Night Jigging for Southern Bluefin Tuna

Night Jigging for Southern Bluefin Tuna

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Night Jigging for Southern Bluefin Tuna: Introducing the new Glowbite Lightning Rod Jigs

Fishing at night for Southern Bluefin Tuna has taken off in New Zealand, and the results have been incredible. The charter boats led the way, and the Glowbite team jumped into action in July 2024 to put this exciting new method to the test. What they discovered could transform your fishing adventures.

Watch the full video of the trip here on YouTube.

Night vs. Day Fishing: A Huge Difference

The team started trolling traditionally during the day, marking bait schools and catching just one Southern Bluefin Tuna after eight hours. But the magic happened when they returned to the same spot at night. The bait had risen dramatically from 150 metres to just 30 to 100 metres under the boat. In just an hour and a half of night jigging, they caught three impressive tuna.

Leveraging the natural curiosity of tuna, no burley was needed. Simply finding the bait and dropping the jigs was enough to bring success.

Glowbite Lightning Rod Jigs: Why They Work

The standout choice for this night time technique is the Glowbite Lightning Rod jig, featuring a distinct flashing light. Initially, the brightness might seem overwhelming, lighting up the water like a police car under the boat. Far from scaring the fish away, these lights attracted them directly to the jig, delivering exceptional results.

Recognising anglers' interest in luminescent lures, Glowbite took things a step further and developed the Tropical Sunset jig. It combines the flashing light with a high quality luminescent paint that glows beautifully underwater. The entire lure, including the flexible, stretchy TPR squid skirt, is highly luminescent and perfectly mimics the squid Southern Bluefin naturally feed on. The tuna think the lure is feeding on the squid and see it as the perfect time to strike.

Enhanced Features for Maximum Performance

  • Improved Assist Rig: A higher breaking strain, top quality split and solid rings, and exceptionally sharp Origin hooks, hand ground and tempered to perfection.
  • Effective Action: These jigs feature a curved and angular design, creating an erratic scooting motion on the drop, and a lifelike fish tail action on retrieval.

Practical Jigging Tips

The team found 200g jigs sufficient, particularly when bait schools rose closer to the surface at night. Instead of continuous mechanical jigging, a slower yoyo motion at the depth of the tuna proved highly effective. This mimics a baitfish chasing a squid, exactly the scenario that attracts predatory tuna.

The Lightning Rod jigs come in 200g, 300g, and 400g sizes, but lighter is typically better to keep jigging comfortably for longer periods.

Beyond Tuna: Multi Species Success

While developed specifically for night jigging Southern Bluefin, these lures are also great for hitting kingfish at the change of light. We have also had reports of them doing well in snapper workups, and even pics of them catching some trumpeter.

Staying Safe Offshore

Night jigging is incredibly rewarding, but safety offshore is critical:

  • Always check weather conditions thoroughly before departure.
  • Ensure your boat and motor are reliable and suitable for offshore conditions.
  • Have clear, reliable communication devices and a solid exit plan.
  • Know your ramps and marks well, especially if navigating back at night.

Night jigging for Southern Bluefin Tuna is exhilarating, productive, and transforming fishing in New Zealand. Stay safe, get out there, and experience the thrill for yourself.

Cheers, and good fishing!