Tackle Source goes way offshore in search of some fine Amberjacks with our trusty Major Craft Slow Draw rods in hand. Slow pitch jigging has taken our region by storm, easy to learn, satisfyingly productive and exciting moments behind the massively bent rods make it a no-brainer for many...
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| We leave port and head miles offshore. It will take many hours but the results will make the long journey worthwhile... |
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| Time to prep. We are big fans of Shout! jig accessories. The range is enormous and there is something for every style... |
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| We are constantly searching out the latest and most lustful jigs for our customers. In recent times we have introduced Ezo-hachi, FEED, Xesta and Sea Floor Control to the market to great reception... |
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| This trip we got put the new FEED Lures FALL slow jigs to the final test before production. Here it is first to score... |
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| Our very own Tackle Source Major Craft collaboration series the Slow Draw continues to provide us many joyous moments... |
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| After a tough fight, the first Amberjack hits the decks to much reception... |
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| Courtesy of the Sea Floor Control Cranky jig... |
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| As night falls the Bigeye Trevallies come out to play. This one went for the Shout! Flash jig and got snagged... |
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| These offshore Bigeyes are big indeed, and go hard... |
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| The new Kanji Free Flip jig is the business... |
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| On the Major Craft Slow Draw rod they are maximum fun... |
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| The FEED Lures FALL jig pins this one... |
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| Next morning we go deep in search of Ruby Snapper. Here's a small one which fell victim to the SFC Cranky jig... |
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| Then the Amberjack show themselves. This on likes the Xesta Slippy jig very much... |
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| And this one is victim to the good old Shout! Cradle jig... |
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| A very angry bonito then thinks the SFC Cranky is an easy meal... |
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| The SFC Cranky jig can be slow pitched or in this instance punched strongly with the Evergreen Poseidon High Pitch Jerker down deep. The result is a nice Gold Band Jobfish... |
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| Major Craft Slow Draw rods in action. They are perfect for deep work... |
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| Another Gold Band Jobfish gets onboard... |
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| The Xesta Slippy jig gets the job done... |
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| Deep jigging is really a lucky draw. And luck would have it that this Amberjack thought this SFC Cranky was tasty... |
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| One of the perks of the live-aboard trip. Fresh fish from the deep mean delicate flesh and awesome flavours... |
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| Tummy filled, it was back to the slow pitch procession. Next up is a nice Bonito on the FEED FALL jig... |
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| And then a very greedy Japanese Soldierfish on the Xesta Slippy jig... |
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| The seas were calm and clear, and we had a magnificent passer-by in the form of a majestic Manta Ray... |
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| The Ruby Snapper is one of the common target species in these parts. This one fell for the Xesta Slippy jig as well... |
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| This little Alfonsino is one of the tastiest deepwater fish according to the Japanese, and it got fooled by the prototype FEED FALL jig... |
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| The species count continues with this Lavender Jobfish on the Xesta Slippy jig... |
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| And here's a fat Japanese Soldier on the trusty Xesta Slippy, one of the best jigs to work really deep drops... |
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| The halo outfit comprising of the Evergeen Oceanus reel with Poseidon Slow Jerker rod tames this Ruby Snapper from the deep, on the Kanji Free Flip jig... |
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| Then another Japanese Soldierfish joins us onboard, courtesy of the long FCL Labo FT jig worked with the Evergreen Poseidon High Pitch Jerker... |
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| A little change of terrain means some new species in the form of this Grouper from the deep on the Xesta Slippy jig... |
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| The FCL Labo FT jig scores once more, with a Comet Grouper this time... |
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| Jackpot on the next drop with the FCL Labo VN jig this time. A Comet Grouper and a Ruby Snapper on one jig! |
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| This fight had a different characteristic. On the Evergreen Poseidon Slow Jerker rod everything is felt... |
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| Its no wonder as a Yellowfin Tuna hits the deck after being fooled by the Kanji Free Flip jig... |
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| Another deep water oddity we encountered was the Horse Head Tilefish. The SFC Cranky jig did it in... |
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| We finally get into the Ruby Snapper proper with this pair on the SFC Gawky and Xesta Slippy jigs respectively... |
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| The Kanji Free Flip scores one too... |
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| Barracoutas are an intriguing fish, maligned by many due to lost jigs at their expense. This one found the SFC Cranky in the depths... |
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| And there were more than one. These fish a known to school and so it was no surprise... |
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| The SFC Gawky gets picked by this fish... |
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| While the Kanji Free Flip makes this capture... |
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| The Rubies were ever present at this spot, and they sure like Xesta Slippy jigs too. This time the Major Craft NP Jack slow pitch special is the stick of choice... |
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| The SFC Cranky finds another Ruby Snapper... |
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| Then its a good sized one on the SFC Gawky worked on the Evergreen Poseidon High Pitch Jerker... |
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| Another nice Ruby fooled by the Xesta Slippy jig... |
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| On board there is always a Major Craft Slow Draw rod bent at any one time... |
