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How To Use A Bobber Jetty Fishing (Plus The Best Saltwater Bobber)

How To Use A Bobber While Jetty Fishing 

Here in about 2 weeks I’m planning on heading out to the beach with the family. While I’m out there I plan on spending some time on doing some jetty fishing on one of the Jetty’s in Newport, Oregon.

So I’ve got jetty fishing on the mind.  And I’m not just thinking about how I’m going to reel in that big ling cod.  I’m thinking about some of the things I can do to not lose so much tackle and gear while I’m out on the jetty this trip.

If you’ve spent anytime jetty fishing, you know how frustrating it can be to snap up on the rocks every other cast.  There are days when you might break your line and lose your gear 20 times or more.

Well I think I found a solution for not losing so much gear.  My plan is to simply just use a jetty fishing bobber.  That’s right.  This time I’m going out there equipped with a arsenal of slip bobbers to use on the jetty.   Keep reading and I’ll explain how I plan on using them and some methods that have absolutely worked for other jetty fishermen.

The Jetty Fishing Bobber

So to be clear, when I say that I’m planning on using a jetty fishing bobber, I’m not talking about anything special.  To be completely honest, you probably already have one of these somewhere with your fishing gear. For this jetty fishing trip, I simply plan on using a large wooden slip bobber.  

saltwater jetty fishing with bobber

The Best Bobber For Jetty Fishing (Saltwater Fishing Bobbers)

South Bend Wooden Slip Bobber

​​​​About The South Bend Wooden Slip Bobber

The best slip bobbers I like to use for jetty fishing are the South Bend Wooden Slip floats.  The reason these make good jetty fishing bobbers is because they’re large enough to see if the waters really choppy that day.  

They’re also made out of wood, so you don’t have to worry about them cracking and taking on water like you would a plastic type jetty fishing bobber.  This is especially important because your going to be swinging that bobber around the large rocks that make up the jetty.  You can count on banging it up against a few rocks during your fishing trip.

And to touch on the fact that its inevitable your going to lose your fishing gear at some point if you like to jetty fish.  If you happen to get your gear snagged on a rock, and have to break your line and lose your slip bobber, you won’t be out a lot of money.  These jetty fishing bobbers from South Bend are affordable enough that I have no issues using them jetty fishing.

Features Of The South Bend Slip Bobber

  • Made out of high quality balsa wood
  • Fluorescent paint making them highly visible
  • Durable crack and chip resistant finish
  • Ideal bobbers for jetty fishing

How To Use A Bobber For Jetty Fishing

The thing I like the most about jetty fishing is how simple it can be. For the most part, the fish out there in the rocks don’t really care what your gear looks like. You could use 100 pound mono that’s visible a mile away and still have a successful day of fishing.

The same is true with the jetty fishing bobber rig that I’m using.

If you’ve done any jetty fishing at all, its all about not getting snagged in the rocks. Like I mentioned you could lose a lot of gear really quick. So to prevent this, I’m going to throw on a large slip bobber to keep the bait up off the bottom and out of the rocks.

There are a couple different jetty fishing bobber rigs I’m using.

Rig #1

This first bobber jetty rig is designed to use with bait. To do this, it’s quite simple. I simply tie on a 2 oz weight to the bottom of my line. Approximately 1 foot above the weight I will tie on a leader with a bait hook attached.  Then about 4 feet above that, I’ll tie on a second leader line and bait hook. This will allow me to fish at two different depths simultaneously. Finally, about 5 feet above the second hook, I’ll attatch the large slip bobber.

 

Rig # 2

The second jetty fishing bobber rig setup I’m using is with a jig or with a rubber worm.  Essentially I tie a jig at the end of my line and attach the bobber starting at about 10 feet.  

For jetty fishing, I prefer to use white jigs with a curly tail. By running a jig under a bobber or float, the action of the swells or waves on the bobber will cause that jig with the curly tail to dance.  Hopefully making it irresistible to the rockfish below the surface.

jetty fishing with a bobber

Tips For Using A Bobber For Jetty Fishing

  • To increase the odds of saving your bobber in the event you break your line, use bobber stoppers.
  • Set the bobber so you’re fishing deep. If no bites, move the bobber to move the bait or jig sever feet higher. Continue to fish that depth and if you still don’t find the fish, move the bobber again. Slowly decrease the depth until you’re near the surface.
  • As mentioned above, allow the action of the waves to provide the jigging motion of your jig. Just the wave movement will cause a curly tail to dance beautifully under water.
  • If you’re using a jig and have fished multible depths, try adding a scent or bait to the jig, such as sand shrimp or herring.  This might be just enough to entice a stubborn rock bass.
  • Size matters. If jigging and not catching fish.  Try a smaller sized rubber worm or jig.  Many times switching from a 6 inch rubber worm down to a 1 inch grub can make a world of difference.  It’s not uncommon to go from skunked to fish every cast.
  • Don’t hesitate trying to find fish in the rocks right next to the jetty. Even though a bobber may not be ideal in this situation, many fish are right inside the rocks looking for a meal.  Just be ready for a possible snag.

Related Posts:

  1. jetty fishing
  2. Best Saltwater Rod And Reel Combo For The Money
  3. The Best Surf Fishing Rod And Reel Combo For The Money
  4. Ultimate Guide To Bobber Fishing
  5. Fishing In Alaska: The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Dream Alaskan Fishing Trip

Written by Don

When I'm not bass fishing or looking for steelhead in my home state of Oregon I can be found working on house projects dreaming of my next fishing adventure.

I started this website to share just some of the things I've learned along my fishing journey, and the many things I'm still learning. Enjoy!

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