Daiwa released an intriguing new bottom fishing jig family to the U.S. market for the Fred Hall Long Beach Show, the Rock Rover, along with the Elev8 series of rods with actions custom designed for use with the new jig. Originating in Japan where it is known as an Inchiku jig, this metal blade with a tethered squid rigged with dual hooks has been around for years according to Bobby Martinez, a friend of the company. Martinez was lucky to be one of the product testers.
“My friend Brian Yamane works at Daiwa,” Martinez said. “He brought one back from Japan and wanted to try it out, so we took it rockfishing and he did very well. Eighteen months later he told me ‘I think we’re going to bring it in (to the U.S.).’ It was a fun thing. The trailer dances around the jig. It looks so natural.”
Martinez was part of the team that researched how to incorporate the Rock Rover into the west coast style of rockfishing. “It works amazingly,” he said. “It’s a 3 in 1 jig, with three attachment points which all do different things with the jig.” A look at the accompanying photo illustrates what he was talking about.
Martinez is partial to tying the main line to the pointy end of the metal blade, and then rigging the tethered squid on the central attachment point. This configuration is best with a slow retrieve. It usually gets bit on the sink. “I bring it up in big sweeps and let it shimmy down,” he said.
