A deep-water ledge off the coast of Northeast Florida, roughly 70 miles offshore Jacksonville and St. Augustine, is a prime hangout for large wahoo. According to Capt. Allen Mills of AC Charters, the wahoo fishing is “jam-up” between January and April, with the peak season being February and March.
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 depth should I troll for wahoo?
5 to 15 feet
Depth and Speed
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.
Where can wahoo be caught?
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 target a wahoo?
High-speed trolling is certainly an effective way to catch wahoo, but so is slow trolling dead bait or lures, trolling live bait, dropping jigs or trolling beneath floating debris, chunking and even kite fishing.
How far behind the boat should I troll?
Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.
Is wahoo hard to catch?
With speeds topping 60 miles per hour, you’ll know if you snagged a wahoo because your reel, quite literally, will be screaming. “There’s not much else that can pull line off the reel like a big wahoo,” Capt. George McElveen told Sport Fishing Magazine.
Can you eat raw wahoo?
Eating Wahoo Raw
It has a nice texture, which lends itself to being chunked. Some parts of the fish are better cooked because they can be chewy when raw. However, most of the fish can be used in raw dishes.
Is wahoo fun to catch?
Wahoo is the fish that’s fun to catch and to say. In fact, you simply can’t say Wahoo without smiling! Under the sea, the Wahoo are exceptional predators who are also extremely fast swimmers. This why hooking a Wahoo is a sought after trophy for many anglers both pro and amateur.
Is wahoo good eating?
Wahoo is a great eating fish that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Because it has a meaty texture to it, it’s the perfect fish to grill but also tastes great baked or broiled. However it’s cooked, the most important thing to remember is to never overcook, it may be easy to do since it’s a lean meat.
What is the biggest wahoo ever caught?
The biggest Wahoo ever caught was from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and this world record is held by an avid fisherwoman Sara Hayward. In 2005 Sara reeled in a Wahoo weighing 183pounds using trolling and this record still stands undefeated. The world record catch of a Dorado was made by Manuel Salazar in 1976.
Is wahoo fishy tasting?
Wahoo is mild-tasting, with a firm, lean texture and large, circular flake. Grilled wahoo has been compared to chicken or veal in flavor.
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.
How do you catch a wahoo in the Gulf of Mexico?
Although they can be consistently caught using heavier monofilament leaders (300-pound test or more), your best bet is to employ short wire or cable leaders, especially for diving lures like a Rapala, Yo-Zuri Bonita, or a Mann Stretch +30.
How do you get the key to wahoo?
Jigging and Drifting and Slow Trolling
High speed trolling for wahoo is very effective, but the opposite strategy also works well. Jigging is one popular way for anyone to target this Florida Keys sport fish. Hovering near flotsam or over structure, use heavy wire leaders and a combination of colored jigs.
How do I attract fish to my boat?
Top Ways to Attract Fish to Your Dock and Lakeshore
- Use Fish Lights around your lake dock and shoreline area to attract fish.
- Using aeration in your lake or pond to create a healthy environment for your fish.
- Create a home for your fish using an old tree placed in your lake.
How far offshore do you need to catch tuna?
You don’t have to travel very far to catch them – your fishing charter will take you about 50 miles offshore you will find schools of them swimming there, but if you want an even bigger catch you can travel about 75 miles offshore because this is where the real winners are to be found.
Should you troll with or against the current?
When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.
What’s the hardest fish to catch?
For many different reasons, these are some of the toughest fish to catch.
- Bonefish.
- Muskellunge.
- Permit.
- Flathead Catfish.
- Blue Marlin.
- Performance Apparel for Catching Trophy Fish.
What is the hardest fish to catch in Florida?
Here are the nine most difficult fish to catch in Florida.
- Blue marlin. Don’t act surprised that this fish is the first on our list.
- Greater amberjack.
- Permit.
- Crevalle jack.
- Tarpon.
- Sailfish.
- Wahoo.
- Swordfish.
What is the hardest saltwater fish to catch?
blue marlin
This amazing pelagic species is capable of impressive leaps (often multiple leaps in quick succession) and high-speed dives when hooked, which is why blue marlin are among the toughest fish to catch and are often pursued by offshore saltwater big game anglers worldwide.
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