Is SPJ really a game changer?
- Thread starter bobafet1
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I can hook you up with full cans of beer, but I’m not a sex trafficker so I can’t help with tall boys.
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OP this is good option to at least test it out, all you'll have to purchase is a few jigs and some assist hooks to see for yourself.
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Yes, SPJ absolutely changed our cod game here in SoCal! Not only did it make cod fishing fun again, but it's damn effective! In my experience after 3 seasons, this technique is better fished from a private boat with spot lock. This way you're vertical jigging versus trying to jig horizontally on the drift. You can still SPJ from a sportsboat, but it's 10x more fun on a private boat on spotlock.
The rod and reel help the presentation, but it's really about the center balanced jigs. Start with the jigs and then add the SPJ gear if you want to pursue it further.
The rod and reel help the presentation, but it's really about the center balanced jigs. Start with the jigs and then add the SPJ gear if you want to pursue it further.
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We’ve been dropping various jigs on the heads of bass and rockfish for over thirty years. Now they call it SPJ and say we need specialized rods and reels to do it. Lol.
Edit: In my close circle of friends, we’ve probably caught a few thousand fish jigging. One is actually using SPJ rods and reels. It’s about as productive as fishing a swimbait if you know what you’re doing, but—and this is where I draw the line—at five times the cost per break off. And we break off a lot. I gotta say the rods are pretty cool. Who knew you can make a skinny, 3’ rod that will pull down a house. We chase big calicos. We’ve caught plenty of 7 pounders on jigs, but the 8s and two 10 pounders have come on 4” swimbaits.
Edit: In my close circle of friends, we’ve probably caught a few thousand fish jigging. One is actually using SPJ rods and reels. It’s about as productive as fishing a swimbait if you know what you’re doing, but—and this is where I draw the line—at five times the cost per break off. And we break off a lot. I gotta say the rods are pretty cool. Who knew you can make a skinny, 3’ rod that will pull down a house. We chase big calicos. We’ve caught plenty of 7 pounders on jigs, but the 8s and two 10 pounders have come on 4” swimbaits.
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Motonurse84
Newbie
I think it’s like any other method, it works and it doesn’t. The key factor is situational. I prefer to be as ready for any situation as possible, so I’ve been dabbling in it. I’ve caught fish doing SPJ, but nothing to the point where I’m selling off all the rest of my gear. I would recommend if you’re fully stacked on your gear now, slowly build up a SPJ arsenal and try it, it’s actually tons of fun!
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SPJ saves me money, well saves “some” money as I had to buy the setup and jigs. On quick trips to local inshore rocks, I grab a SPJ setup and my goto local rock fish rod and bypass the bait receiver saving $50 snaps each trip! It catches on par with live bait and out fishes plastics in the rocky areas I frequent! Saves time as well; No need to make bait or wait in line at the bait barge!
I have noticed that I do run into more smaller rock fish than those fishing with live dines! I do get my share of fatties though!
The Whistler bouy Sand Bass love them, which is always a fun fight on the SPJ rods!
I will have it in my quiever until I’m too old to work that hard for fish, which isn’t that far off!
I have noticed that I do run into more smaller rock fish than those fishing with live dines! I do get my share of fatties though!
The Whistler bouy Sand Bass love them, which is always a fun fight on the SPJ rods!
I will have it in my quiever until I’m too old to work that hard for fish, which isn’t that far off!
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I hear you on most topics in todays ever changing world. I resist change more often than most. However, my experience is that the SBJ gear is substantially lighter, better balanced and allows you stay in the game longer when actively working a jig for long periods of time. It is a good tech advance IMO. As I age, and deal w/neck issues, I seek out said tech advances that allow me to stay active on the rail longer. Every bit of my current quiver is based on weight and balance and how that affects my damn neck!
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For me SPJ is just as enjoyable as fishing surface iron or Yo-Yo and just as effective. It's just another way of getting a reaction bite.
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benwah22
Member
Slow Pitch is what you make of it. Is it the end all, be all - no. But it's tremendously fun, often times more effective than bait, and you feel like you've accomplished something by tricking a fish with only lures.
