Bullshark

You would think with all the time I spend on here I would know where to post this question!

<SPAN id=_ctl1_ctlTopic_ctlPanelBar_ctlTopicsRepeater__c tl1_lblFullMessage>Now that I have an offshore boat up here I want to give the jigging thing a shot. My wife offered to buy me 2 combos for my 30th birthday. I know absolutly nothing about what rods are good and what kind of reels are needed so please point me in the right direction. How much should she expect to spend for a good pair? Another thing she is going to buy her manarejigs so what colors and types/manufactures are best? I know nothing so any help would be great.

I did see the post about it depends on the type of fish i'm going for and I don't know. I see reports on jigging and it seems like the 2 major types of fish caught are AJ's and grouper so if 1 rod would not be best for both than what are 2 types of rods and reels that would be universal. I was going to get 2 of the same incase I take someone but they can but there own rod.

d-a

First, one rod and reel willwork for groupers and AJ's. I also find its easier to get the rythem down with a spinning reel although i prefer a conventional. That being said, I would look at a OTI 400g rod plus a shimano saragosa 14000. As for Jigs, Eastern tackle on here has some well proven jigs plus OTI and its hard to beat a good ole hammered diamond jig. More expensive Jigs also work, but if your final out come is the same as mine(catch fish)then there not needed IMO. AS for colors, I like blues, pinks and gold the most. I would also look for some glow in them too. I also tend to like longer jigs for AJ's and shorter jigs for groupers. For red snappers i have had equal success with both lengths.

hope that helps

d-a

gtchris19

Posted this on your other post as well...



I like spinning reels for jigging, so my recommendation would be the Shimano Spheros reel (8000 or higher) paired with the Ugly Stik Tiger Lite Jigging rod. Should run you about $200 or $220. Check Ebay for the reels. If you wanted to go even lower, I've jigged with Penn Sargus and they do great too, but don't have the drag or stopping power of the Shimano



As far as line, I'd recommend 65lb braid. I use PowerPro, but I know a lot of people on here prefer Suffix and others. I haven't had an issue with my PP, and braid ain't cheap, so until I have a reason to change it out, it's what's on my reels right now.



You'll need fluro leader. I usually go with 65 or 80lb test. 10' or more in length. Some people use swivels to attach the braid and leader. I use the "slim beauty" knot. (Search on YouTube). It's not too hard to learn and the knot goes through the guides pretty good.



Mrgreeno's jigs are great starter jigs, no doubt. I also like jigs from this eBay vendor (http://myworld.ebay.com/fishincomfort). Use the "Best offer" option and offer around $6/each including shipping. By all means, save money and don't buy the big namebrand jigs. You'll be ready to cry with a king swipes a $25 or $30 jig. And I've yet to see one out fish any of the cheaper jigs I use.



If you have a Bass Pro close by, their jigs are pretty good too and they are on sale during their Spring Fishing Classic. (I think they are $7.50 for the 150 gram size).



I think the 150gram (5oz) size is the best all around size. Color doesn't matter all that much to be honest. Blues and greens for kings and AJs. I seem to catch more snapper and grouper with the pinks and oranges.



I actually just ordered some jigs from this site. It came highly recommended, but I haven't used them personally.



http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/c/LURE-JIG/Jigging+Lures



Good luck. Jigging is highly Addictive!!!!!



PM or email me (gtchris19@hotmail.com) if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help. I had a lot of help getting started myself.

gtchris19

In my experience you catch basically what ever is there. For example, I think you'd be hard pressed to target Grouper with a Grouper set-up and AJ's with another. So I'd say get one good all around set-up and refine your selection from there after you've gone out a few times.



Trust me if AJ's, Kings or Bonitas are in the area, it doesn't matter what jig, rod and reel you have, they're going to bite.

bombtosser

paging lobsterman... lobsterman..(he knows his stuff.)

