3 methods of using madai with live prawns for newbies during drift fishing

With anglers in Singapore now armed with Madai Jigs and Slow Fall Jigs when they go offshore fishing, it's no wonder the days of the Paternoster Rig (Apollo Rig) and Running Sinker Rigs are numbered. Madai Jigs complemented with live prawns (Maprawns) are very effective and proven in Southern Island or even Changi Offshore fishing.

That said, does everyone truly know how to use a Madai Jig with bait? Most newbies will ask what do I do with the Madai Jig and what's the best sure win tactic to get the fish? You'll be surprised at the questions that I get when people ask me how to use it. I get questions like do I cast the Madai Jig!

Before you use a Madai Jig without bait, I put together three sure-win or surecatch methods that will definitely make a difference to your offshore fishing if it's your first time using a Madai with bait. Forget about what people tell you about how to hook, how to tie, what rhythm to use or what tactic to use. When drifting, just observe these general rules and you'll get the fish.

Method 1:

Dragging is the simplest way of using a Madai Jig with bait

Although simple, dragging a Madai Jig with bait is not usually recommended because a quick change in terrain will snag your jig very quickly. However, it is a handy tactic to use if you really need your jig to stay close to the bottom or you are tired from all the jigging.

It may be useful to alternate between a mixture of bouncing and dragging.

Bouncing the Madai Jig up and down as the boat drifts is probably the most common method used by most anglers. The angler keeps track of the terrain using the rod and when uneven or rocky patches are felt, the angler lifts up the jig a few cranks and sends it back to the bottom after the patch is "cleared". I recommend alternating between bouncing and dragging if the bites don't come by purely bouncing. Strangely, some fishes like it when you drag a little and then do a bounce or two. Perhaps the dragging motion makes the Madai Jig seem more like an octopus!

Ask your charter captain for tips on the terrain or take a peek at the fish finder

Quick lifting often happens when you are fishing in challenging conditions such as very fast drifting or if the terrain has extremely steep drop-offs or coral. Bouncing and dragging will have high chances of snagging but we still must do something right? Usually, in order to catch fish, we'll still need to hit the strike zone which is in the midst of all the steep drop-offs and coral. To minimize snagging, we “quick lift” the jig by doing a few cranks or using the rod to quickly lift the jig up from the coral or rock. We repeat this many times until a fish takes the jig. This method will greatly reduce your chances of snagging and while you will still lose some jigs inevitably, it beats dragging your jig into high rocks/coral which will almost instantly lead to a snag!

If you have any other methods to share, do share with me and drop me an Email, I'll be happy to share them here as well!