Micro jigging and slow pitch jigging

The fishing world has always produced fads and fashions, especially as the tackle industry grows and promotes exciting techniques from overseas. Micro and slow pitch jigging are techniques that started as fads around 10 years, however the initial hype has seemingly not slowed down. In fact, it just seems to be getting more popular! What’s even more exciting is that there is more and more tackle specifically designed for this technique every year, and in Australia, you’re very well catered for if you want to give it a try offshore. Another great thing about it is it can be done successfully all around the country, from the cool nutrient-rich southern waters to more tropical areas up north.

Micro and slow pitch jigging differs from traditional style jigging, which involves huge knife jigs fished at high speeds up through the water column. Traditional jigging usually targets pelagic species such as kingfish, dogtooth tuna and samson fish. While Micro and slow pitching jigging will still work on these species, it’s on bottom dwelling reef and demersal fish such as coral trout, emperor, pear perch, dhufish and snapper where this technique really shines.

Micro and slow pitch jigging involves using smaller jigs and working them slowly - as the name suggests - giving slower moving targets time to catch them.

The Storm Gomoku Micro Jig, The Gypsea Micro Jig from Nomad Design and Damiki Backdrop are a few jigs to stock up on if taking up this technique. While these jigs can be fished on standard tackle, you’ll get the most out of them when fished on technique specific tackle. Micro and slow pitching jigging rods can be overhead or spin, but generally feature a long butt section and fast-tapering short blank. The Storm Gomoku range of micro jigging rods are ideal, with models like the Nero Kodachi Overhead and Nero Kaiten Spin a fantastic and affordable way into this addictive technique.

Like most forms of vertical fishing, a good sounder and chartplotter is virtually a must to find areas where predators or bait are holding.

Once you’ve anchored, hit the electric anchor, or have established a good drift, it’s then just a matter of dropping your jigs and experimenting with different movements of the jigs.

If you find yourself missing a lot of bites, there are many assist hooks available you can add to your jig to increase hook up potential. It also pays to have a few extra assist hooks handy, as fish can damage and straighten out inferior hooks. Shout Assist Hooks, BKK 8090-6X Jig Assist Hooks and Palm Slow Blatt Cast Heavy Assist Hooks are some great options for spare assists.

If you’re looking for a way to broaden the horizons of your offshore fishing, make sure you give this exciting technique a look!