Slow-Pitch Jigging Basics
One of the newer tactics that anglers have been adding to their arsenals over the last 10 years has been slow-pitch jigging. This style of jigging was developed to entice bites from bottom-dwelling species most often targeted with bait and rigs, like haddock, cod, sea bass, and fluke, but it remains effective on mid-water, predatory species like tuna, stripers, bluefish, and pollock.
Unlike speed jigging, which is meant to imitate a fleeing baitfish and incite faster pelagic species, slow-pitch jigging imitates a wounded or dying baitfish. While a whole system of specialized tackle from rods and reels to gloves and line has been developed around this technique, the most important aspect is the jig.
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What makes a jig a “slow-pitch” jig?
The defining characteristic of a slow-pitch jig is the asymmetrical, center-weighted, keeled design. This gives the jig action while in freefall. A dropping slow-pitch jig may glide, quiver, spiral, or dart, imitating an injured and dying baitfish—an easy meal that few fish can pass up. Therefore, a slow-pitch jig is most attractive to the fish as it is falling.
Selecting a Slow-Pitch Jig
The specific action of a slow-pitch jig depends on a jig’s shape. Longer, slimmer jigs, like the Shimano Shimmerfall, have a tight shimmy and shake on the drop, while fatter-bodied jigs, such as the Sea Falcon Z-Slow, have a wider rocking action as they fall.
Jig sizes and styles should be selected based on the water depth and the target species. On inshore waters, for sea bass and fluke, fishermen have had good luck with “micro” slow-pitch jigs weighing 60 grams or less. On deeper bottom-fishing grounds, 90- to 120-gram jigs get the job done, while extreme depths and larger pelagic gamefish may require jigs up to 300 grams or more.
Build Your Own Slow-Pitch Arsenal
Both short pitch and long pitch jigs fall under the umbrella of “slow-pitch” jigs, due to their center-weighted design, but each type shines under different circumstances and conditions. As slow-pitch jigging gains popularity in the Northeast, there are few jigs in both categories worth hoarding for the upcoming fishing season, whether you prefer to target offshore tuna or shallow-dwelling sea bass and scup.
Short Pitch Jigs
These stout-bodied jigs produce a wide, slow fluttering action on the drop designed to mimic a wounded baitfish. Because they fall at a slower rate than long pitch jigs, they tend to perform best inshore or midshore, or when fish are feeding lethargically.
Sea Falcon Z-Slow
Shimano Butterfly Flat-Fall
Long Pitch Jigs
Aptly named, these long, slender jigs generate a tighter, less-erratic action than their portly counterparts. Long pitch jigs are ideal for deep-water, offshore applications or when fish are feeding more aggressively.
Sea Falcon Cutlassfish
Shimano Shimmerfall
The Slow-Pitch Jigging Approach
To get the best action out of these jigs requires the proper rod, which is extremely lightweight, looking more like a largemouth bass rod than one capable of beating a tuna. A slow-pitch rod has a leisurely, even recoil that lifts and then “pitches” the jig with a just a full turn of the reel handle. The rod, more so than the angler, imparts the action to the jig, which makes slow-pitch jigging far less labor-intensive than speed jigging. Fishermen tend toward lighter braided line while slow-pitch jigging to reduce water resistance and maintain a vertical presentation.
A basic approach to slow-pitch jigging is to drop to the bottom, maintaining a bit of tension to keep the lure vertical, so that it sinks more quickly. Once it has touched down, employ sharp turns of the reel handle, while keeping the rod stationary, to “pitch” the jig upward. This creates enough slack in the line to allow a brief freefall that triggers the jig’s action. Once the jig has been fished beyond the strike zone, as long as the presentation is close to vertical, drop back down without tension, watching the line for signs that a fish has grabbed it.
Related Content
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Slow-Pitch Jigging in the Gulf of Mexico
Source: https://onthewater.com/slow-pitch-jigging-basics
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