality tuna rod/reel is pretty high, you can use them for 10 years.
Minimum standard of spinning reel for tuna is Shimano Saragosa or similar quality reels.
There are varieties of choices of reasonably priced jigging rods. When you choose a jigging rods, look for weight rating of 400g - 500g though you use lighter 200 - 300g jig.
Most experienced tuna jig fishermen use braid for good reasons.

[VaRandy]

You didn't ask for information to allow you to do generic jigging. You specifically said you wanted to build a tuna jigging stick.I dIf you used the made in America logic a few years back when Evinrude and Johnson were US made, you had a far less chance of getting to the grounds and returning in one piece.

I don't seek out Non-US solutions but go where the quality is, pretty much regardless of cost because I get a great return for my investment and, as Kil pointed out, you are playing in the big leagues and don't want trips ruined by cheap rigs. The Sargosa is the best spinner for the job if the job rules out big YFT and BFT and Blue Marlin.

[-Æ-]

I am 5 minutes from you, brother. We will make it affordable for you.

[Bob Fate]

Unless you're willing to spend $600 + you are not going to find a Penn spinning reel that is made in the USA anymore. All Penn spinners, except the Penn Torque, are made in China now, and have been for at least five or six years.

[paul708]

Thanks, Jeff.

Jigging is fun, but as you witnessed: Jigging with a 50 or 70 wide is brutal.

I have wanted to get a jigging outfit for a while, now that I have witnessed it's effectivness. I am "hooked".

My son just started crawling in the forward directoin on Thursday afternoon by the way. Fun in the Halsey house.

Mike

Jigging with a 50 and 70 is brutal.

There are a few good reels, i have not used the penn battle, but if it has the drag and line cap you need. give it a try.
you will be getting a better setup when you get REALLY hooked

for rods, this is a GREAT STARTER CUSTOM JIG ROD for around 200 different g weight and lengths...

WELCOME TO TUNA JIGGING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wsdKNAEKA

[mikehalseyjr]

I am 5 minutes from you, brother. We will make it affordable for you.

Thanks, I will be in touch.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Mike