A Smarter Way to Fish from Your Kayak, Jetski or Boat
Slow pitch jigging has become one of the most effective offshore fishing techniques in South Africa, producing excellent catches of Yellowtail, Geelbek, Amberjack, Redfish, Kingfish, Kob, Rockcod, Englishman and many other reef species. While anglers often focus on rods, reels and jigs, one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment is the braided fishing line.
If you're serious about slow pitch jigging, multicoloured braided line offers significant advantages over a single-colour braid, especially when fishing from a kayak, jetski or small offshore boat.
What is Multicoloured Braid?
Unlike traditional braided line that is one continuous colour, multicoloured braid changes colour at regular intervals—typically every 10 metres, with smaller coloured markers every metre.
This effectively turns your fishing line into a built-in depth gauge.
Instead of guessing how much line is out, you instantly know exactly how deep your jig is fishing.
1. Instant Depth Awareness
Perhaps the greatest advantage is knowing your jig's depth at all times.
Imagine you're drifting over a reef in 48 metres of water.
With multicoloured braid you immediately know when your jig reaches:
- 10 m
- 20 m
- 30 m
- 40 m
- Bottom at approximately 48 m
This allows you to:
- Fish the correct depth consistently.
- Avoid unnecessary line being in the water.
- Return to productive strike zones with confidence.
2. Repeat Successful Drifts
One of the biggest secrets of experienced jig anglers is repeating what works.
Suppose you hook a good yellowtail after retrieving your jig approximately 8 metres off the bottom.
With multicoloured braid you know exactly where that fish ate.
On your next drift you can immediately begin working the jig through that same depth.
Without coloured braid you're simply guessing.
3. Better Drift Control
Kayaks and jetskis drift surprisingly quickly depending on wind and current.
Watching the colour changes lets you see:
- how much line is leaving the reel
- whether your jig is staying vertical
- when your drift angle becomes too steep
Once too much line is out, the jig loses much of its intended action.
Knowing exactly how much line is deployed tells you when it's time to wind up and reposition.
4. Keep Your Jig in the Strike Zone Longer
Slow pitch jigs work best when they remain as close to vertical beneath the vessel as possible.
The more line that is out:
- the greater the belly in the braid
- the poorer the jig action
- the harder it becomes to detect bites
- the more difficult it is to set the hook
Multicoloured braid helps you maintain the ideal presentation throughout your drift.
5. Better Bite Detection
One of the biggest challenges with slow pitch jigging is recognising subtle bites.
Many fish simply:
- stop the jig
- inhale it
- add slight weight
- tap it gently
Knowing exactly where your jig is in the water column helps you instantly recognise when something unusual has happened.
6. Easier Communication Between Anglers
Fishing with friends becomes far easier.
Instead of saying:
"I got one somewhere down there."
You can say:
"The fish hit at 36 metres."
Everyone can immediately adjust their fishing depth.
This is incredibly valuable when targeting schooling fish suspended above reefs.
7. Helps You Learn Your Local Reefs
Over time you'll start remembering:
- which reefs produce fish at certain depths
- where bait schools suspend
- where particular species usually feed
This builds confidence and makes every future trip more productive.
8. Ideal for Modern Fish Finders
Modern sonar units from Garmin and Lowrance allow you to see fish suspended in the water column.
For example:
Your sounder shows fish holding at 24 metres.
Instead of guessing, you simply drop until the correct colour marker reaches the rod tip and begin jigging immediately.
This dramatically increases efficiency.
9. Less Time Wasted
Every second your jig isn't fishing is wasted opportunity.
Knowing your depth means:
- quicker drops
- quicker repositioning
- fewer tangles
- more productive fishing time
10. Excellent for Offshore Kayaks and Jetskis
Because kayaks and jetskis drift more than larger boats, multicoloured braid becomes even more valuable.
It helps anglers:
- judge drift speed
- estimate current strength
- monitor jig depth
- identify when to reset the drift
For small craft offshore, this can make a significant difference over a day's fishing.
Choosing the Right Braid
For most South African offshore slow pitch jigging applications:
| Target Species | Recommended Braid |
|---|---|
| Reef fish | PE1–PE2 |
| Yellowtail | PE2–PE3 |
| Amberjack | PE2.5–PE4 |
| General offshore | PE2–PE3 |
Always pair your braid with a suitable fluorocarbon leader matched to the terrain and target species.
Is Multicoloured Braid Worth the Extra Cost?
While multicoloured braid generally costs a little more than standard single-colour braid, the benefits quickly outweigh the difference.
You gain:
- Accurate depth control
- Better jig presentation
- Improved strike detection
- Easier drift management
- Repeatable success
- Greater confidence on every drop
For anglers who regularly fish offshore from kayaks, jetskis or boats, it's one of the best upgrades you can make to your jigging setup.
Final Thoughts
Slow pitch jigging is all about precision. Every movement of your jig, every metre of line and every drift matters. Multicoloured braided line removes much of the guesswork by giving you constant awareness of where your lure is in the water column.
Whether you're targeting reef fish on a calm morning, working a deep pinnacles for amberjack, or searching for yellowtail along offshore reefs, knowing your exact depth allows you to fish more efficiently and with greater confidence.
If you're investing in quality slow pitch jigging tackle, don't overlook your braid. It may seem like a small detail, but it can make a noticeable difference to your success on the water.
To check out our range of Noeby Multicoloured Braid, select HERE
For more information on the above and the best setup for your application, contact Brett HERE
