Madagascar: Jig Fishing Paradise!
Madagascar is an island that is situated off of the south eastern coast of Africa. It is, in fact the fourth largest island on the planet. Madagascar offers some of the most diverse wildlife seen both above and below sea level, which means one thing, the fishing can be phenomenal!
The island of Madagascar Is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on all sides except to the West where the Mozambique Channel runs between the shores of Madagascar and African Mainland. Add in the host of Islands and Archipelagos that surround the island and you have a recipe for an Anglers Paradise! Top destinations in the region include the famous archipelago of Mitsio, Nosy-Be, Radama Islands, Antsiranana Bay, amongst others.
Kieren from Wild Seas hooked up whilst jig fishing in Madagascar
Shallow inshore waters, idyllic reef systems, offshore plateaus, reefs and banks offer world-class topwater fishing. But not to be overlooked, Madagascar offers some of the very best jigging action on the planet with its rich and diverse waters throwing up an incredible list of species and big game fish alike, with species such as GT (Giant Trevally), many different Grouper, Trevally and Snapper species, Barracuda, Narrow Barred Mackerel, Dogtooth Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish, Black Marlin and many more!
Madagascar offers the angler world-class jig fishing for a huge range of species
Vertical Jig Fishing, Slow Pitch Jigging, Kabura Jigs and Casting Jigs all have a solid place in the fishery around Madagascar and should be considered when planning a fishing adventure to the region. From inshore light jigging, to topwater casting jigs in frenzying bait balls to slow jigging reefs or vertical jigging the super deep drop offs and shelf’s... Madagascar has it all to offer!
Jig fishing can be a very versatile method to catch many different species in many different scenarios and depths in the waters around Madagascar, so here’s a few scenarios explained and how best to tackle up jig wise.
Vertical Speed Jigging in Madagascar
Many of the predatory fish in Madagascar swim fast... Very Fast! So speed is often of the essence when trying to mimic a fleeing baitfish from a hungry predator. Vertical speed jigging is a very effective method for many species where a jig suited to higher velocity speeds is dropped, usually to the bottom or where fish are marking on an echo sounder, and then worked fast through the water column using ‘mechanical jigging techniques’. Rods used are typically 5-6.5ft in length and PE Braided lines to Monofilament or Flurocarbon leaders of usually 60-130lb breaking strain to offer direct to jig contact for imparting the ultimate action and hook up rate with the jig. The predatory fish get fired up chasing your jig as it pulses, flashes and creates vibrations through the water and they home in for a strike! You can expect to catch Giant Trevally (GT), Dogtooth Tuna, Coral Trout, Narrow-Barred Mackerel, Jobfish, Baracuda, Queenfish and much, much more!
Kieren with a nice GT caught speed jigging using the Fish Nugz Holy Flail Jig, at Mitsio, Madagascar
Speed jigs are generally constructed with a more bottom weighted design so that the jig can descend fast and kicks as it is mechanically jigged. Typically a speed jig is rigged with 1 single power assist although some opt for a twin power assist attached to the jig via a Split ring. Top quality components are essential with Upgraded Power assists and Split rings advised as the fish can pack a serious punch!
Jig weight selection will depend on depth, tidal current and drift speed but the aim is to maintain as much of a vertical line as possible as this is when the jig is most effective, on a quicker drift you may need to swing the jig ‘up drift’ a bit to buy yourself more time in the vertical strike zone. You can speed jig in shallow waters such as 25-50m where jigs typically used may be 100-200g and in deeper waters 50-300m+ where jigs usually used maybe 150-350g+.
An Amberjack caught speed jigging with the Fish Nugz Abyss 270g Jig out on a deep ledge off Mitsio, Madagascar
An Albacore Tuna caught by Nick whilst speed jigging with a 200g Fish Nugz OG Jig over a drop off to 1000ft of water!
