Surf Fishing with Jigs - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

BasicPatrick · 03-29-2003, 08:25 PM

Once again I have done a lot of fishing with smaller light tackle jigs of all types and sizes. I am a truuuuueee beleiver in the white bucktail at the all time best lure period. +

I am almost embarrassed to say that I have little experience using them in larger surfcasting applications. Could some of you guys and gals chime in on the sizes and brands you like. What type of places do you like to throw the larger (over 2 oz) jigs. Sizes, Brands, places, etc. Do you use a different technique wi9th the larger jigs than the smaller ones.

I want to do some jigging and am looking for alittle schooling.

IFG · 03-29-2003, 08:34 PM

Use the standard shapes in 4-6 once
shapes

Spros aint bad
I like Bullet heads for the canal for further information talk to
the specialist

Mike P · 03-29-2003, 10:12 PM

Unless there's a strong current, I don't see the need to throw more than an ounce and a half from the beach. Use 4 oz and all you'll do is dredge a channel unless you retrieve at warp speed.

Heavy storm surf, strong current sweep, maybe two ounces, but that's about the limit unless you're fishing a rip like Wasque.

The Canal, yeah, I sometimes go up to 5-6 oz depending on location and current.

You can fish a jig anywhere in the water column, that's the beauty of it. Sometimes I'll "swim" it on a steady retrieve, sometimes I'll hop it like a crab on open beach, and in the Canal, I like it to be ticking bottom but not dragging. I like slow lifts, not the exaggerated hauls you see a lot of Canal jiggers use, but to each their own.

Braided line is great for jigging---no worries about hooks pulling loose if you put the boots to a fish----trebles sometimes get pulled, but if you have a fih in the corner of the jaw with a jig,m she's yours unless she hangs you up.

Bill L · 03-30-2003, 08:26 AM

I also am a big fan of the white bucktail jig! I agree with Mike P., 1-1/2 oz is about top end from the surf when you don't have major current to deal with. I will generally try and throw the lightest jig I can with the tackle I have and the wind conditions. I generally just "swim" them in at a slow to moderate retrieve. My favorite jig type from the beach is the Bannana style, dressed with white curl tail grub.

From the beach, unless its all sand, you may find a problem with hanging up if you go too slow or bounce bottom. This is a particular problem at a couple of rocky bottom surf spots I fish, that shoal out gradually and where floating swimmers and poppers generally rule.

But sometimes the fish want something smaller. One way to allow you to throw light jigs with surf rods to the third wave without hanging up is the Casting Egg. Its a wooden egg, sizes vary, generally around 1 to 2 oz. Tie to running line, and extend 30 inch or so leader with light jigs (say 1/4 to 1/2 oz or so). The egg has a wire point sticking out of the side, angled up, that you hook the jig on when casting. Hook up the jig, and cast the egg--- the jig will come free as it sails. You'll get a good cast, and the egg floats your jig over the rocks.

Got Stripers · 03-30-2003, 07:32 PM

I'd have to agree with Mike, unless you have a hard current, very steep channel dropoff, with some snag free water to begin with, going much over 1-1/2 oz is going to keep you busy re-rigging. Unless I'm fishing a 5 or 8 inch grub or a paddle tail swim bait, which require a steady retreive of sorts to impart action, I'd opt for a jig hook with solder wrapped around the shank for casting weight and a little depth control. Even so, unless I'm at the canal I'd usually be throwing 1/2, 3/4 or 1 oz max for jig heads on those swim baits. I'm a firm believer in using the lightest weight required and would rather adjust the rod/reel/line and risk loosing fish, than fish heavier weights.

IFG · 03-30-2003, 07:45 PM

Well I use big Jigs for big fish

Sorry Bob I forgot Ledge runners in my last post

Mike P · 03-30-2003, 08:11 PM

This one ate a 1-1/2 oz bucktail

IFG · 03-30-2003, 08:15 PM

Is it that you dont like gibbs lures?

Mike P · 03-30-2003, 08:16 PM

1-1/4 oz bucktail

IFG · 03-30-2003, 08:22 PM

well just because i dont have a scanner or digital camera dont mean i dont plug up big cows

well i dont but it still dont mean anything

Mike P · 03-30-2003, 08:31 PM

And this is why I don't like Gibbs

See the crack running from the rear end more than halfway? First fish on this 1-5/8 oz darter--32". Sorry for the quality, had to cover up the flash to avoid white-out.

IFG · 03-30-2003, 08:37 PM

It happens more with plastics I split alot of plugs in the canal

and i loose alot of jigs

Mike P · 03-30-2003, 08:48 PM

Yeah, ya kinda expect it with plastics. They hit those rocks and crack---Atoms are the worst. I've also had blues shatter some plastics, the old Spofford ballistic missiles. Chomped right thru the suckers.

But ya really don't expect it to happen on a $12 wooden plug, brand new out of the pakage, on a just-legal fish. This is about the 5th one that's done it to me, too. The others had some miles on 'em but still

JohnR · 03-30-2003, 08:58 PM

Thats why I have my Nuclear Tattoo Dahtahs for this year

and me plastic super strikes

...

