Signed up to this forum today to make a statement. Been Red Snapper fishing off of party boats out of Port Aransas for years.Always have caught my limit by the way. My problem is I have become intrested in jigging for red snapper, so what else look it up on Google. Every site says buy a 250.00+ jigging rod and reel, put 30.00 of braided line, and a 15.00 jig with a squid or sardine on the jig hook. Hummmm whats the difference of a 50.00 Penn rod and real with a 1.00 egg sinker and .15cent hook with a piece of squid or sardine on it???????????????

welcome Zapalote.

vertical jigging is a comparatively expensive niche hobby.
not many 15 cent anything left anymore, let alone a good snapper hook
expanding one's horizons is never free.......

thanks for the post!

Welcome to the forum.

Zapalote, you can buy a relatively inexpensive jigging outfit that will handle most 'normal' fishing:

Ugly Stik Tiger Lite jigging rod @ $70
Shimano Speedmaster reel @ $120

Yes, a spool of 65# braid will cost you $35 to $45, but good quality braided line will last you many years, as opposed to mono, which has to be replaced at least once a year.

Dunno where you can find a Penn rod & reel for $50. Even a Penn 500 jigmaster reel is now $80 without a rod. I still remember when Penn 500's only cost $30, so there's certainly some sticker shock on tackle prices.

You don't have to spend huge amounts of money for quality tackle, but below a certain point, you get what you pay for ... and cheap tackle always seems to fail just as the fishing is getting good.