Jigs are the oldest artificial fishing lures. While crude examples from the Bronze Age (600-300BC) have been unearthed, the most ornate jigs found to date are from 11th century Poland. Today, this ancient fishing lure is gaining worldwide popularity once again. Japanese tackle manufacturers have been on the forefront of this revival by introducing new jig designs.
The Jig HQ is both a manufacturer and the exclusive US distributor for several Japanese jig manufacturers. The Jig HQ is introducing three types of vertical jigs: the knife jig, the inchiku and the tai-kabura.
The knife, as the name implies, looks like a knife blade. Long and skinny, it is designed to have the center of gravity either in the middle or at the “tail”. If the knife jig is “center-weighted”, it will flutter. If it is “tail-weighted”, the jig will sink without any action. Sometimes a knife jig will be convex on one side but flat on the other. These asymmetrical jigs will “glide” through the water instead of sinking straight down. Knife jigs will catch just about any predatory fish.
Inchiku (or Bottom-of-the-Ship) jigs consist of two parts: the weight and the actual lure ( a small octopus with hooks). It is fished less aggressively than a knife jig. It is an ideal jig for bottom dwellers such as flounders, halibuts, snappers, groupers, sea bass, etc. The inchiku is probably the most under-rated, under-utilized jig, yet it is the most versatile.
The Tai-Kabura(sometimes called madai) jigs look like a squid, octopus or even a nautilus. Just like the Inchiku, this jig is designed to be fished closer to the bottom and fished less aggressively than the knife jigs. Tai-Kabura jigs are typically available in smaller weight than the inchiku. This jig style can be used for anything from a black seabass and pompano all the way up to a grouper.
It is very easy to fish these types of jigs. Cast or drop it straight down and retrieve. Proficient jig fishermen will also use a retrieve style called “mechanical jigging”. This method consists of dropping and raising the rod tip quickly as the line is being retrieved. This allows knife jigs to swim very erratically, attracting all types of predatory fish. Inchikus and tai-kaburas are typically fished slower. Simply cast and retrieve slowly, lifting the rod tip to make the jig "hop" along the bottom.
"Part of the appeal of fishing with this type of lure is way the fish strikes. It is fast and violent. An added bonus is that unlike fishing with bait, the boat's deck remains clean. Something the captain will appreciate." says Frank Betoulaud of The Jig HQ.
