How to Make a King Mackerel Jig
King Mackerel are an exciting fish to catch because they are so powerful and aggressive. A King Mackerel can strip off 150 yards of line the first time they hit and take your bait. That means a lot of action and fun. However, every time you land one, you have to cut off the leader and attach a new King Mackerel Jig. That's because the stress of the strike and fight, as well as the fish's sharp teeth will fray and stretch the leader, making it unusable. To save money, you can make your own King Mackerel jigs.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 60 lb. wire leader Crimping sleeves 4/0 hook 2 treble hooks Barrel swivel
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1
Cut about two feet of leader wire, then slide on a leader sleeve and barrel swivel. Hold the swivel near one end, loop the leader end back around and thread it into the sleeve, then crimp the sleeve to attach the swivel.
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2
Slide a 4/0 bait hook onto the leader and hold it about four inches from the bottom of the swivel. Slide on another leader sleeve, and push it up under the hook.
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3
Thread the empty end of the leader wire back through the sleeve until there is about two inches of looped leader between the sleeve and hook. Crimp the wire, to firmly attach the hook to the leader.
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4
Slide on a treble hook and hold it about 5 inches below the hook you just attached. Slide on another sleeve and repeat step 3, threading the empty end of the leader through the sleeve and crimping to attach the treble hook.
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5
Slide on one more treble hook and hold it another 5 inches below the treble hook you just attached. Slide on another sleeve and repeat step 3 again, crimping the sleeve to attach your second treble hook.
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6
Clip off any excess wire, close to the end of the sleeve to complete your King Mackerel rig.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The double treble hook set up is called a stinger rig. These hooks are designed to catch fish that only bite the tails and body of the bait fish on the bait hook which is at the top. Adjust the length from the bait hooks to your first treble hook according to the length of bait you plan to use. If the bait is 5 inches long, set the first treble hook at least 5 inches below the bait hook.
