Tuna Jigging

[mikehalseyjr]

One of my winter projects this year is to put together a solid tuna jigging outfit. I want a spinning outfit, I have been surfing the web looking @ Penn spinners, I like the Penn Conquer 8000. I am a penn fan, my offshore spread is all penn 70 wides, 50 wides, and 30 wides and my bay stuff is all Penn as well. So I have had good luck with it.

I am leaning towards braid for the jigging setup due to the non-stretch and line capacity on a spinner.

I need some feedback.

I am talking to a rod builder near me for a rod, I dont know weather a custom rod is worth it or a factory one will suffice.

Thanks.

Mike.

[KAISER]

We added a Penn Battle 8000 on a Ulgly stick tiger lite jigging rod this year and for less than 200 bucks it can do alot. I suspect the Conqure is great with 34 lb drag. and $200 still is pretty cheap!

[Sea Draggin]

If you want a high end spinner with high drag capacity, this one is a beast. I will even throw in some 300g First Drop jigs with it.

Daiwa Expedition Jigger <--- Link


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[mikehalseyjr]

SD,

Thanks for the offer, but that is a touch over my budget.

Mike

[mikehalseyjr]

Does everyone use braid for their jig rods?

Mike

[reel fool]

Mike,
Yes. Braid is preferred. The no-stretch gives you better action on the jig, more bites

[mikehalseyjr]

Mike,
Yes. Braid is preferred. The no-stretch gives you better action on the jig, more bites

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

[fishinmagician_IV]

Congrats to the little one on the forward movement. Next is the climbing up & over. And the before you know it, they are grown up. Cherish the moments! Now back to jigging, I too am on a budget of sort, post what you end up with, as I want a decent Tuna/Big Fish jiggin' outfit that doesn't cost a fortune. I realize you get what you pay for but some og these prices are out of sight, and that my walllet can affofd.

[mikehalseyjr]

Will do, I have two kids. My daughter is 2.5 years old and my son is .75 years old.

I am pretty sure I'm going with the 8000 Penn reel, just the rod choice is up in the air.

Mike

[VaRandy]

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.