There's something incredibly addictive about catching a quality fish on a tiny piece of metal. Whether it's a solid snapper crushing a jig on the drop, a trevally trying to rip the rod out of your hands, or a flathead smashing it just before it hits the bottom, micro jigging has a way of turning an ordinary fishing session into one you won't forget.
Over the last few years, micro jigging has become one of the fastest-growing techniques in Australian fishing, and it's easy to see why. It's simple, versatile and, most importantly, it catches fish. You don't need heavy tackle or deep water. Micro jigging can be just as effective in an estuary, harbour or shallow inshore reef as it is offshore.
So, What Exactly is Micro Jigging?
At its heart, micro jigging is simply presenting a small metal lure in a way that imitates an injured baitfish. Instead of relying on speed, you're relying on movement. A small jig flutters, flashes and hangs in the water as it sinks, giving nearby fish plenty of opportunity to notice it and react. It's that slow, natural fall that often makes all the difference.
Many anglers think fish always feed hard on the bottom, but that's rarely the case. Snapper, trevally, tailor and countless other species spend much of their time moving through the water column chasing bait. A micro jig spends longer in that strike zone, making it incredibly effective. In fact, many of the best bites happen before the jig even reaches the bottom.
Why Smaller Often Means More Fish
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is assuming bigger lures catch bigger fish. The reality is most predatory fish spend their lives feeding on surprisingly small baitfish. When you match what they're already eating, everything starts to make sense. A compact jig looks natural, sinks with less resistance and is easy for fish to inhale. Rather than intimidating wary fish, it looks like an easy meal.
That's exactly why micro jigging has become such a deadly technique when fish are under pressure or feeding selectively.
The Buffalo Jr. Light Tackle Flash Fall Micro Jig
When we designed the Buffalo Jr, we didn't simply make our original Buffalo Jig smaller. We started from scratch with one goal in mind, create a micro jig that spends more time where fish can actually eat it.
The result is a purpose-built finesse jig available in 5g, 8g, 12g, 16g and 20g, making it ideal for estuaries, bays, shallow reefs and light offshore fishing.
Using the same proven centre-weighted Flash Fall design that made the original Buffalo Offshore Jig so effective, the Buffalo Jr produces an exaggerated flutter on the sink with exceptional hang time.
Instead of dropping straight through the strike zone like many traditional micro jigs, it slows down, flashes and flutters naturally, giving fish more time to track it before committing. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Choosing the Right Weight
The Buffalo Jr range has been designed to cover the situations Aussie anglers encounter most often. A rule of thumb with micro jig sizes is usually a gram per metre. So if you're fishing in 12m, a 12g jig would be ideal. However this is a guide only and will vary depending on current, drift speed, wind and line diameter.
Fishing a shallow flat, canal or estuary? The 5g and 8g models are perfect for prospecting around structure and working over sand flats.
Fishing slightly deeper bays, harbours or shallow reefs? The 12g is an incredibly versatile all-rounder that covers a huge range of situations.
When the current picks up or you're fishing reef edges and broken ground, the 16g and 20g models help maintain contact while still delivering that signature fluttering action.
As a rule, fish the lightest Buffalo Jr you can while still maintaining contact with it. A slower sink creates more flutter, longer hang time and keeps your jig in the strike zone where fish have the best chance to eat it.
| Model | Weight | Recommended Depth | Best Suited For | Popular Target Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Jr 5g | 5g (1/5oz) | Up to 5m | Estuaries, canals, flats, pontoons and shallow structure | Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Trevally, Estuary Perch |
| Buffalo Jr 8g | 8g (1/3oz) | Up to 8m | Rock walls, harbours, river mouths and shallow reefs | Snapper, Trevally, Tailor, Australian Salmon, Flathead |
| Buffalo Jr 12g | 12g (2/5oz) | Up to 12m | Bays, inshore reefs and broken ground | Snapper, Sweetlip, Trevally, Mangrove Jack, Coral Trout |
| Buffalo Jr 16g | 16g (1/2oz) | Up to 16m | Reef edges, headlands and moderate tidal flow | Snapper, Coral Trout, Emperor, Trevally, Small Kingfish |
| Buffalo Jr 20g | 20g (3/4oz) | Up to 20m | Deeper inshore reefs, pressure edges and stronger current |
Snapper, Coral Trout, Kingfish, Bonito, Mack Tuna |
Recommended Tackle Setup
A balanced outfit lets the Buffalo Jr perform at its best, maximising its flutter, hang time and sensitivity.
Rod: Seacore Inshore Spin light to medium is the ideal all-round match for the 5g-20g Buffalo Jr range.
Braid: Panderra X8 in 10-15lb for long casts, excellent sensitivity and a thin diameter that helps the jig sink naturally.
Leader: Tufflock Fluoro Leader in 15-20lb for estuaries and bays, or step up to 30lb when fishing reefs or heavier structure.
How to Rig the Buffalo Jr
The Buffalo Jr comes pre-rigged with quality BKK assist hooks, so it's ready to fish straight out of the packet.
Connect your Panderra X8 braid to your Tufflock Leader with an FG or Uni Knot, then tie the leader directly to the solid ring using a Loop Knot to allow the jig maximum freedom of movement and flutter.
Avoid oversized clips or swivels, as they can reduce the jig's natural action. Before each trip, quickly check your leader, assist hooks and knot for any signs of wear.
Pro Tip: Most bites happen on the drop, so keep slight tension in your line as the Buffalo Jr flutters down to stay connected and detect even the lightest bite.
Keep It Simple
One of the biggest misconceptions about micro jigging is that it's technical. It isn't.
In fact, the biggest mistake many anglers make is working the jig too hard. A gentle lift of the rod followed by allowing the jig to fall naturally is often all it takes. Mix in a few slow winds, short hops or longer pauses until the fish tell you what they want.
Don't forget to work the entire water column either. If your sounder is showing bait and fish halfway down, there's little point bouncing the jig on the bottom every drop. Quite often the bite comes while the jig is fluttering back through the school.
Light Tackle, Big Smiles
Micro jigging is about more than simply catching fish. It's about making every fish count. Fishing balanced light tackle means even average-sized fish put a proper bend in the rod, while the occasional bigger surprise becomes an unforgettable battle.
A quality light spin outfit loaded with PE braid, matched to a sensitive rod and finished with a long fluorocarbon or mono leader connected via an FG Knot will cover almost every Buffalo Jr application.
The lighter tackle also allows the jig to perform exactly as it was designed, maximising flutter on the sink and creating a presentation fish simply can't ignore. You'll quickly discover why so many anglers end up leaving heavier outfits in the rod holder and reaching for the micro jig setup first.
Give It a Go & Keep Experimenting
If you've never tied on a micro jig before, there's never been a better time. Whether you're fishing your local estuary, exploring shallow reefs or drifting across your favourite bay, you'll be surprised how many species are willing to eat a compact metal jig.
The Nomad Design Buffalo Jr has been built specifically for these situations, combining a compact profile with a unique centre-weighted Flash Fall design that delivers maximum flutter, long hang time and incredible flash on the sink.
No two days are ever the same. If fish aren't responding, don't be afraid to change things up. Try a different Buffalo Jr weight or colour, alter your retrieve, fish a different depth or simply slow everything down. Sometimes the smallest adjustment is all it takes to turn a quiet session into one you'll remember.
Sometimes, fishing isn't about going bigger. Sometimes, it's about slowing things down, matching the hatch and letting a small jig do exactly what it was designed to do. Because when it comes to micro jigging, less really is more.
