Jetty fishing tackle and tips, how not to snag?

Most people when fishing rockwalls, piers, surf, and jetties prefer to have slightly longer rods so they have better line control and castability.

I personally have a 10'6 and a 12'4. The added length allows me to lift the bait/presentation out of the water sooner without haveing to battle manuvering around rocks and surf.

I fish alot off the jetties in Cape Cod and I can really relate to your problem as I go through this every season, not to mention all the gear I lose each year in the Cape Cod Canal!
Bouncing jigs off the the bottom has always been a productive way to catch striped bass (for me ), and this is when you usually lose them, I mean when you're casting from the beach there's rarely any danger of getting hung up but when you're throwing from the end of a jettie your a lot further out and there's a lot more crap out there to get hung up on.
One way I found to sort of counteract this, I say sort of because there's only so much I think you can do about it, but if you can time it right, you should try to get on the rocks just as the tide is turning outward, that way the natural flow of the current flowing out of the river will aid in keeping your bait off the bottom as your retrieving it, only to a certain extent, though, so you have to choose your retrieval speed according to the strenghth and speed of the tide. Also you can also try some shallow diving plugs, ( I always recomend the old fashion wooden plugs as I have always used them with great success). At dawn or dusk if there's not a lot of wind don't hesitate dragging some topwater plugs over the water, too, I hope this was helpful. Have fun and stay safe !

A good thing to try is not to cast up current and allowing the bait to tumble or line to belly much if any.Also when you do cast down current allow the lead to settle but do not pull or drag it once it hits bottom.As stated the longer rods will allow you better pick-up in the line and control how the weight settles in the current and rocks.
I also use a 3 way with a light line dropper break off rig so I only lose the weight and not the rest of my rig.

Already some great answer's here.

My 2 cent's:

Casting slightly up-current will allow your bait to quickly reach bottom. You WANT to reach bottom ASAP! A tumbling bottom-rig lost in a current is going to get snagged 90% of the time. That's why it's important to use the correct amount of weight cast up-current.

Also, WATCH where the locals that AREN'T getting snagged are casting. 'Ole Salt jetty guys know EXACTLY where the snaggs are and avoid them. Look at their riggs and see what # test they are using, (Or simply ask them!)

Heavier line is stronger, (17LB-20LB), but due to line diameter, doesn't sink as fast as (12LB-14LB). And if your bait doesn't reach bottom VERY quickly-BOOM-your snagged!

They do make a rope-like snagless weight but they only come in 1OZ and lighter.

Ingun is right about the 3 way rig. You may still get snags with a 3-way, but at least your able to retrieve some of your terminal tackle and line.

Hope this helps? Good luck!

If you fish during slack tide, you'll have less snags. Some ways to getting out of snaps is to tie the sinker on with a rubber band, this way you'll save the hooks, and you could try to bounce the sinker loose. Another way is to use hooks that bend easy. If you catch a big fish with these hooks, you're in trouble, but those hooks get out of the rocks easier. Also you have to know who to pull the line when snagged. I find it best to pull the line with my hand instead of the rod. Don't forget to bounce the line or let out line to slacken it.

use weedless hooks and rounded sinker.

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