High-speed knife jigging

Jigging for big speedsters offshore isn’t for everybody, but those who regularly undertake this aerobic form of fishing can’t seem to get enough of it! Whether it’s dogtooth tuna in the Coral Sea in Queensland, samson fish in the Indian Ocean in WA, or kingfish at The Rip in Victoria, this stuff pushes both angler and tackle to its limits!

Rods with short blanks and long butts, strong braid and long, heavy metal jigs are the gear of choice when chasing speedsters down deep, and it’s no wonder that those new to the game will complain of soreness following their first few missions! Compared to the more sedate micro and slow-pitch jigging techniques, high speed jigging requires the angler to impart a lot more action to their jigs. The technique involves dropping the jig (usually an elongated design known as a knife jig) to the bottom, before working it back up toward the surface with a series of sharp rips with the rod. This style of jigging is tiring, hard on gear, and sometimes illness inducing, but so incredibly effective!

There’s a lot of great gear that is specifically designed with high speed jigging in mind, and using a specific jigging rod will make day and night difference not only to your comfort levels, but also to the action of the jig and your manoeuvrability around the boat.

Nomad Design Jigging Rods and the Oceans Legacy Elementus Spin Jig Rod have been tested in some of the harshest jigging environments there are, and will ensure you get the most out of your high speed jigging experience.

Selecting a jig comes down to the terrain you’re fishing and what species you expect to encounter, but there are a couple of trusted brands and jig models that you just should never leave home without. They may seem like simple machines, but knife jigs are designed to work at speeds that other jigs just won’t, and are put together with species like kingfish, dogtooth tuna and samson fish in mind.

The Black Magic Deep Water Slim Jig, Entice Ringer Jig 200g, Nomad Design Streaker Jig and Williamson Abyss Speed Jig are excellent for probing the depths for angry speedsters.

While jigs usually come with hooks, it can help to add assist style hooks to increase hook-up potential, and Shout Assist Hooks and BKK 8090-6X Jig Assist Hooks will provide a strong link between you and whatever enraged hoodlum you’ve managed to connect to.

If you’re looking to delve into the world of high speed jigging, make sure you equip yourself properly. It’s not for everyone, but you might just find yourself addicted like all the other jiggers out there!