Micro Jigging in Australia: How to Fish 40g Jigs

Micro jigging is one of the most versatile ways to fish a small metal lure offshore. A 40 g jig can be worked slowly near reef, ripped quickly through mid-water, dropped onto a wreck or even cast at surface-feeding pelagics. The same little piece of metal can interest snapper, kingfish, bonito, mackerel, mahi mahi, cobia and a long list of reef species.

I first became hooked on the technique during a trip off Terrigal, NSW. That experiment with light tackle grew into years of fishing 40 g jigs around Sydney, Hervey Bay and tropical Queensland. Since first publishing Microjig Mayhem in 2017, we have learned even more about where these little jigs work and how best to fish them.

Quick Answer: How Do You Fish a 40 g Micro Jig?

1. Find fish or productive structure. Reef edges, rough ground, wrecks, bait schools and FADs are all useful starting points.
2. Use light, balanced tackle. Match the rod to the jig weight and the reel, braid and leader to the fish and structure you expect to encounter.
3. Make sure 40 g reaches the zone. If current or drift carries the jig away before it gets there, go heavier rather than fighting the conditions.
4. Start with a lift-and-fall retrieve. Short lifts followed by controlled slack let many micro jigs flutter or change direction on the drop.
5. Change the pace. Work slowly near reef for bottom species, speed up for active pelagics, and mix pauses and short bursts when fish are following without committing.
6. Watch the sounder and your line angle. Fish the depth holding life rather than automatically jigging from bottom to surface.

Micro jigging does not require one perfect retrieve. The strength of the technique is how easily a small metal jig can be adapted to different fish, depths and moods.

What Is Micro Jigging?

Micro jigging uses relatively small metal jigs on lighter tackle than traditional heavy vertical jigging. Most anglers describe jigs under 100 g as micro or light jigs, with 30 g, 40 g, 60 g and 80 g all common offshore sizes.

A 40 g jig sits in a particularly useful part of that range. It is heavy enough to reach moderate depths when current and drift are manageable, but light enough to fish on an outfit that remains comfortable for repeated drops. The small profile can also resemble the baitfish many predators are already feeding on.

The important distinction is that micro jigging describes the scale of the lure and tackle more than one mandatory retrieve. A 40 g jig can be slow-jigged around reef, worked quickly through schooling fish or cast and retrieved when pelagics are feeding near the surface.

Where It Started for Me: Terrigal on 40 g Jigs

My first proper micro-jigging session came after an invitation from Andrew Wily to fish off Terrigal. We did not have a collection of proven local marks, so we ran to roughly the 30 metre line, found rough ground on the sounder and started experimenting.

The breakthrough was keeping the lure close to the rough ground rather than racing it all the way through the water column. Short lifts and a controlled fall kept the jig in the productive zone, and the crew quickly began catching a surprising mix of species.

That is still one of the best reasons to micro jig. You do not always have to decide exactly what species will eat the lure before you drop it. Find active reef or bait, keep the jig where the life is and let the fish answer the question.

A Practical 40 g Micro Jigging Setup

The exact rod and reel model matters less than balancing the whole outfit around the jig, target species and structure.

The exact line and leader strength cannot be chosen from jig weight alone. A 40 g jig fished over shallow open ground for snapper is a different proposition from the same jig dropped beside a wreck holding cobia or kingfish. Fish the light-tackle advantage without forgetting what is underneath you.

Is 40 g Heavy Enough?

Sometimes yes, sometimes absolutely not. The test is whether the jig can reach and remain in the depth band you are trying to fish.

Depth matters, but so do current, wind, boat drift, braid diameter and jig shape. A streamlined 40 g jig on thin braid can fish surprisingly deep in favourable conditions. Put the same jig into strong current with a fast-moving boat and it may spend the entire drop sweeping away from the fish.

Three Retrieves Worth Learning

1. Slow lift and fall near reef

For snapper and mixed reef fish, start close to the bottom or the depth where fish are marking. Lift the rod enough to make the jig rise and change direction, recover line, then let it fall again. Many small metal jigs do their best work as they flutter or slide back down.

Stay in touch without strangling the fall. Too much tension can prevent the jig from moving naturally; completely uncontrolled slack makes it harder to detect a bite and easier to foul the line. The ideal amount depends on the jig design, so watch and feel what the lure is doing.

2. Faster retrieve for pelagics

Bonito, mackerel, mahi mahi and kingfish can respond to a much more energetic presentation. Use quick handle turns and shorter rod movements to make the jig accelerate through the school, then pause or drop it back through the fish.

3. Cast and retrieve

If fish are feeding at the surface, do not assume the jig has to be dropped vertically. A 40 g metal jig is compact and casts well. Cast beyond the activity, let it sink to the depth of the fish if required, then retrieve it through them.

