[wed159]

My last trip I did a lot of jig fishing. The only problem was I only hooked up about 50% of the time. sometimes the fish would fight for about 30 seconds or more and then just spit out the jig. I bought some rubberbands to try pinning the hooks to the jig but as all highly organized people who's mind is on fishing, I left them at home. I would reel in the jigs and sometimes see teethmarks on them, so I know they were good strikes.

My question, could my asist hooks be to long? I make my own 7/0 5/0 gorilla hooks. The hook goes about a third of the way down on the jig.

Am I making a mistake when setting the hook? Pulling to hard or not hard enough. I saw this video of these Japanese fishermen jig fishing and they really snatch it to set the hook, sometimes more then once.

 

[Bluewater Dawg]

I set it as hard as I can many times. 5-6 times. Jerk it like your trying to rip their lips out then repeat worked for me on my last trip. Body count was 40 BFT. good luck.BWD

 

[gostomskij]

It sounds like your assist hooks are alright. If anything you may need a larger hook. Lay the hook on the side of the jig, if it is not wider than the jig than go with a larger hook. I have been using 9/0 gamakatsu live bait hooks. I bet close to 1/3 of the fish we bring in are foul hooked. Sunday I had the best hookup of the day on a jig but lost the fish. Monday I brought in a grouper and he wasn't hook very good, just through the boney portion on the corner of the mouth. I guess it is just part of the game. When the fish comes off lower the jig right back down into the hot zone. This is the real advantage of using jigs. Good Luck.


Victor

 

[Freshwaterman]

Like Bluewater Dawg said, give it a few good hard set to drive it home. In order not to pull hooks, I start with lower drag setting and increase them after hook set.

Randy

 

[Ragman]

Great info above!

Also, it always helps to have the sharpest hooks possbile. Depending on how you store your jigs, sometimes the points can get dinged during travel/ride out.

 

[Kyle 1974]

I just put some 80lb braided line on one of my rods I use for jigging..My thought was that the minimal stretch would help out setting the hook while jigging in 100 feet of water.

Anyone have any experience with this??

 

[gostomskij]

I just put some 80lb braided line on one of my rods I use for jigging..My thought was that the minimal stretch would help out setting the hook while jigging in 100 feet of water.

Anyone have any experience with this??

Braid is one of the most important things in the system. No stretch, and it allow for the hook set. I have been using 65 JB with a 25ft wind on leader.

Victor

 

[ksong]

You tend to drop more fish on jigging as there are many chances that hooks are not in the mouth deep as fish literally attack fast moving jigs.