Slow Pitch Jigging with Benny Ortiz

Slow pitch jigging. While not a new technique in the fishing industry, it's certainly not an everyday common practice for most anglers. Benny Ortiz is one of the leading authorities in the United States for slow pitch jigging. In this edit, Benny gives us his breakdown on all the need-to-know info on slow pitch jigging.
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[@rocketsurgeon_]

Game J and Ocea jigger combo has fed my family well North of Point Conception. Also big congrats to Benny Ortiz, great to have you as the Ambassador of SPJ for North America.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Great to hear! SPJ is slowly catching on here on the West Coast as more and more people see how effective it can be. Thanks for the comment!

[@lornehargis2614]

Great summary, clear and concise, to the point. Thanks Bennie. Nice work.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Cheers!

[@fishon7312]

This gentleman is one of the best instructors I’ve ever seen. I purchased my first slow pitch rod today. This is exactly why Shimano is the best, thank you! Over

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Benny is incredibly eloquent and knowledgeable! Thanks for watching!

[@justprey411]

Really professional , clear and instructional presentation, ty , subbed.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Cheers!

[@UdaykumarPR]

Outstanding academic & field info👌🏻👌🏻 on jigging as well tackle 👍🏻👍🏻

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching

[@chirpinsquirrel8710]

Nice. Perfect timing

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Good luck!

[@ken244]

Great info thanks

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Good luck!

[@fadijandali2717]

Thanks Ortiz for the great and informative talk with still learning A lot from you I just have 2 quick questions: 1- What is the ideal weight of a metal jig in the Red Sea for a depth of around 100-150 meters? 2- What do you recommend for the depth of 100-150 meters targeting groupers fish in rocks and corals in the bottom a single or double hooks and in the front or both sides of the jig? Thanks and waiting for your replay soon

[@SlowChuck]

Awesome break down of the SPJ, I would be interested to try that on yellowtail at the Coronado's. I see you got the Large Bhaltair Reel Bag, they seem to be a unicorn around here, any idea who might carry them?

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Can tell you first hand that it's definitely an effective way to fish for Springtime Yellows at the Coronados! Thanks for watching! Really tough to get your hands on that specific reel bag for sure. You could post in the classifieds section of our forums and ask our members if any of them may have one or know where to find one.

[@albertwanner2764]

Benny, what jiggs should I use if I only have an overhead speed jigg rated for 250 grams?

[@jbl2270]

Newbie here and still caught some nice fish with this technique lol. Could you please advise on how to evenly distribute line on the spool during retrieve? Mine bunches up on one side of the spool.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Nice! One good way to ensure that line doesn't pile up on one side of the reel is to use a narrow spooled reel, designed specifically for this technique of fishing.

[@BucktailBob]

I noticed the tape about halfway up on the rod butt. I am assuming that’s for protecting it in the rod holder? I have used one of the jig cocoons for that purpose.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

We'll have to ask Benny, but that is a great assumption!

[@bennyortiz2770]

It's a small piece of handgun grip tape. It provides a bit of extra grip on the smooth section of the rod so that it does not slide off from under the forearm while pitching the jig, and also does not tear up your shirt like more abrasive grip tape (like skateboard grip tape). I use jig cocoons for protecting the blank on the boat in rod holders.

[@shonnellYouCantHandlethetruth]

Hey Benny where can I get that Shimano bag that yiu have in this video

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Try the site

[@I_am_archie]

I'm really interested in this technique. However what's the best way to set up for slow pitch jig on a crowded charter?

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

There will inevitably be tangles when fishing on a boat with 30 passengers, but the crew is there to help and can point you in the best direction as far as where to setup if you choose to fish a jigging setup. Just ask! It's a deadly approach, and we've been doing it all season on charter boats fishing in the dark for bluefin!

[@I_am_archie]

Ok, thanks for responding.

[@jaychino1621]

What kind of gloves can you recommend?

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

There's quite a few companies that manufacture fishing gloves, so we recommend checking all of them out to try and find the one that suits you best. In this video, Benny is wearing gloves from AFTCO.

[@jaychino1621]

@@BDOutdoorsdotcom Thanks.

[@alive4082]

If I am right hand dominate is it best to reel left with slow pitch or right?

[@bennyortiz2770]

It's whatever you're comfortable with. In the US right handed conventional reels are dominant for SPJ but in Asia, there's a much higher percentage that use left hand retrieve reels

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Benny said it perfectly! Should be whichever you feel the most comfortable with.

[@alive4082]

Wish the stores could let me test them 😆

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

@@alive4082 They certainly should let you! It's highly likely that you would reel with your right hand being right hand dominant, but always a good idea to test beforehand!

[@dragsmoothfishingtv635]

That looks like a ultra light bass tackle. Don’t think 🤔 it’s a good idea fishing for yellowtail or White Sea bass here in California. But I might stand corrected if I see a fish landed with that bad to the bone combo. Either way great tackle 🎣👍😎

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

These slow pitch setups are surprisingly capable of landing pretty big fish! There's definitely a proper technique associated with fighting a fish on an "unconventional" big fish setup like this, but it's a ton of fun once you get it mastered!

[@jamesjannell8706]

I’ve been pulling in 24” to 40” stripe bass here on cape using this setup with slow pitch. Just different br@nd. I was always big long tackle and this new technique is a game changer. And I’m 61 and can go for hours without getting to tired.

[@bringit3164]

I don't understand the weight of the jig per foot. The Japanese use one gram per meter so why is it different over here? To me it seems we use way too much weight so my question is are we not using the right size line here?

[@bennyortiz2770]

The reason is threefold. First, less current. You can get away with lighter jigs with less current. Second, lighter line. The difference between 30lb line vs 20lb line can equate to a 50-100g difference in jig weight to keep vertical. The third reason is spankered boats. The boat small sail on the back to oppose the wind, while the captain throttles to keep lined up and down. We don't have that in the US.

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

@@bennyortiz2770 Thanks Benny! Great insight!

[@SlowPitchJiggingSXM]

Bro you are using shimano products, check out Ocea EX8 braid! I guarantee you won’t look back after trying it, thinner and stronger🔥🔥🔥

[@BDOutdoorsdotcom]

Appreciate the tip! We'll have to give it a shot.

[@josephsaulen1374]

I didn't learn much