Recommended Vertical Jigging Tackle for Madagascar:
Speed Jigs
- Fish Nugz Abyss Jig - 270g, 350g
- Fish Nugz Slayer Jig - 120g, 150g, 200g
- Fish Nugz Speed Whipz Jig - 150g, 200g, 250g, 300g
- Fish Nugz Holy Flail Jig - 130g, 150g, 180g
- Fish Nugz Full Mast Jig - 130g, 160g, 200g
Assist Hooks & Hardware
- Fish Nugz Single Haulin Assist Hooks - 7/0, 9/0, 11/0, 13/0
- Fish Nugz Neptunes Split Rings - 11, 12, 14mm
- Fish Nugz Neptunes Solid Rings - 10, 11, 12mm
Slow Pitch Jigging In Madagascar
Slow Pitch Jigging is a very effective method for bottom dwelling reef species such as Grouper and Snapper species as well as many Trevally Species, but the majority of species in Madagascar will take a liking to a slow pitch jig, particularly when feeding activity levels are not particularly high, you may find an SPJ will buy a bite or two as compared to speed jigging.
A beautiful Coral Trout caught slow jigging using a 150g Fish Nugz OG Jig rigged with HD Twin Haulin Hooks
Slow Pitch Jigging generally takes a much more finessed approach, using much lighter rods, PE braided mainline and Flurocarbon leaders usually in the 40-80lb range. The aim of Slow Pitch jigging is much the same in the sense you are trying to keep the line as vertical to you as possible, as this is when the jigs intended action whilst on a slack line is most effective. But instead of mechanically speed jigged up, SPJ’s are pitched in a slower fashion, using long or shorter lifts (pitches) of the rod and utilising a controlled slacker line on the drop to allow the jig to flutter and tumble through the water Column mimicking that of a dying baitfish.
Hybrid Jigging Explained
‘Hybrid’ jigging which is a combination of Fast and Slow pitch jigging in the same drop is a deadly method in Madagascar, which requires a jig pattern which works well under fast paced jigging as well as a good action on a pitched free fall, but can be an effective way to trigger fish to feed.
Kieren caught this Five-Spot Trevally by mixing up slow and speed techniques with the Fish Nugz Holy Flail Jig
Choosing a Slow Jig
Slow Jig profile and weight selection will depend on depth, tidal current and drift speed but the aim is to maintain as much of a vertical line as possible as this is when the jig is most effective, on a quicker drift you may need to swing the jig ‘up drift’ a bit to buy yourself more time in the vertical strike zone and may opt for more slender, Center or bottom weighted jigs to get down faster and not glide with the current so much. On slower drifts or in lazier tidal waters you may opt for a wider profile slow dropping jig. You can slow jig in shallow waters such as 15-50m where jigs typically used may be 60-200g and sometimes even lighter in shallow water again and in deeper waters 50-300m+ where jigs usually used maybe 150-350g+.
This lucky angler caught a rare Indian Mirrorfish whilst slow jigging off Mitsio, using the Fish Nugz Holy Flail Jig
Slow Pitch Jigs generally are rigged with either 1 or 2 pairs of Twin Assist hooks, rigged top or bottom of the jig or sometimes both, attached via a split ring. Again, when slow jigging in these tropical waters where big predatory sport fish inhabit top quality components are essential, but that being said there has to be a balanced trade off when slow jigging between powerful components and finesse to maximise the potential of a slow jig.
Recommended Slow Pitch Jigging Tackle For Madagascar
Slow Jigs & Hybrid Jigs
Assist Hooks & Hardware
- Fish Nugz HD Twin Haulin Assist Hooks - 3/0, 5/0, 7/0
- Fish Nugz Neptunes Split Rings - 9mm, 11mm
Craig caught this lovely Cobia whilst slow jigging with a Fish Nugz OG slow jig in the Psycho colour
Fishing with Kabura Jigs in Madagascar
Kabura Jig fishing is a killer tactic favoured for targeting reef dwelling species that inhabit the lower water column. Kabura Jigs aim to mimic a small cephalopod (squid, octopus etc) and can be worked in a super slow retrieved fashion so their ‘skirts’ flutter away in the current or in a pitched fashion to trigger a bite, they are typically dropped to the sea bed and worked in the bottom sector, sometimes only lifting up 5-10ft and holding there and waiting for the rod to rip over!
