Lead Head Jigs

[Outthouse]

Over on the right/east coast, guys use large leadhead jigs offshore a lot. Either feather tipped or with a plastic body. On my one 5 day trip on the left coast, I didn't see a single one. The only jigs I saw were what you call Iron.

I could see the right coast methods working on schooling yellowtail and possibly some bottom fish. Does anyone use leadhead jigs?

[dennykrb]

Here on the West Coast,,,,,we fish them on the slide for the smaller Tuna and sometimes for the Yellowtail and Dorado. Albacore really like them. We also fish leadheads with the plastic swimbaits inshore for all species.

[waruibozu]

I think I know what your talking referring to. When I lived in FL people were using bucktails, I even seen them crimp on two trailer hooks (kirbys) and pin on a ballyhoo, I remember thinking what the f***! are they doing but it seemed to work for the Kings, I just stuck with my Tady's and they worked fine also.

Also, when I was in FL I got a quick lesson on species names. I went out on a night trip as I heard they were killing the Yellowtail. Yep they were killing them but it wasn't the yellowtail that I was used to in CA, what a dissapointment... haha

[ssrmr2]

Originally Posted by waruibozu

I think I know what your talking referring to. When I lived in FL people were using bucktails, I even seen them crimp on two trailer hooks (kirbys) and pin on a ballyhoo, I remember thinking what the f***! are they doing but it seemed to work for the Kings, I just stuck with my Tady's and they worked fine also.

Also, when I was in FL I got a quick lesson on species names. I went out on a night trip as I heard they were killing the Yellowtail. Yep they were killing them but it wasn't the yellowtail that I was used to in CA, what a dissapointment... haha

what were they scad? lol

[Outthouse]

Darrin, I trust they were yellow tail snapper? If so, did you bother to try and eat some? They will change your life!. They are the best eating fish I have ever had on the three different coast I have visiited.

[waruibozu]

It was some sort of rockfish that actually tasted like a whitefish. In FL they usually get them while targeting Muttons and Lane Snapper along with the trigger fish.

[waruibozu]

Jon,

Oh yes they were good eating. That's it Yellow Tail Snapper, the regulars called them Yellowtail and me growing up on the West Coast I immediately assume that they were the same species that we get. It was kind of funny, if you could of seen my expression on the boat.....

[Rodless_Jim]

Originally Posted by waruibozu

Jon,

Oh yes they were good eating. That's it Yellow Tail Snapper, the regulars called them Yellowtail and me growing up on the West Coast I immediately assume that they were the same species that we get. It was kind of funny, if you could of seen my expression on the boat.....

Actually, in neither case is "yellowtail" the complete correct name. I grew up in Tampa, lived in CA for many years, and am now stuck in Mexico City, if you can believe it.

West Coast Yellowtail are properly Yellowtail Jacks. And as you have been told, East Coast (and Gulf) Yellowtail are really Yellowtail Snapper. Both are good eating.

By the way, if you are ever fishing the right coast again, and you like west coast yellowtail fishing (as I do!), get someone to take you wreck fishing for amberjack. They taste even better than yellowtail (hard to believe, I know), and they are the bigger cousins, sturdier, and even more determined. If you hook into a big amberjack, you'll see what I mean. A nice yellowtail on a 30# or 40# rig is a mule, but a good amberjack, even on 50# or 60# gear is a friggin LOCOMOTIVE. Just be prepared to fight like Hell, only to get broken off.

Tight lines all!

[waruibozu]

Originally Posted by Rodless_Jim

Actually, in neither case is "yellowtail" the complete correct name. I grew up in Tampa, lived in CA for many years, and am now stuck in Mexico City, if you can believe it.

West Coast Yellowtail are properly Yellowtail Jacks. And as you have been told, East Coast (and Gulf) Yellowtail are really Yellowtail Snapper. Both are good eating.

By the way, if you are ever fishing the right coast again, and you like west coast yellowtail fishing (as I do!), get someone to take you wreck fishing for amberjack. They taste even better than yellowtail (hard to believe, I know), and they are the bigger cousins, sturdier, and even more determined. If you hook into a big amberjack, you'll see what I mean. A nice yellowtail on a 30# or 40# rig is a mule, but a good amberjack, even on 50# or 60# gear is a friggin LOCOMOTIVE. Just be prepared to fight like Hell, only to get broken off.

