Are You Making This Mistake When Deep Jigging?
- By: Wyatt Parcel
- on
Deep jigging large structures is a great way of getting on some big fish!
Where should you place your bait along the structure to hook into a bigger fish?
If you correct this common mistake, then you will catch more fish when deep jigging underwater structures.
Check out more below!!
Are You Making This Mistake When Deep Jigging? [VIDEO]
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When you are out jigging deep structures, most of the fish are going to be held tight to that structure.
The fish will be right on the large pilings or on rock piles where they have more security from predators.
It is absolutely important to make sure you put your bait in the right spot while also taking into account the conditions around you.
The biggest mistake anglers can make when deep jigging structure is they do not account for the current.
You need to make sure you are casting up current of the structure you are fishing.
Predatory fish will sit facing the current waiting for bait to be brought to them.
You want the current to help sweep your lure back in front of the structure into the waiting mouth of the fish.
Further, if you are fishing a big, open-water rig there is typically a lot of current around them.
Placing your bait up current and letting the current sweep the lure in front of that structure will help guide it to the fish.
Species such as redfish or cobia will be hanging close to these types of structures.
To maximize your success, you need to get your bait as close as you can to these areas.
If the current pulls your lure out of the strike zone, all you have to do is reel up and recast up current.
Lure Options
One of the best lures for fishing underwater pilings and structure is a shrimp imitation lure.
A shrimp imitation lure will sit in one spot and creates a lot of action in the current.
If you choose a paddletail or baitfish presentation that needs to be reeled in faster, then you will swim it right past your target zone before a fish can strike it.
The Power Prawn lure is best for this application.
It is a perfect lure for working a small zone because as the current brings it right to where the fish are sitting in the pilings, you can jig the lure up and down.
You can sit there and work a vertical presentation for redfish, trout, and cobia that are holding close to structure.
Equipment Used:
- Lure: Power Prawn on Bucktail Jig
- Rods: Black Pelican Custom 7’6″ Medium-Fast, TFO PSS 7’6″ Medium-Fast
- Reels: Daiwa Ballistic 2500, Penn Spinfisher 3500
- Line: 10lb & 30lb PowerPro
- Leader: 20lb Seagaur Fluorocarbon, 40lb Seagaur Fluorocarbon
- Glasses: Smith Optics Guide’s Choice
- Vessel: Carolina Skiff J16, Old Town Topwater PDL
Conclusion
The best chance for success when fishing structures or pilings for big fish is using a shrimp imitation lure with the current.
With the help of the current, your lure will swim directly into the path of fishing holding close to structure.
Remember not to make the mistake of casting against the current because your lure will be out of the strike zone!
If you have any questions about deep jigging underwater structures, please let me know down in the comments!
And if you know an angler who wants to deep jig structures for big fish, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Issues on jigging.
Lots of fish, competitive feeding, flash, action and they will come to you.
Few fish, sublety and illusion.
What have you got this morning?
If you are anchored in under 60ft with a good tide, the anchor chain as well as the hull of the boat will create an underwater ruckus.
Drift past repeatedly or anchor off and cast as on a river.
I would be nailing something oily and smelly to the bottom, just uptide of your fish holding spot. You will need to be sharpish when your rod tip pops straight.
Rgds.
Was that the power prawn I saw in the cobia’s mouth? If so wow that is awesome!
Good eye! It definitely was! The Prawn is quickly becoming my favorite lure to jig with… the bouncing action plays well into working a small tight zone (close to the structure), as opposed to swimming straight through it with a paddle tail, has been working great.
Side note: all the cobia I’ve caught recently have had a full belly of jumbo shrimp, and no baitfish at all. This is what made me start throwing the prawn offshore, and it’s been working great ever since!
Great tips Wyatt!
Thanks so much Luke!
Also, what weight jig head works best? Do you like to use a lightish jig to drift the shrimp or a heavier one to get down deeper?
Ideally you have a mixture of the two… don’t use too light of a jig head that can’t get to the bottom in a few seconds, otherwise you’ll have to lead the cast too far, and the current can move it around too much,
On the inverse, using too heavy will prevent a nice falling action when bounced on the bottom, and most fish hit on the drops. More time suspending, the better.
Use the lightest jig you can that gets you to the bottom and keeps you close without over killing it! I used an 1.5 oz in this video on the rig, and the depth is likely 50ish feet.
Wyatt, what weight and length leader do you recommend to protect the rig from barnacles? thx, Phil
I like to use 40-50lb leader (about 3-4ft) when fishing around rigs!
Great Information! I try for Tripletails with same method on Markers & or Pilings by letting the current do the work on presentation! Like the video as it was direct to the point!
Tripletail are an absolute blast and this type of fishing is exactly how you pick them up! Thanks so much for watching Bob! Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video Wyatt! Like Mel said, I appreciate that you were concise and direct in your content.
No problem Jonathan! Glad you enjoyed the video sir!
Good video presentation Wyatt. I recognize those waters and abandoned well-heads and the bridge along the causeway on the Aransas Pass channel in Texas. I liked the fact that you got right to the point on how to improve my catch. No 15 minute drawn-out video. Good job.
Mel Crissey
San Antonio
Absolutely Mel! Those are some solid areas for deep jigging! And yes, I try to be respect your time… we make the guarantee that we’ll help you catch fish faster, so I try to make my points quick so you can get on the water faster!
Looks like there is problem with the link in the email about this article. I had to access this article separately from the site.
Ah! Thanks for letting us know Jonathan!
I had the same issue.