Ben caught this stunning Lyretail Grouper using a Fish Nugz Bottom Tickler with upgraded hardware
They also work exceeding well when used in conjunction with cut baits (Strips of fish flesh). The Kabura jig method is a fantastic method to fish for many different species, there’s not much that turns a blind eye to them when baited! When using this method in Madagascar we recommend using upgraded Kabura jigs made of strong Assist cord and Hooks as Grouper, Snapper, Jobfish and even Giant Trevally take a particular liking to this method!
Kieren caught this big GT using a Fish Nugz Bottom Tickler Kabura with custom upgraded hardware, baited with a strip of Bonito
This Orange Spotted Grouper was caught by Kieren whilst using a Fish Nugz Bottom Tickler Kabura with custom upgraded hardware, baited with a strip of Shan Shad
Recommended Kabura Jigs for Madagascar
- Fish Nugz Bottom Tickler Kabura Jig with Custom Upgraded Rigging
We can customise your Kabura Jigs with heavy duty hardware so that you are equipped for the big fish that can be caught on this method in Madagascar. Please contact us for more details!
Fishing with Casting Jigs in Madagascar
Casting jigs are an essential to have in your tackle box, a very versatile method that will catch most fish! Particularly effective when casting into feeding fish on the surface or under birds. Usually casting jigs used will vary between 20-60g with 20-40g most popular, fished on lighter Flurocarbon traces 25-50lb in strength and incorporate a single or treble hook to the rear of the jig and in some instances a smaller assist at the front. These are fished generally on lighter casting set ups and lighter Pe braided line 25-35lb. Casting jigs are must have for when needing to catch Bonitos and Shan Shads for bait, but can be great for when chasing Mahi Mahi also. Often other predatory fish will strike a casting jig in a frenzy of fish such as Narrow barred mackerel, Giant Trevally, Baracuda and other Trevally species.
Smaller casting jigs can also be very effective when fish are super fussy and feeding on particularly small baitfish, they can dropped vertically and jigged up to buy bonus bites when it gets tough on other jigging methods.
Recommended Casting Jigs:
This Bonito smashed the Fish Nugz Boney Maloney 40g Jig when cast into a bait ball!
These Mahi Mahi (Dorado) took a liking to the Fish Nugz Boney Maloney 40g fished shallow and fast when cast at range from the boat
My Top 5 Jigs for Fishing In Madagascar
When fishing in Madagascar, it is good to be equipped with a wide range of jigs across different patterns and weights to suit different fishing scenarios and conditions that you may encounter. Amongst the arsenal of jigs I take with me, my ultimate top 5 proven fish catchers are:
- Fish Nugz Slayer Jig - Filthy Mack
- Fish Nugz OG Jig - Tropic
- Fish Nugz Holy Flail - Sexy Sprat
- Fish Nugz Full Mast - Glow Sprat
- Fish Nugz Heavy Flow - Bubblegum
Want to go fishing in Madagascar?
Kieren operates hosted trips to Madagascar through Spoilt For Choice Travel (SFC). Be sure to check out their website to see the range of hosted and guided fishing holidays available at a range of top destinations around the world!
Going to Madagascar and need Fishing Jigs & Tackle?
Here at Wild Seas, we can put together a bespoke jig fishing package for your trip. Please contact us and we can advise and supply you with a full package of speed and slow jigs, kabura jigs with upgraded hardware, assist hooks, jigging hardware, jig storage bags and more, so that you can go to Madagascar equipped for a fishing holiday you won't forget!
Contact us for more details on a bespoke Madagascar Jigging Package!
