tuna fishing with Iron jigs it's strange but works

tady · 05-06-2005, 10:38 PM

All:

I put together a small tutorial on how to fish tuna with Iron jigs. Many Companies, such as UFO, Tady, Megabait and Salas make iron jigs. They are very popular in So. Cal and they catch just about anything that swims. The jigs are made out of either Zinc or aluminum, (why people call them Iron jigs is beyond me).

The right model jig to use for tuna are 4 1/2 inch to 6 inch long with a chrome and blue finish a single hook is preferred over a treble hook because the trebles tear out of the tunas mouth easier.

The best way to fish these lures is to cast the jigs in front of the boat right after a hook up on the trolled lures (see figure 1). As the boat slows down and hooked fish is being reeled in let the iron jig sink for about 30 to 45 seconds, then reel the jig in as fast as you can. (See figure 2)

The big benefits of these jigs is that they sink down deep were the majority of the fish are, not to mention that these lures get hammered by the Albacore. Imagine just cranking in the lures as fast as you can and getting fright-trained by a big fat Albacore.

The best rod and reel to use with these jigs is a reel that can handle a minimum of 200 yards 30- 40 lb test and a rod that is at least 6 1/2 feet long with a rating of 20lb-40lb.

Last year in the Blitz, ATC was kind enough to allow me to use this unconventional fishing technique. At the end of the day I had 7 fish on board. The boat average was 4 and there were about 17 people fishing.

Below are some drawings and diagrams of how to fish with these jigs. If you want a better look at these jigs just do a search on the three outfits that I mentioned above on the Internet and check them out.

Well.. I am not able to get the drawings posted from my WORD document

. Can some one help me with this technical problem

The drawings help describe the technique..

Tady

bait boy · 05-07-2005, 01:53 AM

Good thing I just bought 2 sumo jigs at fishermans. scrambled egg and blue mack.

jigmaster · 05-07-2005, 05:56 AM

Great and accurate information. Thanks. Dungeness stingers, Pt. Wilson Darts, Gibbs minnows and some other Salmon/rockfish jigs work to because they are heavy, sink fast and cast easily. Reels with high gear ratios like Penn jigmasters let you retrieve at high speeds. What a rush when one of those bullets hits your jig on full retrieve. Just moved to Newport have jigsticks, reels, and jigs but no boat. If anyone wants to learn this technique I have all the gear, gas money, and patience. Just joined the Salty Dogs..see my other posts or e-mail Placebet1@yahoo.com..

Booja 1 · 05-07-2005, 07:38 PM

Great info using the iron Tady, Tady Shimizu would be proud of you pushing his name and product. And once in awhile, a tuna with a little shorter pec fin might surprise a lucky guy fishing for albies............

Tuna Tom · 05-07-2005, 09:19 PM

While living on the East Coast I use to double my annual income by jigging tuna.

A thought. Mr. Big is under those albies. I prefer an 8 foot pole. The hook up is remakably increased because the jig gets flipped up way above what you would get from a mere lift up and down.

I totally agree about running to the bow during a hook up and throwing out. I use to just camp at the bow. Actually I prefer a flip that lets out about 60 to 80 feet. I'd let it settle down and proceed to give it a dozen flips (as per mentioned before on an 8 foot pole). Then I'd let down to 180 feet. Keep in mind I'm looking for Mr. Big, under those albies. Again I'd flip 12 or 24 times. Then I'd reel up as fast as I could. From there I'd cast out and start all over.

Where the fish are being marked, what time of the day/light makes all the difference on the combination of the above regarding 60 or 80 feet, how many swings, how deep I go after that, etc.

I also should mention I'm throwing 80# mono with an 8 to 12 ounce crinkle jig on an 8 foot seeker blank and a two speed reel. Again I'm not hunting albies but Mr. Big. More than one 200 pound plus big eye has found its way to the boat this way.

Just a thought. Targeting albies is a gas, but I'm always looking for a home run.

By the way, useing the same outfit (80# tuff versus 80# pound mono)and a jig (I start with two torpedoe jigs a 16 ounce and a 10 ounce with a size 10 split ring and another size 10 split ring and a Gamu size 12 hook )(I usually turn the hook into a giant shrimp fly...easy to tie). At anyrate, It can at times be high hook on a boat when everyone else is fishing fresh herring. I suppose it's all in the wrist. Still it is yet another way to get frieght trained while swinging a jig.

Just a thought,

Tuna Tom

5 Salt · 05-08-2005, 06:24 AM

Tady,

email me your drawings and I will paste them up in Photoshop and post them for you. charmon@airinc-usa.com

Booja 1 · 05-08-2005, 07:14 AM

200lb Bigeye on an 8ft stick,,,,,ouch,,,,boy that hurts reading about it,,,,,good on you, you're an animal.......

retaliate · 05-08-2005, 08:29 AM

Last year I put on a small chrome diamond jig once to see what would happen, only got one strike, this year I picked up a few metal jigs(lures) of various colors to try, also a couple of thoes colored cedar plugs, it seems to me since your skipping your lure across the surface at 6 to 10 mph. many lures of various colors shoud work.

This year I also plan on casting & reeling in after a hook-up, or if fish are schooling around the boat. Thanks for tutorial on jig fishing I'll try it.

8knots · 05-09-2005, 10:31 AM

I fished this way for yellowtail in So. Cal in the 80's. I am looking forward to giving it another try this summer for our tuna. Can't wait for that full speed hit. Thanks for bringing it up as a good way to get those deeper fish.