YouFishGibbs - You know what the best plug in the world is for whacking of the rocks and thwacking bass?

Megabyte · 03-30-2003, 10:01 PM

The pictures are driving me crazy ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I gotta go fishin' Oooops not tonight (white stuff)
You guys are good

Maybe my turn this year. I can't wait.
Nice pic's

IFG · 03-31-2003, 08:04 AM

Either a Pencil Popper or polaris amd danny's take a beating just dont wack'em really hard
I'd say the pencil

JohnR · 03-31-2003, 08:49 AM

Wrong - try again

...

I'll give you a hint - it's best in black...

fishweewee · 03-31-2003, 09:08 AM

Mike,

Every time I get to one of these types of posts, all I can say is "What Mike P said."

Couldn't agree with you more on the 1.5 oz bucktail jigs for most applications (except for the Ditch of course), especially around shore rockpiles with current (e.g., Montauk and most of RI, Squibby and Gay Head, Cutty, etc).

They are just heavy enough to cast and light enough to be carried by current without hanging up on structure.

A sharpie taught me to use these jigs wherever you have a "white water" situation (waves breaking over rocks, or bottom coming up over a ledge). Took some really nice bass over 20 lbs. on 'em too.

I love them so much they are my go-to lures for rockpiles at dusk and daybreak. I pour/tie my own now (gotta get dem extra strong Mustad jig hooks ... hate those Eagle Claw and Gamakatsus).

Basic colors I have are white, yellow, and olive, matched up with red/purple/yellow/black pork rinds.

For some real weird reason, green trailers seem to attract the bluefish.

Oh yeah, on sandy beaches with structure, they ain't too shabby for daytime fluking either (use squid/fish belly strip instead of pork rind).

-WW

Notaro · 03-31-2003, 10:13 AM

so do you guys drop a jig on the bottom on the canal or wherever and jig? i never jig before.

IFG · 03-31-2003, 07:35 PM

It's the Pencil from my expiences but if you think it's the danny your right I did a little lookjing thats why ole stan made it

JohnR · 03-31-2003, 08:03 PM

IFG - Its the Anguilla Rostrata that I speak of! The plug of plugs

!

Seriously, that's my favorite plug! The Black Anerican Eel. You also need to be lifted of you close association with the Gibbs name

- I admire you stickituitiveness but there are other games in town. The Beachmaster Danny will out Danny any Gibbs Danny of recent recollection. The SuperStrike darter is a plastic fantastic. The Habernackle NeedleFish is schweet as well. And we haven't even gotten to the ubercustom plugs. What am I trying to say? There are other games in town, that's all. Your tunnel vision on Gibbs products is commendable - I like many of them too and there are some I have little experience with and I cannot comment (remember, when it doubt EEL IT!) but what I am saying is try some other games too. Think outside of the Gibbs Wrapper!

IFG - do you like eeling? It's the art of working the live bait like a plug (and honestly a bit easier in some respects too).

IFishEels!

(don't mind me, I'm exhausted and need to go to sleep soon)...

I did not finnish that article yet but I have it trimmed up a bit and hopefully get it to you tomorrow. Just busy at work...

Notaro · 03-31-2003, 08:07 PM

how abt adding a strip of bait ib the jig and plug? will it work?

IFG · 03-31-2003, 08:07 PM

I use Gibbs only because of the original Stan Gibbs
He is my inspiration for all my plugs

I dont fish live bait it's cheating hahahah jk but I dont fish bait
and you said PLUG

I understand

Notaro · 03-31-2003, 08:10 PM

alrighty, man. on a jig, yes, but on a plug, no. right?

IFG · 03-31-2003, 08:17 PM

You can put a porker on a plug.

JohnR · 03-31-2003, 08:17 PM

IFG - you're too young to be a purist

- don't become a grouch like me!

Would draping an eelskin over your black danny be cheatin' too?

Fishing isn't cheating - it's life! Someone somewhere said something along the lines of "Not one minute of a mans life spent fishing will be deducted from the end of his days" or something like that! But the point was quality enjoyment of fishing will likely add years to you as you will be sound MIND and body from your exploits at the water's edge

IFG · 03-31-2003, 08:20 PM

thats only half cheating but it smells

Slipknot · 03-31-2003, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Notaro
how abt adding a strip of bait ib the jig and plug? will it work?

Yes and Yes

put eelskin on an eelskin jig, that's a strip of bait, right?

Put a porkrind on the tail of a needlefish plug

Notaro · 03-31-2003, 08:29 PM

good ideas, slipknot.

Mike P · 03-31-2003, 10:15 PM

The Danny isn't a Stan Gibbs design, by the way. It was designed by Danny Pinchley of Long Island, and Jim Griecci bought the templates and the rights to the name from Pinchley's estate after he bought Gibbs from Stan's son in the late 1980s.