Greetings to all Jiggers & Poppers, we trust that you are all using winter to get your gear prepared for Spring – when it eventually arrives. This will be a “busy” Newsletter with an extensive range of new products arriving almost weekly. Many of these will be exhibited to the retailers for the first time at SAFTAD this weekend, and the remainder at the National Boat Show from 12th-14th August at the Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg. Our website has been updated to show the products launching this weekend, and I will give a brief overview of them in this newsletter.
New Jigging Rods:
From Jigging Master AG, we have received the new JM Three Kings Special 53B-H which is an absolute BEAST of a rod rated to 40kg at a 50 degree angle. With a parabolic Nano-tech blank, this is the ultimate heavy duty Jigging rod designed and built for the angler targeting the biggest toothy denizens with fins. This is the most powerful rod in our offerings.
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop/jigging-rods-overhead/jm-3-kings-special-53b
We also have the new JM Evolution Titanium 350 Jigging rod. The Evolution Titanium 350 blank is built using ground-breaking technology – it actually has Titanium strands woven into the composite fabric prior to manufacture! The result is a rod designed for 350g jigs and yet weighs almost nothing. It is also a powerhouse being rated to 32kg at a 50 degree angle. It also has great looks! These rods are in huge demand internationally – JM will not be able supply them again until September this year. A must have for the dedicated Jigger’s rod quiver.
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop/jigging-rods-overhead/jm-evolution-titanium-350
Lastly, we also received limited stock of JM Ocean God 400B in Overhead configuration. The Ocean God Jig rod range has been very successful both internationally and here in South Africa. It provides an exceptional quality rod at an exceptional price-point. The Ocean God range is positioned for the intermediate jigger. These rods are designed for jigs in the 250-450g range, and are rated to 29kg at a 50 degree angle.
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop/jigging-rods-overhead/jm-ocean-god-400b
New Stickbaits:
Stickbaits, stickbaits, stickbaits…… Yehaa, the Starwalkers have finally arrived! The Starwalker stickbait range is now available in 4 sizes – 160F, 160S, 180F and 180S and feature 7 colour options per size. These quality lures are rebranded as Starwalker (for South Africa and New Zealand) and are high-end lures of Japanese design and origin. Many species have fallen prey to them, most recently a Striped Marlin in New Zealand – a sign of things to come? Targeting billfish using stickbaits?
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop/stick-baits
New Hooks:
From River 2 Sea Australia, we now carry a wide range of the Shogun Xtreme Viper "In-line" hooks designed specifically for saltwater lures such as big Poppers and Stickbaits in the smaller sizes (7/0 - 9/0), and for marlin lures in the bigger sizes (10/0 - 12/0). With the hook's In-line welded eye, the need for double split-ring connections to the lure is eliminated and the lure swimming action is unimpeded. Forged from high-carbon steel, these hooks feature an in-line welded eye and a long taper hook point. The Shogun Vipers are chemically sharpened and provide excellent corrosion resistance. These hooks will soon become the de-facto standard for saltwater lure anglers.
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/shop/terminal-tackle/shogun-viper-inline-hooks
We have also updated our Gallery section with pictures from Andre’s trip to Bassas da India, and my trip to Fogo Island in June. Please go and have a look at them as both Andre and I are already suffering from “Fishing Withdrawal” and the symptoms are unpleasant as you probably all know!
http://www.jigstarafrica.co.za/jigstar/gallery
For the YouTube video clip of the Striped Marlin caught on a Starwalker Stickbait:
Well folks, that’s about it for now. Stay safe, fish hard and we hope to see you at the National Boat show, Jigstar Africa Stand 76 in the lower level, Coca Cola Dome from 12th-14th August.
Cheers for now
The Jigstar Africa Team