The push back that people have is generally because they don't dedicate the time necessary for being proficient, or have different goals for fishing. The folks that say we've been doing this forever ignore the specialized tackle which makes it less taxing on the angler, sort of like when people wax poetic about muscle cars from the 70s when cars now are objectively better by any metric.
The issues I see with SoCal in particular is that fisherman tend to be very beholden to techniques or gear that has ties to SoCal in some way, and skittish at best - and downright opposed at worst - to new techniques or gear. I'm not sure why that's the case, but it seems prevalent.
I'm going to be in SoCal in May for some seminars, so we'll see how it goes after a cogent discussion of the gear, tactics and reasoning behind why this technique can be an excellent tool to have in your bag.
The push back that people have is generally because they don't dedicate the time necessary for being proficient, or have different goals for fishing. The folks that say we've been doing this forever ignore the specialized tackle which makes it less taxing on the angler, sort of like when people wax poetic about muscle cars from the 70s when cars now are objectively better by any metric.
The issues I see with SoCal in particular is that fisherman tend to be very beholden to techniques or gear that has ties to SoCal in some way, and skittish at best - and downright opposed at worst - to new techniques or gear. I'm not sure why that's the case, but it seems prevalent.
I'm going to be in SoCal in May for some seminars, so we'll see how it goes after a cogent discussion of the gear, tactics and reasoning behind why this technique can be an excellent tool to have in your bag.
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I feel you on this big time, I personally have cervical disc issues too that almost ended my fishing days. SPJ gear has extended my angling life.
One other tip that might help you stay in the game longer and has kept me out of pain is to avoid constant looking down at the water, keep your head straight and fish/jig by feel. You will always have to look down at the water periodically and when you're landing fish, but doing most of your actions with your head straight up might help you as it did me. At first it felt weird but now is second nature, give it a shot.
Good luck/keep fishing
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Hop on some boats and outfish everyone on the boat. That will get things trending in the right direction. If it works it will sell, new trends/jigs are flying off the shelves if they work and yes that includes socal.
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I was introduced to SPJ when living in Japan several years ago. Slow pitch, speed jigging and ebbing were the go to for deep daytime tuna. Slow pitch and ebbing got bit about the same as speed jigging but the average size of the tuna on slow pitch and ebbing was substantially larger. I’ve seen more guys pinned to gunnel with a SPJ rod in hand than speed jigging set ups.
For rockfish, the jigs work well but you don’t have to invest in any special rod and reel. A slower glass rod will help for the action and any flat fall or “slow pitch” special jig will get bit. It’s also a lot cleaner to drop jigs than mess with bait and if there’s yellows around they’ll hit the jig more willingly than a plastic with squid strip on it so it opens up more possibilities.
Just my opinion
For rockfish, the jigs work well but you don’t have to invest in any special rod and reel. A slower glass rod will help for the action and any flat fall or “slow pitch” special jig will get bit. It’s also a lot cleaner to drop jigs than mess with bait and if there’s yellows around they’ll hit the jig more willingly than a plastic with squid strip on it so it opens up more possibilities.
Just my opinion
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That's a good point. While fishing a flat fall for cod, I was surprised to catch a nice sized winter YT in 250'.
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Very-very good advice! I’ve determined that my neck issues are primarily from overuse (bad posture, bad technique in whatever I’m doing, laziness etc) looking down is such a bad position, but it’s generally the position of least resistance, especially while fishing! I’m going to remember this and try to heed your advice! I know what I need to do, doing it is just easier said than done!
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- Jul 15, 2006
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I fish halibut quite a bit up here in Alaska. Every halibut I caught this past year was on a slow pitch jig. The one problem is that rockfish are hard to keep off slow pitch jigs. Rockfish are severely limited in Alaska -- one non-pelagic per day -- so I have to be careful where I fish. Once the boat drifts off the edge of the hump, it's time to reel in.
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Benny, what’s the best weight grappler or game type rod for covering the majority of situations? I’m willing to buy Japanese models. I would think it’s the 200 or 260g max models I but defer to your expertise.
Thank you
John
Thank you
John
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