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Fishing forjig by boat is a highly effective way of catching squid, cuttlefish and other cephalopods.
Like all techniques, you need to take all the subtleties into account by learning how to set up, selecting your equipment and identifying the areas and times that are best suited to this type of fishing.
La jig is a lure with a basket in the tail that makes it easier to hook the tentacles.
Cephalopods, unlike the other fish we are used to catching, attack their prey by first grabbing it with their tentacles and then engulfing it in their beak.
As you may already know boat fishing fishing in general requires very specific equipment, in terms of resistance to the salty environment, the size of your rod and the type of lines you use. If you want to fish at night, it's perfectly feasible. We recommend that you read our article on night fishingNight cuttlefish fishing: what type of lure should you choose ? so you'll be totally prepared.
Fishing with boat jigging you'll need to take all these factors into account, as well as the particularities of eging fishing: a very sensitive rod and a suitable reel. The tide is also an important factor, which we covered in our article What tide for cuttlefish ?, we recommend that you read it.
Let's take a look at the equipment, techniques and spots that will help you to be as effective as possible when jigging from a boat.
Choosing the right technique for jigging from a boat
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In reality, there are a huge number of jigging and each angler will have a particular affinity for each of them. We'd like to recommend a few ways of fishing for cephalopods, although the list is far from exhaustive.
If you are a complete beginner, we recommend that you first read Start cuttlefish fishing: our advice, to gather as much relevant information as possible.
Anchored fishing
This technique is ideal for anglers who know their spot well. To be effective, you need to drop your anchor in certain suitable areas.
Stabilising your boat over an area of sand is not really recommended, as the cephalopods will be scattered and your jig will unfortunately not attract many people.
It is therefore necessary to drop anchor above a rocky mass, which will allow you to look for squid and cuttlefish in crevices and other hiding places.
Anchored fishing allows you to stay in position and prospect right where the cephalopods come to hunt the forage fish.
Using a groundbait will significantly increase your chances, as it will attract the cephalopods' favourite prey just below the boat.
Free drifting
Free drift fishing will only be possible if weather conditions allow. You should reserve this method for days when the wind and currents are very light, so that you can drift gently over spots that are ideal for jig fishing.
The advantage of the latter is that it can target all types of ground, whether sandy, rocky or other, you'll be able to fish them effectively.
For maximum efficiency, we recommend that you always keep your daggerboard below 1.5 knots.
Braked drift
When the weather turns bad, you'll need to turn to this technique. Although trolling can be an effective solution, we recommend that you try to keep as close as possible to the speed of the current.
A floating anchor is an essential accessory that will ensure you slow down in these windy conditions.
Choice of equipment
The rod
To fish from a boat, your rod will have to comply with certain points to be as effective as possible.
The first thing to check is the length of the rod. Even if you're in a boat, it needs to be long enough to handle your lures properly and control their descent. Going for a two-piece rod will make it easier to store on a boat.
Finally, perhaps the most important feature of all: your rod needs to be as sensitive as possible. Fishing for cephalopods involves subtle touches that you absolutely must detect if you want to be effective and have fun.
The rod we can recommend is the from Daiwa, this is the ideal rod for jigging from a boat, with all the features you'd expect from a good rod.
If you wish, our articleWhich rod is right for jigging ?, will deal with the subject in depth so that you can make the best choice.
The jig
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Like the rest of your equipment, your jigging lure will need to meet a number of different requirements, depending on your needs.
Although this time they're not just for use in boats. The first point is the size of your lure, which needs to be adapted to the cephalopods you want to target. The key is to be consistent with the natural environment, so find out about your spot and observe it so that you're in the best position to adapt your tackle and imitate what's found in those waters.
Next, you need to select the basket. Different shapes exist and will be more or less suited to your needs, so check the manufacturers' descriptions, which will detail for which species they recommend them.
Finally, the sinker, which will be the element that defines the descent speed of your lure. The higher the jig number, the faster it will sink.
If you have no idea how to animate your lure, then our paper How do you animate a jig when fishing ?, you'll find out a lot more.
The colour of the jig
The choice of colour is a point that still divides many anglers. Depending on your experience, you may prefer one colour or another.
What we can recommend is that you select UV and flashy colours for fishing at night and in tinted waters.
During the day, we recommend more natural colours in clear waters.
What's certain is that you should always go fishing with a set of colours that will allow you to try out different approaches and adapt to the mood of the cephalopods.
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