Vertical Jigging Dry Tortugas Help

[Ramic367]

I am going on a fishing trip at the end of October to the Dry Tortugas The trip will be from Friday to Sunday and will be fishing day and night. I have never done vertical jigging but have been reading up on it and realy want to give it a try. I am planning on buying a Shimmano Torium reel and was going to get a trevala rod but not sure if they are the best for the price range. the reel is about $180 to $200 and the rod is about $120 to $160 depending on which model I go with. Would also welcome suggestions on Jig sizes and colors to use. Will be fishing in 90 to 300 ft of water. Thanks for any help

[Capt. Pete]

I fish just about everywhere between Florida and Alaska exclusively with metal jigs and two of the very best are the Crippled Herring and the Kandlefish. Capt Mike Milano has won many big fish pools aboard the Miss Barnegat Light in the Tortugas with 4 and 5 oz 'Herrings in chrome during the day and pearl white at night. The Kandlefish gets down faster on moving tides and is also deadly. The "Kandlefish Tech Guide" can be downloaded for excellent technique information and size to depth ratios. It can be purchased directly from the manufacturer...Yellowbird Products...excellent finishes and good prices. For grouper and snapper, tipping with an octopus tentacle really adds to better catches. Good catching...Capt Pete

[Capt. Pete]

Forgot to mention. All of my jigging is with braided Line, mostly 20 lb line
with metal jigs in the 1 thru 3 oz weights. 8-14 lb line for smaller jigs and 25-40 lb line for heavier jigs. Mono is terrible because of its stretch and lack of positive hooksets, most especially in deeper water. Most of my deepwater jigging is down to 300 ft. Good jigging...Capt. Pete