Wahoo Tackle and Fishing

Wahoo Tackle and Fishing

 

If you never had the chance to fish for our name sake for Wahootackleandfishing.com , you have really missed out on one of the fastest swimming and most fun predators in the ocean to catch. Enter the Wahoo World.

Wahoo are usually loners or move in small schools, this makes them a very challenging target and most Wahoo are caught when fishing for other species. However  there is one place in the USA that you can have really good odds of hooking up with the mighty Wahoo and that is Venice Louisiana. When you hook up to a Wahoo there will be no doubt that you have something a lot different that you’re normal sail or Dorado. The Wahoo is the fastest swimming species of Mackerel in World.

Wahoo are also know by some other names around all the Wahoo World-ono, oahu fish, Pacific kingfish, ocean barracuda  

Ideal Temp:  70 to 80  

World Record:  158 lbs. 8 oz, Mexico  

Environment:  offshore  

Techniques:  heavy tackle, trolling  

   

The Wahoo is closest to the coast in the months of January and February from Alabama to Texas. Venice Louisiana is your best bet to boat a super-size 100lb Wahoo during this 60 day window. 

When fishing for wahoo, you will have to run offshore a ways unless you are in the Islands or Bahama’s. 25-35 miles would be about the average and as little as 15 miles in Louisiana. In Louisiana, to fishing, can be a lot of fun and if you focus on the oil rigs with production. If you are in the southern waters look for Wahoo swimming around weed lines and floating debris just like you would for a Dorado. Wahoo can be caught in water shallow up to over 600 feet.

The most popular way to catch Wahoo is trolling big lures and spreads like you would for Marlin, tuna, or Sails. There are a lot of options but we have given a few Wahoo a boat ride in our time. So here is Wahoowaterworld’s suggestions on how to rig and the Wahootackleandfishing  needs.

 

Trolling Baits use   Mann’s stretch 30's -40 and Pink is a great color, Braid Marauder’s in Mackerel and Blue's work great as well. If you cannot get the first two a Bomber Saltwater CD 30's works well as does a Rapala Magnum X-Rap in Bonito pattern. When you set up your gear Black, Purple, Pink, Red, Blue, and silver are the primary colors you want in lures for Wahoo and Bonita pattern colors is good but Pink and hot tomato colors work well in getting Wahoo to strike.

 

Reels and equipment  use a 30-50 reel and you can catch on smaller but be ready to get spooled or have to follow with the boat for a while when the Speedy Wahoo!  Never go below a 30 reel. Tuna, Marlin, and the occasional Mako Shark will bite any wahoo bait and be prepared with the right tackle. Spool with some good backing, then top shot your rod with fluorocarbon of 80lb-150lb. You want to learn how to work with hollow core line and tie the good knots and tie with a steel leader. We recommend  110lb single strand wire stay away from the AFW Strands that are multi and soft stay true and you will get the fish to the boat, take the easy route and be prepared to be heart broken. Wahoo do not play, strands also open and water goes through when trolling creating and a unnatural action running through your bait and the fish will not bite. Use small barrel swivels, connected to regular wire connected to the bait with a solid twist.

If you are just starting many kinds of trolling diving baits in different colors and make sure you change the hooks and split rings immediately, take them to your local tackle store and get the same size rings and hooks just get the best ones you can get the expense of this will put fish in the boat and save you a lot of lost lures as well. We recommend that you start off trolling and then you can graduate to pulling spread Wahoo Bomb type baits like the Wahoo Popcorn on Wahoo.

Use your mapping or electronics and look for water in the 200ft plus range but 200 is good around rigs.

Look for changes in depth and bottom contour around the rigs, the fish will be in deeper water and a little shallower. Concentrate on the rigs, buoys and rip lines that are present close offshore during the Jan-Feb 30 miles max likely you can find fish 15 miles from inlet depending on which area you leave from.  Here are a few other helpful hints. Fish will bite in stained water it does not have to be deep blue and likely will not be. Murky and Green water is ok. Fish around structure and start off with rigs or areas you want to grid. Do not give up keep going until you find fish, it will be worth it. Try different Speeds from 6-12 knots then up to 15 knots if you are pulling a spread on riggers. Change baits and speed until you key in on the fish, once you have their number stay to it and load the boat. Reels have drags for a reason use them   Wahoo hits bait and holds on to it then spits it if you don't have enough drag. This means 50% of drag is a starting point.

 

Take a look at Daiwa Salt and Penn reels on Wahoo and also some Premium Line and we also have the Mann Stretch lures and all the terminal to go Wack some  Wahoo! Remember we love WahooTackleandFishing. and if you are in the market for a great Wahoo Rod look at our Catcher Rods in the 6'6" and the 7'0" and match it up with a new reel and you have a USA HAND MADE saltwater offshore rod that will last a lifetime!