Rigging blackfish jigs - seeking suggestions

[Sc42]

Getting prepared for a couple of trips with a great boat/captain in Greenport. I was hoping to get some insight into how others set up line, leader and blackfish jigs. I ask because I’m interested in learning if I could do something differently to allow quicker or easier jig changes. I’d want to change if I need to go heavier (or lighter), or after losing the jig in a snag.

What I currently have is 20# braid on my spinning setup. I pre tie 3’ of 30# Seaguar flourocarbon to my jigs with a palomar, and tie on a swivel to the other end, also with a palomar. Once I’ve decided on a jig weight to try, I’ll tie the swivel to my braid with a palomar once again. When it’s time to change jigs, I’ll cut the braid just ahead of the swivel and put on a completely new rig. It’s not too much trouble, but cold hands and a rocking boat sometimes makes it take too much time to get back on the bottom. I feel there may be a better way. Thoughts?

 

[longcast]

Too much time with that. Plus if very cold, who wants to keep using their fingers to make knots.

Palomar knot in braid to swivel. 40-50 flouro, 3 feet, tie a loop in end of mono, big enough to change jigs - just like fluke fishing changing a jig or even a sinker. That's it. Never a problem. I know bass are a different fish, but had many approaching 30 lbs on jigs and I lean on them with the same setup, and sometimes lighter flouro. Granted, blackfish run you into bottom etc, but that's why the 50. Leader gets a little beat up, I look to see if I can still get roughly 2.5 feet of leader and tie a new loop. Otherwise I rip another 3 feet off the spool and repeat.

 

[longcast]

Here you go.

 

[Matts]

Some jigs have an eye too small for that. A snap or clip connector should make no difference at all as long as it is heavy enough not to open. In my head I know it won't make a difference, but somehow I feel like it does. I tie with a clinch knot. I use 60, so I do 4 twists, not 6. it does not take much time.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Agreed with all the above, don't overthink it.

 

[Chinacat]

I would also ask the captain of the great boat you will be fishing on
If its the captain many of us here fish with, I’m sure he will be more than happy to give you his opinion of what he suggests is best for where you’ll be fishing

 

[Kona]

Use jigs with a big eye, FG a 6’ shot of 40 to your braid, tie a loop at the end and add jig. Easy to change out the jig and when hung up as it breaks off at the loop knot and quick to te tie the loop. For rig fishing I go with 10’ of 50 , tie a loop for the sinker and a small dropper loop as close to the sinker as possible, quick tie also but I always have 3 rods with identical rigs ready to go.

 

[Kona]

This

 

[Snapprhead27]

I see a lot of people plasti dip their sinkers. Is it more to stop the sinkers from bouncing off the gunnels or like painting like we used to for flounder.

 

[Leprechaun]

Too much time with that. Plus if very cold, who wants to keep using their fingers to make knots.

Palomar knot in braid to swivel. 40-50 flouro, 3 feet, tie a loop in end of mono, big enough to change jigs - just like fluke fishing changing a jig or even a sinker. That's it. Never a problem. I know bass are a different fish, but had many approaching 30 lbs on jigs and I lean on them with the same setup, and sometimes lighter flouro. Granted, blackfish run you into bottom etc, but that's why the 50. Leader gets a little beat up, I look to see if I can still get roughly 2.5 feet of leader and tie a new loop. Otherwise I rip another 3 feet off the spool and repeat.

This is the way .

 

[Leprechaun]

Or, your 20lb braid to 6' of 30lb mono (I like Berkley Big Game) via an FG, PR Bobbin, or Red Phillips knot (I do not trust a double uni). 75lb snap on end of shock leader. Working leader 18" 50lb Big Game, 100lb barrel swivel one end (to the snap) other end a double over-hand Surgeon's Loop for the jig. Done this way you can pre-tie a gaggle of the 50lb working leaders and quick change them out as they get roughed up. This is my way.

Or go with Longcast's simpler method. Both work.