MSYellowfin

People will sneer but the Okuma Cedros spinning reel at $125 each are great reels for the money, and are made for braid, I matched mine with the Shimano jigging rods that are right at $100 each, as for conventional reels, I have Penn Torque, Shimano Torium as well as Diawa Saltist 40h which is right at $180 and I prefer it to the Torium.



MSyellowfin

__________________
MSyellowfin
2008 54C Viking "Jacquelyn"
2010 36 Yellowfin "Forgiven"
2010 24 Hurricane Deck Boat
2001 Contender 25 (sold)

andrew whitman

I think D A knows his stuff too. i agree 100 percent with oti400g/saragosa 14000. the best budget jigging setup available. anything lower and you arent gonna be able to keep big ajs out of structure in deep water(250+). the 8000 series shimanos all have graphite rotors and cant withstand more than 15 pounds of drag. All stellas and the saragosa/spheros 14/18k have metal rotors and will last much longer. the new saltist would be nice but they arent direct drive and have high speed retrieves which will tire you out with big jigs in deep water. the trevlalas are nice but the grips arent right for me. to short in the rear even on the heaviest model(xxh).

i also like the cabo 60 but it doesnt hold enough line for deep water jigging.

Bullshark

Thanks to everyone! I have this info saved in favorites so I can look back at it as this whole thing takes place. Also Lobsterman sent me a very informative PM.

Kim

Shimano TLD 30 A on a Penn 580 ISTT 5' 8" heavy rod. This gives you up to 30 lbs of drag, with lever in set position and drag set at 15 lbs will give you about 26 lbs at full drag. The reel holds about 500 yards of 50 lb power pro with a mono topshot. The high gear ratio is 4:1 and the low gear ratio is 1.7:1. This gives a pretty fair retrieve rate in high gear. Good all around combo for AJ and Grouper. Cost is about $350.00.







TLD 30 A set up on a Shimano Trevala TFS-58XXH 5' 8" extra heavy rod medium fast action rod. The cost of this combo is around $400.00. The advantage over the Penn rod is that it weights less than half of what the Penn does, making it less tiring as well as being a better rod. This set up will take on any AJ or Grouper that you can find.











This combo is a Talica 16 II on a Trevala TFS-58XXH rod same as above. The reel provides up to 40 lbs of drag which is a lot. It holds 800 yards of 50 lb power pro with a mono topshot. The high gear ratio is 5.7:1 and the low gear ratio is 3.1:1. The cost of this is about $625.00. This combo is also a decent casting set up as well. What that boils down to is when loaded up with a big fish in low gear you will have to work a little harder than with reel with a lower gear ratio. Keep in mind as Scott mentioned earlier, when you bow these combo's up on a big fish, the line will come down on the foregrip. Keep your hands out from under the PP line because it will cut you when a big fish pulls drag. Another thin to keep in mind is that the lever drag reels have more drag than do the star drag reels most of which you will have to hammer the drag down to handle a big fish.











This combo has a Stella 20000 on a Trevala TFS-58XXH rod same as mentioned above, yes I do like these rods. The Stella 20K will holds about 400 yards of 50 lb power pro, 40 pounds of drag and a healthy retrieval rate. The cost is about $1100.00. I use a long flourocarbon leader with this setup.The light weight combo and the full grip handle lets you put the power to the reel making this a jigging machine (as long as you are able). By the way these reels are pricey but they are like a Timex watch, take a beating and keep on ticking.











This comb has a Stella 20000 SW on a Shimano Tiralejo TRS-90MH 9' medium heavy fast action rod. Same specs as the Stella 20K except that the 20K SW casts much better with the new design bevel on the spool. The cost of the combo is about $1300.00. The sliding reel seat on the rod lets you position the reel to balance the rod held in a cast hand hold. I had to add 2 ounces of weight into the but of this one to get the balance I wanted (screw cap on the but of the rod) The rod and reel combo is light and balanced works ok jigging but I prefer the shorter rods myself. This one is better suited for casting surface lures at busting fish in my opinion.



It's tougher to take a good pic of the rods than I though, but I figured I may as well show the rod and reel combo's as well as give my opinion of them.

AaronBarnes

:clap