I have never been interested in jigging while I was in Panama because the tuna and marlin bite is always so hot. This time was different. With the renowned jigging master, Kilsong, offering to take me under his wing, it was the chance of a lifetime and I’m always up for a challenge.
450 feet is not normally the place to try and teach a beginner the art of jigging but that is where we started. I was used to bottom fishing here with live bait. Even in 200 feet of water, the fish will run if you don’t feel the bite. I couldn’t understand how you could detect a bite on a piece of steel, in over 400 feet. It’s all in the tackle. With the right set up, technique and presentation, you can. Most of the time, the bite happened on the fall back when the jig was fluttering back down. It felt like all of the sudden the weight of the jig was gone. Before I knew it, I was pulling snowy grouper over the rail. Kilsong was excited that I picked it up so fast and we went back and forth pulling a variety of snapper and grouper off the bottom all day. We even manage a tile fish, which was a first for me. Kilsong hooked two fish that he couldn’t turn with 30# plus drag. One even fried the drag on his reel. We couldn’t believe a fish was pulling line that fast from a reel like that.
Reggie,
Awsome post. You don’t always here about the bottom bite in a place like Panama. I can’t wait for you to show me the techniques. I especially like that you wore the Team Pole Dancer visor. Very Nice!
That’s pretty cool. Looks like you got a big mutton snapper there. Also, what did they call the red one? It’s obviously a different brand of red snapper than we get around here judging from the shape of the head, but it seems to be a close cousin.
“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases.”
— Thomas Jefferson
Reggie,
Awsome post. You don’t always here about the bottom bite in a place like Panama. I can’t wait for you to show me the techniques. I especially like that you wore the Team Pole Dancer visor. Very Nice!
26 Hydra Sports
Twin Yamaha 225
Bad Apple,
I'am no master but Kilsong showed me the basic jigging presentation and retrieve in every water column.He even showed me the difference in retrieve between Blackfin and Yellowfin.I would be more than glad to show you what i've learned when this stupid freaking weather gives us a break.
That’s pretty cool. Looks like you got a big mutton snapper there. Also, what did they call the red one? It’s obviously a different brand of red snapper than we get around here judging from the shape of the head, but it seems to be a close cousin.
Skinee,
Good guess,the one on the right is called Pacific Red Snapper and the one on left is called Barred Pargo.Good call on Sellsfish too.
“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases.”
— Thomas Jefferson
“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases.”
— Thomas Jefferson
Nice job down there. It seems like no matter what species/technique one wants deploy, it can be done there.
I cannot wait to take a trip down there and check it out for myself.
Also, I was marking blackfin on the machine about 45’ down in the water column the other day…We could have used some of those jigging techniques you learned down in Panama.
Nice job down there. It seems like no matter what species/technique one wants deploy, it can be done there.
I cannot wait to take a trip down there and check it out for myself.
Also, I was marking blackfin on the machine about 45’ down in the water column the other day…We could have used some of those jigging techniques you learned down in Panama.
mike
i'am already planning my next trip to panama,i'll tell you the date when confirm.about the blackfin,thats a great scenario to take them on jigs.did you have some jigs onboard?
I had some jigs on board but it didn’t cross my mind to use them until we were ready to leave. After about an hour into the run home, I remembered when we were at the Islamorada hump facing similar conditions and the jigging worked.
I also heard that the blackfin have moved in, but not necessarily at the southledge. Someone caught 20 some at another location…
Wanna run? I am looking to put a crew together soon…
Reggie,
mike,
i’am in ,just keep me posted.i can’t wait to try some of my new tackle
reggie
I had some jigs on board but it didn’t cross my mind to use them until we were ready to leave. After about an hour into the run home, I remembered when we were at the Islamorada hump facing similar conditions and the jigging worked.
I also heard that the blackfin have moved in, but not necessarily at the southledge. Someone caught 20 some at another location…
Wanna run? I am looking to put a crew together soon…
