Traveling With A Group

Fishing Charter: Jigging Up Big Fish

If you're looking for some rod-bending action this summer, deep sea sport fishing charters can put you on the fish you're after. When it comes to getting the most of your time on the water, understanding some basic fishing techniques can help you hook the fish you're looking for.

Here are some basic jigging techniques commonly used by sport fishing outfitters to help their clients catch big fish.

Cadence

Jigging is among the simplest and most effective angling techniques for catching big fish on sport fishing trips. However, jigging for big fish isn't just as simple as dropping a baited lure with a big weight to the bottom and waiting for a fish to bite.

• Bottom Bouncing: apex gamefish like snapper, grouper, halibut, and cod are attracted by both scent and movement. Because light levels near the bottom of the ocean are very low, these fish rarely use visual cues to hunt for food. You can trigger more bites when jigging by creating erratic movements with your jig. One method that is particularly effective is bouncing your jig on and off the bottom. Although it can be sometimes difficult to reliably tell when your jig makes contact with the bottom, you can hone your jigging method by looking for slack in your line. When you see slack, you'll know that your jig is likely sitting on the bottom. Try lowering and rising your rod tip to move your jig on and off the bottom.

Patience

Because jig fishing doesn't require casting, the most important of jigging can be having the patience to wait for bites. Many sport fishing charter captains also recommend having more patience when you feel a tug at the end of your line.

• Let the eat: when a grouper, snapper, halibut, or cod decides to chow down on your jig, the tug at the end of your line can be vicious and exciting. However, putting up resistance when you feel a bite might be the last thing you should do. Many sport fishing charter boat captains and deckhands recommend that you give the fish time to swim away with your jig. This extra bit of patience will give the fish time to position the bait in their mouths and make for a better hook set when you apply resistance. As you let the fish swim away with your jig, you might want to open your bail to let them take out more line.