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Gettin’ jiggy with it. PHOTO: RIC BURNLEY


HEAVY METAL MAYHEM


WHEN SALTWATER FISH SWIM DEEP, GET JIGGY


K


ayak fishing is the hottest way to get to the fish and vertical jigging is the hottest way to catch fish in deep water. It was only a matter


of time before the two tactics came together. My Sputnik moment oc- curred on a wet, windy, winter morning in the middle of a school of blackfin tuna holding at 180 feet. In order to get in on the action, my buddies and I had to figure out how to jig from a kayak—fast. Vertical jigging has been around since the dawn of angling, but to-


day’s high-speed reels and super fast-action rods make it easier than ever for anglers to retrieve a streamlined metal jig quickly enough to entice top predators. A short, stout rod allows for a faster, more erratic retrieve. Reels with a retrieve ratio over 4.5:1 will pull in over three feet of line with a single crank of the handle. Color-coded braided line changes every 10 meters to indicate the depth where the jig is working. A 10-foot length of fluorocarbon leader tied between the jig and the main line resists abrasion and hides the angler’s intentions.


NON-CONVENTIONAL CONVENTIONAL Vertical jigging from a kayak is not easy; sitting so close to the water complicates matters. To use the standard technique, tuck the rod butt under your armpit, cradle the lower grip with your forearm, and palm the underside of the reel with your off hand. Then, turn the handle in short bursts while alternately jigging the rod. To get around the kayak’s limitations, give yourself more room by drawing the rod horizontally across your body or hopping onto your knees to get jiggy.


SPIN CYCLE Improved reel drag systems and increased line capacity allow spinning gear to join the jigging game. Good news for kayak anglers. To jig with spin tackle, simply stick the rod butt into your gut and start cranking and jerking. Because the line guides and reel are on the underside of the rod, it’s possible to jig from this position without high sticking or lifting the rod tip past vertical, a move that risks breaking the rod. Drop your jig to the target depth. Engage the reel and jig like mad.


The hits come hard. Wham—blast off. Fish on! Hold tight. From La Jolla to Baja, the Big Island to Hatteras Island, vertical jig-


ging is catching on as more kayakers challenge deep water. RIC BURNLEY is a writer, angler, teacher and father from Virginia Beach. Find his fishing reports on FishCrazy.info.


www.kayakanglermag.com… 27


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