What Jigs Are Good for King Mackerel?

Butterfly Jig

This jig receives its name because of the butterfly-like fluttering action. It is designed to look like a wounded baitfish. This type of jig is for jigging, trolling or as a casting lure, according to the website Tackle Tour. The butterfly jig has a slender body, which will allow it to dive deep in the water and move along with the current.

Bucktail jigs are colorful in appearances and one of the most popular jigs to catch king mackerel, according to the website Bass Dozer. Surrounding the metal hook is dyed processed deer hair, which comes in various colors. When the jig enters the water, the stringy, deer hair flutters within the current. Fish bucktail jigs, vertically within a boat, over submerged reefs with strips of cut bait or bloodworms.

Shad jigs feature soft rubber and plastic fashioned over a long hook to resemble a shad. A shad jig creates waves to imitate the natural movements of a real shad. King mackerel will latch onto the jig for a longer time, allowing anglers more opportunities to set their hooks. Shad jigs come in many different colors.

Live bait jigs are designed to use with live bait such as shad or bloodworms. A live bait jig has a slender body that tapers off, from the bend of its hook. Gradually, it fattens out to where it connects to the hooks body. The short-shafted hook condenses the jig for superior hooking performance. Place a tiny 8 oz. split-shot onto the head of the hook, this will allow the jig to drop father below the waters surface, to reach levels where hungry king mackerel cruise.

While fishing shad jigs use heavy tackle. Use a casting rod no taller than eight feet. Look for a rod that is stiff, yet flexible to twitch your jigs effectively. Have the reel woven with 8 to 15-pound fishing line. The proper size jig for king mackerel is 3/8 oz., but using a 1/2 oz. jig works well, according to the website Bass Dozer. These jigs sizes are small enough for king mackerel to suck the jig into their mouths, allowing anglers time to drive the hook into the fish's upper jaw.