Since the new rediscovery of jigging opportunies in NC, many guys show interest in jigging grouper/AJ in NC. I even got an e-mail from Asia to visit the US just for jigging big AJ in NC.
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I'd like to discuss about jigging tackles based on my recent trips to NC as it might help those who visit NC for jigging grouper and AJ in the future.
AMBERJACK
-rod/reel
Amberjack is very strong fish and there are many big amberjack upto 100 lbs. When fishing amberjack, they usually use very heavy reels and rods, but not the case in NC as bottom structures there are not sticky and you seldom lose AJ due to structures. As long as you have over 200 yards of 65 lbs with 18 - 20 lbs drag, it can handle any AJ.
The normal depth you fish for AJ is about 250 ft and 300 ft.
You can use spinning setups as well as conventional setups.
Whether you use spinning or coventional setups, the shorter and the lighter, the better as you have to crank fast.
This is when Japanese style jigging works best. The more aggressive and the faster you crank, you get more bites. It is pretty easy fishing. Drop your jigs to the bottom and crank like ****. While you get most bites near the bottom, I had many hit while I cranked 50 turns. When you miss a hit, don't stop cranking as you will get another bite soon.
-jigs
AJ are very aggressive fish and take any jig. But I found they prefer long jigs for unknown reason. I had plenty of hit with 8 oz diamond/hammered diamond jigs, but guys who use long jigs have more hit and bigger AJ consistantly. 7 - 10 oz Williamson's Benthos jigs work great. However you can use expensive Japanese long jigs as you seldom lose jigs in NC.
SNOWY GROUPER/OTHER GROUPERS
-rod/reel
Jigging technique for snowy grouper is totally different from jigging for AJ. As groupers stay near the bottom, you got to jig very close to bottom. For this purpose, I recommend to use longer rods as we jig for cod. On the down swing, you always feel your jigs hit the bottom.
For grouper jigging, I recommend to use 7 - 8 ft rod. We usually use rods with stiff tips for grouper fishing as they tend to go into structures once hooked.
-jigs
For gag grouper or red groupers you can use 6 - 8 oz jigs as you don't fish deep, but you need 16 - 24 oz jig for snowy grouper as they fish upto 850 ft for snowy grouper.
On the recent trip out of Willington, NC we didn't have any problem to catch out limit (one per person) of snowy grouper while the other two boats struggled with one and two snowy grouper as current was very strong that day. The reason why we were successful that day was we could use heavier jigs (24 oz) and power drifted.
For grouper jigging, you don't need expensive jigs as cheap diamond/hammered diamond jigs or similar jigs work as well for grouper.
-leader line
you can use light leader line for AJ, but I highly recommend to use heavier leader line targeting groupers for two reasons.
One: your lines get damaged easily as you jig close to the bottom or structures.
Two: Strong initial headshake of big grouper can break any line under 100 lbs very easily, especially when using braided line.
This post edited by KILSONG 01:26 PM 04/17/2008
I'd like to discuss about jigging tackles based on my recent trips to NC as it might help those who visit NC for jigging grouper and AJ in the future.
AMBERJACK
-rod/reel
Amberjack is very strong fish and there are many big amberjack upto 100 lbs. When fishing amberjack, they usually use very heavy reels and rods, but not the case in NC as bottom structures there are not sticky and you seldom lose AJ due to structures. As long as you have over 200 yards of 65 lbs with 18 - 20 lbs drag, it can handle any AJ.
The normal depth you fish for AJ is about 250 ft and 300 ft.
You can use spinning setups as well as conventional setups.
Whether you use spinning or coventional setups, the shorter and the lighter, the better as you have to crank fast.
This is when Japanese style jigging works best. The more aggressive and the faster you crank, you get more bites. It is pretty easy fishing. Drop your jigs to the bottom and crank like ****. While you get most bites near the bottom, I had many hit while I cranked 50 turns. When you miss a hit, don't stop cranking as you will get another bite soon.
-jigs
AJ are very aggressive fish and take any jig. But I found they prefer long jigs for unknown reason. I had plenty of hit with 8 oz diamond/hammered diamond jigs, but guys who use long jigs have more hit and bigger AJ consistantly. 7 - 10 oz Williamson's Benthos jigs work great. However you can use expensive Japanese long jigs as you seldom lose jigs in NC.
SNOWY GROUPER/OTHER GROUPERS
-rod/reel
Jigging technique for snowy grouper is totally different from jigging for AJ. As groupers stay near the bottom, you got to jig very close to bottom. For this purpose, I recommend to use longer rods as we jig for cod. On the down swing, you always feel your jigs hit the bottom.
For grouper jigging, I recommend to use 7 - 8 ft rod. We usually use rods with stiff tips for grouper fishing as they tend to go into structures once hooked.
-jigs
For gag grouper or red groupers you can use 6 - 8 oz jigs as you don't fish deep, but you need 16 - 24 oz jig for snowy grouper as they fish upto 850 ft for snowy grouper.
On the recent trip out of Willington, NC we didn't have any problem to catch out limit (one per person) of snowy grouper while the other two boats struggled with one and two snowy grouper as current was very strong that day. The reason why we were successful that day was we could use heavier jigs (24 oz) and power drifted.
For grouper jigging, you don't need expensive jigs as cheap diamond/hammered diamond jigs or similar jigs work as well for grouper.
-leader line
you can use light leader line for AJ, but I highly recommend to use heavier leader line targeting groupers for two reasons.
One: your lines get damaged easily as you jig close to the bottom or structures.
Two: Strong initial headshake of big grouper can break any line under 100 lbs very easily, especially when using braided line.
This post edited by KILSONG 01:26 PM 04/17/2008