I used the same idea in Hervey Bay, where the fishing became more about casting to surface activity than traditional vertical jigging. The lure had not changed. The presentation had.

Use the Sounder to Decide Where to Jig

Micro jigging becomes much more efficient when you stop treating the whole water column as equally important. If the sounder shows bait and predators 10 metres above the reef, work that band. If the fish are tight to the bottom, keep the lure down there. If pelagics are suspended high, there is no reason to spend most of each drop below them.

This also reduces fatigue and unnecessary snagging. Small jigs are relatively easy to work, but a day of repeatedly winding through empty water is still wasted effort.

The same principle applies to drift. Start the drop early enough that the jig reaches the target while the boat is passing over it, not after you have already drifted beyond the productive patch.

What Can You Catch on 40 g Micro Jigs?

Over the years, 40 g jigs have caught an impressive range of fish on our own trips and for Downrigger Shop customers around Australia. These are not theoretical additions to a species list. They are fish that have actually eaten these little jigs.

The Mission Beach Test: Small Jig, Very Big Fish

In October 2017, Cameron Read travelled north to fish with his brother Hamish off Mission Beach in Queensland. He collected 20 of our 40 g jigs before the trip. The report that came back was the sort of customer feedback you remember.

Fishing about 20 nautical miles offshore, the brothers found active ground before they even reached their intended reef. Cameron reported roughly 40 to 50 fish for the first day, with the 40 g jigs, octopus-style lures and soft plastics all producing.

Then they found cobia around the wreck of the Black Pearl. Five came aboard, with the two biggest reported at 1.1 and 1.3 metres. It was a perfect reminder that "micro" refers to the lure, not necessarily the fish that will eat it.

Assist Hook or Tail Hook?

For vertical jigging around reef, a compact assist hook at the head of the jig is a very useful default. It keeps the hook close to the part of the lure many predators attack and can reduce the amount of hardware hanging near the bottom.

When casting 40 g jigs to pelagics in Hervey Bay, I experimented with moving the hook to the tail. I later added a tail-mounted treble and a red chemical light for the very specialised job of night jigging for hairtail.

That does not mean the same rig suits every situation. Hook configuration should match the species, lure action and snag risk. Around reef, extra trailing hooks can increase fouling and snagging. Around toothy fish, leader choice becomes a separate consideration. Start simple, then change the rig when the fishing gives you a reason.

Common Micro Jigging Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What weight is considered a micro jig?

In offshore fishing, small metal jigs below 100 g are commonly described as micro or light jigs, with 30 to 80 g a common range. This guide focuses on 40 g because that is the size behind much of our micro-jigging experience.

What depth can I fish a 40 g jig?

There is no fixed maximum depth. A 40 g jig may work well in moderate depth with light current, thin braid and a controlled drift, then struggle in much shallower water when the current is hard. The correct test is whether it reaches the marked fish efficiently and remains under useful control.

What rod should I use for 40 g micro jigging?

Choose a light jigging rod whose rated jig range comfortably includes 40 g. A rod designed to work the lure weight will make it easier to impart action and reduce fatigue. Match the rod's line rating and overall power to the fish and structure you expect to encounter.

Can I use a spinning reel for micro jigging?

Yes. Both spinning and overhead reels are widely used. Prioritise a smooth drag, suitable line capacity, comfortable weight and a retrieve that works with your chosen jigging style.

Are 40 g micro jigs only for snapper?

No. We have seen small metal jigs catch snapper, kingfish, bonito, mahi mahi, mackerel, cobia and mixed reef species. The productive retrieve and tackle strength change with the target.

Can I cast a 40 g jig?

Yes, provided the rod is rated to cast the weight. Casting can be particularly effective when bonito, mackerel, mahi mahi or other pelagics are feeding away from the boat. Let the jig sink to the fish if necessary, then vary the retrieve speed until you find what they respond to.

Where 40 g Fits in the Downrigger Shop Jig Range

Our 40 g knife jig listing is currently sold out while we work on future supply. We have kept the page online because 40 g remains an important and extremely useful jig size.

If the conditions are too deep or fast for 40 g, our current 100 g knife jigs give you a heavier option. You can also browse the Knife Jigs collection to compare the different weight classes.

For the complete logic behind choosing one weight over another, read What Weight Jig Should I Use?. Our Forty Grams of Fishing Fury article shows how I used the same size jig around Sydney for bait, squid, kingfish and pelagics. If you are moving into faster vertical techniques for kingfish, our Mechanical Jigging for Kingfish guide explains the one-pitch rhythm and depth control in detail.

First published by Andrew Hestelow in October 2017. Product designs shown in earlier photographs may differ from future stock.

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