Question on night jigging BFT-Scents?

[tunakillerjoe1]

I have a couple of questions on different options for jigging for BFT at night, for an upcoming 2 day trip. Does anyone else use scents for the jigs? I have a bunch of different plastics scents, and have used them with success? in the past. It would seem that in the dark, a little scent could help, but do not know how much sticks around after a 300-400 ft freefall. Which leads to question #2-is using lights to get the jig to glow better or worse? Is this a common practice, or not used anymore? 3-do all hooks have to be changed on jigs? Are any worthy, or none can be trusted? Any brands tried and true tested? Rip Rollers? SK? I may just not use any of the stock ones on the top, just use a figure 8 with upgraded hooks, and something good-big on the bottom. I did have a stock hook straighten on a jig (Williamson? Red heat shrink, gold hook) but was caught up in a tangle. Thanks for the intel!

 

[grb7]

I don’t believe color matters after last year. l have been Using straight lead with with proper hooks and rings on 200 lbs with great results. Good Luck 16 oz

 

[MikeC.]

I have a couple of questions on different options for jigging for BFT at night, for an upcoming 2 day trip. Does anyone else use scents for the jigs? I have a bunch of different plastics scents, and have used them with success? in the past. It would seem that in the dark, a little scent could help, but do not know how much sticks around after a 300-400 ft freefall. Which leads to question #2-is using lights to get the jig to glow better or worse? Is this a common practice, or not used anymore? 3-do all hooks have to be changed on jigs? Are any worthy, or none can be trusted? Any brands tried and true tested? Rip Rollers? SK? I may just not use any of the stock ones on the top, just use a figure 8 with upgraded hooks, and something good-big on the bottom. I did have a stock hook straighten on a jig (Williamson? Red heat shrink, gold hook) but was caught up in a tangle. Thanks for the intel!

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scent who knows haven’t seen it used definitely not needed

hooks
hooks = factory hooks are not good for bigger tuna but i do trust and use the factory / replacement hooks from ocean tackle international (10/0 and some 8/0) - its the only assist hooks I use

 

[Vegasfreedive]

Try rubbing ur jig with a greasy burger from the galley, works for me every time.

 

[Irishman]

Nothing but a reaction bite from an apex predator in hunt mode swimming at speed, vacuum inhale bait is all they are keyed in on. These fish do not hang at depths motionless, they’re in full hunt mode traveling at speed.

 

[tunakillerjoe1]

Thats why a little advantage like scent may help! Not sure if glow is too much or an advantage.

 

[ci_seawolf]

If they eat this, do you need glow?

 

[tunakillerjoe1]

We will see!

 

[surfgoose]

During the past five years where we have a whole lot of time to fish for bluefin tuna offshore, in my experience different schools want different things. I've caught quite a few bluefin on glow lures, from Flat Falls to glow sinkers with sardines, and I put finger strips of glow tape on almost every deep lure I drop. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it is ignored. If I see others getting bit on some shape/style/size of lure and mine is being ignored, I change tactics.

Some schools want glowing jigs because they are feeding on squid, which flash. On other occasions they are feeding on other critters, and it always pays for a fisherman to match the hatch. Sometimes they are focusing on tiny little fish fry, or tiny shrimp, or pelagic crabs, or something else that isn't in your tackle box. I have had nice, experienced crewmen advise me that glowing lures haven't been working at all, and sometimes they are right and sometimes they get really surprised when I connect on a glow jig. It's like trolling, which I like to do and bring my own gear and special lures, I frequently am advised that "We haven't caught anything on troll gear in weeks" and ten minutes later I'm stopping the boat.

I have tried several scents, both spray-on and rub-on, and I can't say that it has made any difference. But I wear gloves constantly, so my lures DON'T have human hand-sweat on them, which I believe is a turn-off to most fish. But it's like Irishman said, the bite is usually a fast reaction bite, and I don't know if fishing scent of any kind offers any advantage other than covering up human smell.

And I change the hooks on all of my lures. I'm paying a zillion dollars to go fishing and I'm going to be cheap and lazy with my lures? Nope!

 

[Irishman]

I’ve only relied on the fact these fish at nighttime are moving so fast scent is last on their mind, lateral vibration they pick up on, hence why a simple 16oz lead adorned with huge hooks is now the get there fast and get bit nighttime jig. Sinker rig during the day maybe but they’re on an eyesight bight then. It it builds your confidence yes, all it amounts to is time at the rail. I will say I’m anal about hand washing after a burger or sunscreen application and will never hook a live bait in daytime for any fishing without a good hand washing followed by liberally squishing of dead bait on my hands and running the juices of that up and down hooks etc

 

[hucklongfin]

I put the swivel at the top of he leader not at the jig. Scent, color, whatever, doesn’t really matter 300’ down at 2 am… if they sense it, they inhale it!

 

[Irishman]

I’m very partial to finger fishy smelling fingers, reminds me of a good night out at home when you’re 17 after riding your bicycle home from a disco in rural Ireland after a rake of pints and singing Neil Diamond at the top of your lungs going down hill with both hands off the handle bars and a Marloboro red cherry smoking in the oncoming wind

 

[hucklongfin]

I’m very partial to finger fishy smelling fingers, reminds me of a good night out at home when you’re 17 after riding your bicycle home from a disco in rural Ireland after a rake of pints and singing Neil Diamond at the top of your lungs going down hill with both hands off the handle bars and a Marloboro red cherry smoking in the oncoming wind

I don’t remember discos in rural Ireland!

 

[bentbaitstick]

BFT love the scent of Cocaine and hookers.

 

[hucklongfin]

BFT love the scent of Cocaine and hookers.

Russian hookers?

 

[bentbaitstick]

Russian hookers?

Russian Hookers and you have yourself a feeding frenzy.

 

[bryantttt]

I personally don't see any increase in performance by doing the hand washing fish smashing thing or wearing gloves. I handle my fish and jigs normally without any special care and seem to do just fine. If the fish are biting, they don't care.
My biggest success came after I marked my lines with sharpie to indicate depth. That way I could always know I'd be in the target zone where the fish are. One line for every hundred, alternating colors between black and red sharpie.

 

[walter heim]

Avoid using mako shark scent.