Tight lines all!

Jim,
I agree, both are good eating. I actually did some wreck fishing when I was in FL. Good fun, didn't get any Amberjacks but got a couple of nice sized Groupers forgot the exact name but they were very tasty.

[Rodless_Jim]

Originally Posted by waruibozu

Jim,
I agree, both are good eating. I actually did some wreck fishing when I was in FL. Good fun, didn't get any Amberjacks but got a couple of nice sized Groupers forgot the exact name but they were very tasty.

Waru,

If the grouper were mottled off-white and brown, they were what Floridians have always called "black grouper," though the correct name is actually "gag grouper." No lie! If the color of the mottling was a kind of rusty red, they were red grouper (duh!).

Since you were fishing over a wreck, I would bet they were gags. Both species of fish like some form of structure, but reds are typically found over hard bottom, near the edges of channels. Gags are the ones more likely to be found in and around coral heads, rocky piles, and (of course!) wrecks. And for some reason, gags are more likely in smaller, deeper holes, while reds show up either in or right beside trenches, gullies, and wider holes. Since they're virtually the same species, and feed in essentially the same way, it's hard to understand why they choose to separate themselves that way...

In either case, they can be a lot of fun to catch. They're bottom dwellers, but big and beefy. I remember catching some 30-40# gags one early Fall morning, fishing with live pinfish for bait. You never had to feel for a soft bite...just drop the bait down to the bottom, crank up three turns, and wait for the rod to take on a sudden, HEAVY bend. The fish just INHALE their food, literally...they open their gill plates, and suck vast amounts of water through, sucking whatever they intend to eat right down their throats.

And, of course, grouper are FANTASTIC table fare...thick, white, tasty filets that you can cook in a number of ways. Damn, now I'm remembering Florida fishing... I wouldn't trade it for west coast stand-up, because NOTHING beats fighting, catching, and eating tuna. But there's a lot to be said for fishing the Gulf of Mexico. That's where I cut my teeth, so to speak...

[waruibozu]

Originally Posted by Rodless_Jim

Waru,

If the grouper were mottled off-white and brown, they were what Floridians have always called "black grouper," though the correct name is actually "gag grouper." No lie! If the color of the mottling was a kind of rusty red, they were red grouper (duh!).

Since you were fishing over a wreck, I would bet they were gags. Both species of fish like some form of structure, but reds are typically found over hard bottom, near the edges of channels. Gags are the ones more likely to be found in and around coral heads, rocky piles, and (of course!) wrecks. And for some reason, gags are more likely in smaller, deeper holes, while reds show up either in or right beside trenches, gullies, and wider holes. Since they're virtually the same species, and feed in essentially the same way, it's hard to understand why they choose to separate themselves that way...

In either case, they can be a lot of fun to catch. They're bottom dwellers, but big and beefy. I remember catching some 30-40# gags one early Fall morning, fishing with live pinfish for bait. You never had to feel for a soft bite...just drop the bait down to the bottom, crank up three turns, and wait for the rod to take on a sudden, HEAVY bend. The fish just INHALE their food, literally...they open their gill plates, and suck vast amounts of water through, sucking whatever they intend to eat right down their throats.

And, of course, grouper are FANTASTIC table fare...thick, white, tasty filets that you can cook in a number of ways. Damn, now I'm remembering Florida fishing... I wouldn't trade it for west coast stand-up, because NOTHING beats fighting, catching, and eating tuna. But there's a lot to be said for fishing the Gulf of Mexico. That's where I cut my teeth, so to speak...

That's it "Gag Grouper" I also caught what they said was a Kitty Cat Grouper? either way both tasted good. Hell even the trigger fish tasted good!

I also wouldn't trade it for West Coast Fishing. However, FL fishing was an experience. The crew always would ask me about west coast fishing as they all have seen videos and heard about the San Diego fleet. I tried to talk them into comming on a few longe range trips with me but I think they got scared when I told them the pricing and the length of the trips.