Jig heads are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The jig head and soft plastic pairings are nearly endless. When an angler starts learning saltwater fishing, a common question comes up about whether you can use jigs in saltwater, and what fish you can target with them. Inshore saltwater species such as redfish, and nearshore bottom dwellers such as grouper can be targeted with jig heads and soft plastics, especially near mangrove roots and wrecks. The jig head provides enough weight to bring the swimbait to the bottom and the technique perfectly mimics a baitfish. The simple combination of a jig head and soft plastic body is very effective, and can prove even better when the appropriate size hooks and colors are chosen for the target species and the fishing spot. Read on to see the best jig choice for redfish in the flats, and other common saltwater species.
How to Rig a Jig Head for Saltwater Fishing
There are several factors to consider when choosing how to rig a jig head for saltwater. The weight and color of the jig head, the hook size, and the soft plastic style you’ll pair it with. Most jig heads come in a variety of colors, such as chartreuse, white, red, and silver. The color can be chosen based on personal preference, with a couple rules to keep in mind: white or chartreuse work well in clear water, natural metal works well in dark water, and red changes my luck whenever the fish aren’t biting.
As far as weights and sizes go, you’ll need to have a few on hand. You’ll need to choose a size that sinks to the bottom at a reasonable speed, but also isn’t so light that the current pulls it away. The lightweight jig heads will work in the shallow flats and you’ll need heavier jig heads for wrecks and reefs. The hook size generally corresponds with the jig head weight. The heavier the jig head, the larger the hook size. You may find that if you plan on casting the jig head out, you’ll need a heavier weight as the wind picks up.
When using jigs in saltwater, always try to buy the ones marketed for saltwater use. These ones undergo an additional process during manufacturing to protect the metal from getting rust. Rust will degrade the metal and shorten the time you can use it. If you must use a freshwater jig, I recommend rinsing the jig after using it in saltwater.
Jig heads and soft plastics are a perfect pairing. There are countless advantages to this type of set up. As the water color and clarity change through the day, you can easily slip on and off different colored swimbaits. If a fish bites off the tail, you can swap it out for another one and you’ll likely have extra since they commonly come in packs of 6 or more. Soft plastics can feel a little slimy, especially the ones infused with a tantalizing scent. You can strive to “match the hatch” when selecting your soft plastic lure. Choose silver paddletails to match silver baitfish and greenish soft plastics when that’s what you see. Most soft plastics have a slit in the top for the hook to go through. Make sure your hook comes out through the slit to ensure you have the appropriate size plastic for your jig head.
The leader line is also important for your setup. You’ll need to choose one that is appropriate for your fishing spot yet also maintains the sensitivity of your main line braid. To read about jigging leaders, check out my article here.
How to Work Jig Heads in Saltwater
To work a jig in saltwater, a couple of different options apply. When you’re fishing shallow flats with a sandy bottom, casting the jig out and slowly retrieving it back with a twitch and pause will give the illusion of a baitfish slowly swimming and touching bottom. It's a natural looking presentation and easily fools redfish and snook. If your jig feels like its hitting bottom too quickly, try lowering the size of your jig head to give it more time off the bottom. I find that my jigs are bit when the retrieve is a slow and steady pace.
A simple slow and steady retrieve over a sandy bottom is another method of working jigs. It works best when you have located fish and casted nearby. When doing this presentation, I recommend choosing a simple paddletail, such as the Z-man swimbait, to best imitate a swimming baitfish. Also, when casting out and doing a slow, steady retrieve, make sure you choose a jig head which has the eyelet at the front of the head, like the Mustad Inshore Darter jig head, to keep the ideal orientation of the jig head and swimbait during the retrieve. This jig head is also tapered in such a way that the jig head will dart side to side during the retrieve to look like a baitfish.
Whenever I’m drifting over a wreck or reef offshore, vertical jigging is the better choice. I’ll usually drop the jig down until I can feel it hit some structure. Then I lightly drag it along the structure until I feel the structure end and let it fall with some tension on the line to the next lower level. If my reel is rigged with braid, I can feel when the jig is in contact with the bottom and better control the presentation. To learn more about why braid is best for jigging, read my article here.
I recommend browsing through the jigging category on the website. There are several articles to help you choose a jigging rod, a leader line, and answer some common jigging questions. To read about the 5 best jigs for saltwater, read my article titled “Do Jigs Work in Saltwater?” I hope this article helped you understand how to use jigs in saltwater. Tight lines, y’all!
