From Florida’s Panhandle to the South Texas coast, anglers find wahoo from November through February in wrecks and oil platforms in 250 to 300 feet (35 to 40 miles out), on underwater mounds and floating oil rigs farther offshore in late winter, and under floating grass in the summer, when weed lines gather in the Gulf
Where is the best wahoo fishing?
Some of the best Wahoo fishing in the world occurs on the Bahama Bank during the winter season and can peak in the months of February and March. These fish average 45lbs with many fish caught over the 70lb class. It is common to catch your limit of wahoo on the Bahama Bank when high speed trolling for Wahoo.
What is the best time to catch wahoo?
The best time of the year can be argumentative; most people would say the summer months of July, August, and September to target Wahoo. But at times, the Winter, October through February, can be impressive. Most Wahoos during the Winter are a bi-catch of fishing for sailfish.
Where do you troll for wahoo?
For wahoo, a lure trolled anywhere from 5 to 15 feet down is far more productive than one trolled at the surface. Subsurface lures and baits trolled rapidly yield more strikes. Although high-speed trolling (upward of 20 knots) is popular for wahoo, many are caught near the 10-knot range.
What is the best moon for wahoo fishing?
the full moon
The day of the full moon is usually slower, with the best bite at mid-day.” Capt. Tony DiGiulian of Fort Lauderdale said that when the moon rises and sets during those days, as well as when the moon is directly overhead, can be the absolute best times to hook a wahoo.
What is the best bait for wahoo?
They can be caught on live bait such as speedos, pilchards, blue runners, cigar minnows, ballyhoos, mullet and more. They can also be caught on vertical jigs, and if you find structure floating there is a good chance by dropping a vertical jig down 100 feet or so, the wahoo you are looking for is down there.
How far out do you have to go to catch wahoo?
Hunt is most successful when he marks wahoo — often 50 feet or more away from the debris, but he says, “If you’re catching dolphin, or if you see any life — tripletails, triggerfish or even a lot of bait — go ahead and drop down.” A fast-retrieve reel is essential: 6-to-1 or faster.
Is wahoo hard to catch?
Wahoo live in the warm waters of Florida and Louisiana. The warmer weather seasons are the best time to fish for them. Part of what makes it the most difficult fish to catch is its speed– they can swim up to 60 miles an hour! Use a planer to troll 12, 14, or up to 16 or 20 knots.
Where can wahoo be found?
tropical and subtropical waters
Wahoo are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are found in tropical waters year-round but are also found in higher latitudes during the summer.
How do you get wahoo anywhere?
For wahoo, a lure trolled anywhere from 5 to 15 feet down is far more productive than one trolled at the surface. Subsurface lures and baits trolled rapidly yield more strikes. Although high-speed trolling (upward of 20 knots) is popular for wahoo, many are caught near the 10-knot range.
What water temperature do wahoo like?
between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Locating the Fish
Wahoo tend to be ambush feeders, so they look for places to hide. Their preferred water temperatures is between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They have, however, been taken in water temperatures as low as 68 degrees and as high as 85 degrees. On rough days wahoo tend to stay deep.
Do you have to bleed wahoo?
Bleeding them is key and letting them stay on ice to firm the meat up works well.
Can you catch wahoo at night?
And, what do you know, wahoo will bite at night too! We got things back out and got covered up again by a pack of bonitas. In fact, it’s apparent the fish are not as “boat shy” after darkness falls.
Do Wahoos jump?
Wahoo can be found in warm waters around the world and are beloved by anglers for their leap – it won’t happen every time, but wahoo are known to jump well out of the water (their speed helps them here).
What moon phase is best for saltwater fishing?
Second, during a full or new moon, the saltwater tides are stronger due to the pull of gravity. Stronger currents will mean more active baitfish and other prey making for optimal fishing tide times.
What size hooks for wahoo?
Sizes are #4, 2, 1/0, and 3/0. I’ve caught plenty of wahoo on #4 92677 and 27# single strand wire; especially while on the anchor.
How fast should you troll for wahoo?
High-speed trolling speeds range from 14 to 20 knots and slow trolling 6 to 10 knots. You just cannot pull skirted dead baits much faster and if you are fishing planers, you really cannot go very fast.
Can you catch wahoo from shore?
They have been seen and caught in-shore near reefs, but the majority are caught when trolling off-shore for other species like dorado and sailfish. BEST MONTHS: Wahoo don’t play by anyone’s rules, so they can be caught every month of the year here.
Can you eat wahoo?
Although a versatile fish, wahoo benefits from cooking methods suitable for species with low fat content so the meat doesn’t dry out when cooking. It cooks and tastes like an ultra-light, lean tuna. The firm flesh is good grilled or broiled, especially if marinated first to tenderize it and enhance the mild flavor.
How do you fish for wahoo in Florida?
To cover ground I troll in a zig-zag pattern between 150 and 400 feet of water. While wahoo can be caught trolling at any speed, they are one of the fastest fish in the ocean. Wahoo do not have a problem destroying baits that are pulled upwards of 20 mph.
What is the toughest fish to reel in?
The Top 10 Hardest Fish to Catch in the Ocean
- BLACK MARLIN.
- BLUEFIN TUNA.
- SWORDFISH.
- YELLOWFIN TUNA.
- STRIPED MARLIN.
- WAHOO.
- SAILFISH.
- WHITE MARLIN.