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| Used and abused, but still scoring is this FCL Labo VN jig. The little Ruby Snapper pays the price... |
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| The Rubies keep coming. Another nice fish on the Xesta Slippy jig... |
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| The Xesta Slippy really performed on this trip. It is now a firm favourite with many... |
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| As we pose with this Ruby, the Slow Draw rod is pushed by a good fish in the background... |
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| Turned out to be a really nice Amberjack on the FCL Labo VN jig plucked from amongst the Rubies... |
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| No shortage of Japanese Soldierfish to keep everyone entertained. The Kanji Free Flip jig gains a few new fans... |
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| Below the boat is really a mixed community. This fight ends with a Barracouta in the boat... |
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| Munched on the Xesta Slippy and got pinned... |
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| And this one took the Kanji Free Flip jig... |
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| Japanese Soldierfish on the battered FCL Labo VN jig... |
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| And its back to Rubies again... |
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| As the Kanji Free Flip continues to perform... |
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| More Barracouta action, they go hard but are not very appreciated by anglers... |
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| The Kanji Free Flip jig is on a roll... |
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| A rare species from the depths. A Yellowfin Sea Bream on the FEED Lures FALL jig... |
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| The FEED FALL jig also accounts for another Horse Head Tilefish... |
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| For pelagics like this Mack Tuna, the oldie but goodie Sevenseas Hooker jig is prime... |
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| But going slow with the FEED FALL jig means more bottom dwellers like this Gold Band Jobfish... |
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| There's more than one. So here's a pair on Kanji Free Flip jigs... |
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| A big take and a stubborn fight ends with a big Barracouta on deck. On the Major Craft Slow Draw rod it is a fantastic fight... |
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| The FEED Lures FALL jig is scarred but lives to fight another day... |
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| There's no stopping. Here's another Japanese Soldier on the Xesta Slippy... |
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| Jackpot! Alas we get one of these trophies in the boat. A Grey Banded Grouper from the deep, one of the nicest fish to catch with the slow pitch method. As usual the Slow Draw rod is the star of the show... |
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| And the FEED Lures FALL jig gets an emphatic stamp of approval... |
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| Then its back to the Barracouta brigade. But this batch is much bigger indeed, making them a fun catch for sure... |
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| They fall victim to the FEED FALL like every other species... |
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| The Xesta Slippy slays this Barracouta... |
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| And its Barracouta all around for most onboard. The Major Craft Slow Draw rod shines... |
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| The FEED Fall jig scores another... |
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| This little guy is hard to identify. But we do know he likes the new FEED FALL jig as well... |
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| Amongst the myriad of species hitting the deck, the next hook up is stronger and more stubborn. Result is the best Amberjack for the trip, and a worthy adversary for the Major Craft Slow Draw rod... |
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| The jig in question is the Anchovy Metal by Jackall. Its a good one! |
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| We obviously hit a patch of soft reef because the next pair of fishes are Greasy Groupers on the Ezo-Hachi Namara and Jackall Anchovy Metal jigs... |
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| Over a shallower reef we drop a lighter IMA Ro jig and didn't take long to find a nice Coronation Trout at the end of our line... |
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| Dropping off into the deep, we find the usual suspect. Its Amberjack time... |
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| The Ezo-Hachi Namara jig is Amberjack approved... |
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| And another drop with the Namara jig gets nailed instantly. Pandemonium ensues... |
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| Next two jigs over board are the Xesta Slippy and Kanji Free Flip, and two more Amberjack hit the deck... |
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| Sevenseas Hooker jig gets in on the act too... |
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| Major Craft Slow Draw rods in tandem... |
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| Result is an Amberjack on the SFC Cranky jig... |
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| The weather turns bad but it doesn't stop crazy anglers from getting in on the action... |
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| The Amberjack are on the chew and this Xesta After Burner jig scores a nice one... |
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| The same After Burner jig is dropped again and finds another hungry Amberjack... |
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| A proper soaking for the anglers, but the fun never stops. We expected to see more Rosy Jobfish this trip but here's a loner on the Shout! Shab Shab jig... |
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| We had close cousins, the Gold Band Jobfish for company though. Here is another tandem on one jig! |
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| The FEED Lures FALL jig with two fish on one jig... |
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| We had obviously hit a school of these fish, and a pretty large one too. The Evergreen Javeline Jet jig scores one... |
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| And then the Javeline Jet gets another on the next drop... |
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| And there's even a little Almaco Jack thrown in as well, on the Sevenseas Hooker jig... |
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| The weather is utterly atrocious at this point in time. A little Mack Tuna provides some anxious moments in the rough seas. It took the Evergreen Javeline Jet jig... |
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| We decide to call it quits early due to the tragic weather. But not before boating yet another Japanese Soldierfish courtesy of the Evergreen Javeline Jet jig... |
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