Technique 04
Slow jigging in the Canary Islands
The answer when the fish are there on the sounder and will not touch a fast jig. Slow jigging sells a different story: not a fleeing baitfish, but a dying one.
What slow jigging is
A broader, flatter jig is worked with slow lifts and long falls. The jig flutters sideways on the drop, and that fall is where almost every take happens.
It asks less of the angler physically and more of them in patience. The rod does the work; you supply the rhythm.
When and why
When and why we use it here
Cold water, high pressure, and fish that show on the sounder without committing. Slow jigging converts marks into bites when the fast technique has stopped working.
It also catches a far wider range of species than fast jigging, which makes it a good option when nothing specific is running.
Tackle
Tackle and rigging
Softer, parabolic rods that load on the lift and unload on the drop. Light braid and a long fluorocarbon leader.
Assist hooks top and bottom, because a fish taking on the fall can come at the jig from any angle.
On board
What it is like on board
Quieter and more technical. There is a rhythm to learn and it takes an hour to find it.
A good option if the group has mixed fitness: it produces without the punishment of fast jigging.
We don't wait for the fish. We follow them.
Tell us when you are coming
Send us your dates and the species you are after. We will tell you honestly what the ocean is likely to be doing.