Tuna Tom · 05-09-2005, 10:57 AM

Booja 1,

You were correct. An 8 foot pole would brake your back. My mistake. I pulled the rod out to read spec's and discovered the spec's had been beaten off and that the rod was 7 feet long.

I bumped into someone at the Lucky Labrador last tuna meeting who knew the numbers on blanks in quite amazing depth. I hope I can bump into him to get specific on the rod.

One thing I don't believed I mention is TRIPLE WRAP on the guides. It's a must. You get quite a sunk feeling when you have "fish on" and one or two of your guides start to move down to the side of the pole. Now you have line screaming along side the pole. You start computeing the odds of landing that fish real quick. Not too high.

Of course that never happened to me. I believe a friend of a friend heard his mother in law talking about a friend she once knew that it happened to.

Tuna Tom

crabbait · 05-09-2005, 11:33 AM

Tom - Might that have been me you were talking too?

I am building some 665H and 655XH Seekers (6 1/2' rated to 60 and 100lbs) and a couple Seeker 670 (7' rated to 50lbs) and 870 (7' rated to 40lbs).

Mark Mc helped me get started and I am anxious to see how the rods turn out. I am wrapping the 100lb rod for Ragnar triple wrapped but it is really overkill.

If you are concerned about migrating guides, the spiral wrap is the way to go. Guides that start on the bottom side of the blank really have nowhere to go!

Hammer Down · 05-09-2005, 11:51 AM

Another question for Tom...

What the difference that you note between a 'flip' and a 'mere lift up and down'?

Tuna Tom · 05-09-2005, 03:06 PM

Crabbait,

I'd be mistaken if I said only the wraps become fractured. I want to show you my latest seeker blank. You can see stress from the tip down 18 inches. I've seen my buddys rod just give up the ghost and break into two pieces. Big Tuna do wild things including to the rod. Just an opinion. I bow to your rod building skillls. It's exciting to talk with someone who understands rods that much, but I'd rather have over kill.

Regarding a flip vs. a lift. When you lift, the jig only moves as far as you raise the rod. At best you get a 5 foot move on the jig. When you lift the till the rod tip has bent to it's max and then push both arms up and throw back you can get a twenty foot throw, back up towards the surface. One of the results is you get to recreate a free fall, (repeatedly while staying down deep). It definitely increases the bite. After a while you get accustom to the timing of when the jig finally settles back down to place weight on the rod tip. One of the most exciting moments is when you have just completed a flip up and you suddenly realize that the appropiate time has past and you still have slack. Reel. reel, reel as fast! as you can. Slam...fish on! You don't get that "hit" from merely lifting the jig up and down.

Tuna Tom

Tuna Tom · 05-10-2005, 10:00 PM

Crabbait,

I found the numbers on the blank. Frankly it is the best jig rod I've ever owned. If you can reproduce the rod I'd love to talk to you about it.

Here are the spec's: CTS670 HC 7'
30-80 LB. LINE

The other rod I absolutely love is: CTS6460-SIC 6'
50-130 LB. LINE
The second rod is not a jig rod, but rather what I feel very comfortable putting an 80 on. I would be trolling for Mr. Big with it.

Thanks for any input you may have.

Tuna Tom

crabbait · 05-10-2005, 10:54 PM

PM sent.

Hammer Down · 05-11-2005, 06:50 AM

Tuna Tom...

There's not many places that I know of that share information so freely and so openly.

Here's to you and the rest of the Dogs that share...I owe you a beer...Thanks

backlash442 · 05-11-2005, 07:04 AM

Somebody who knows what they are doing can outfish someone with live bait. Chrome/Blue or Chrome are good colors. I like a megabait with single siwash hook.

Tuna Tom · 05-11-2005, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the offer of the Beer. How about we both buy a round. That works best for me.

While I agree jigs can outfish bait, I'm always paying attention to what is going on. I'm always willing to switch over on those days when bait rules.

As for siwash hooks...man is that a lively debate. The best tuna guy I know loves them. I can not begin to count the days he's lost fish. He claims it is not because of the hook. I totally disagree and refuse to fish with them. I always go with a owner triple beveled hook point. It tend to punch through the bone in the head of a tuna every time. Still...even though I go "look Dan...this owner hook has gone through the head like a paper puncher"...he looks at it...agrees...and then states that siwash hooks are better. We both think the other is wrong. Two fishing persons not agreeing...who would have thought.

Anyway, I have to get this out of my system
...go halibut...go halibut...go halibut.

Tuna Tom

Hammer Down · 05-11-2005, 08:52 AM

Tuna Tom,

Done deal. You buy, then I'll buy (or vice versa?)... I'll be in Newport May 19-21 with or without a ride (Help anyone, I'm still looking for a ride! See Posted request!)

I would tend to agree with you concerning the Owner hooks too. I know (again, you DON'T want to know how I know this one!) that they are devilishly sharp. And will literally 'glide' into you...right past the barb...

Rodbender · 05-21-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Great and accurate information. Thanks. Dungeness stingers, Pt. Wilson Darts, Gibbs minnows and some other Salmon/rockfish jigs work to because they are heavy, sink fast and cast easily.

Ditto!
I've had great Tuna fishing using Canadian made Deadly Dick lures as per the picture-I switch the standard hooks/rings for heavy duty hardware.Fiji, Tobago, Colombia all the Tuna species there fell for them.
Just fire 'em out, wait 5 seconds for them to drop and retrieve at a steady medium fast rate-if no action go faster.
I don't believe in the lift 'n drop method-in fact using the Deadly Dicks it produces less strikes.