Are You Nuts? Know your Fishing Knots! – The San Diego Jam Knot
Eugene L. 09.14.22
The San Diego Jam Knot, as its name implies comes from a sportfishing capital of the world. The city is the gateway to the Pacific for anglers chasing after tunas, seabass, and yellowtail. The San Diego Jam Knot was originally tied as a quick and easy way of tying “irons” jigs when chasing big tuna on long-range boats off the coast of Mexico.
This knot is a great choice for all line types: mono, fluorocarbon, and braid. When making sure the jam knot is fully set and tight on a hook or lure, you can attach the hook to a fixed object and give a strong pull. That will make sure the knot is set tight and won’t come loose when fished. This knot is one of the stronger knots available and has been tested rigorously by the San Diego Tuna boats.
Step 1
Run the line through the eye of the hook and bring the tag end of the line back along the mainline.
Step 2
Take the tag end of the line and then wrap it around the main line multiple times, a minimum of 4 wraps, the more the better. The thicker the diameter of the line the fewer wraps needed, and the thinner the line or if using braided line more wraps are needed
Step 3
Take the tag end of the line and pass it through the double line next to the eye of the hook and then the loop made by the first wrap.
Step 4
Hold the hook or lure and pull and adjust the tag end of the line to tighten the knot up after moistening the line. Be careful not to mess up the wraps and have them go over each other.
Step 5
Trim off the excess line from the tag end of the line, leaving about 1/4″ behind for the tag. Then pull the knot down to the eye of the hook and tighten it up. You can put the hook or lure somewhere solid and give it a solid pull to make sure the knot is tight. This is the finished San Diego Jam Knot.
