{"id":19685,"date":"2020-01-30T17:52:02","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T17:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oceanbluefishing.com\/magazine\/?p=19685"},"modified":"2025-02-13T14:53:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T03:53:17","slug":"wahoo-fishing-tips-how-catch-more-effectively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oceanbluefishing.com\/magazine\/wahoo-fishing-tips-how-catch-more-effectively\/","title":{"rendered":"Wahoo Fishing Tips: How to Catch Wahoo More Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"

An amazing fish species and a popular fishing exclamation at the same time, \u201cWahoo\u201d is the name of a fish that all offshore anglers love to hook up to. Let\u2019s talk about some tactics on how to catch more Wahoo on your next offshore session.These speedsters of the deep have been on the top of offshore anglers\u2019 hit list even before Ernest Hemmingway started writing about fishing stories in his novels. Wahoo has the ability to swim at least 95 kph and due to their awesome speed, anglers and guides have learned to practice speed trolling for more hook ups. Trolling speeds from 14 to 18 knots are commonplace but slow trolling baits and lures are still effective depending on the conditions around your angling location.<\/p>\n

About Wahoo – ACANTHOCYBIUM SOLANDRI<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Akin to their speedy nature, Wahoo grow fast, live fast and have a short life span of up to 9 years at max. Females are known to reach sexual maturity at 100cm while males reach maturity at 85cm. Wahoo spawn year round and have multiple spawning sessions per year. The bigger specimen around 30 \u2013 50kg fish aren\u2019t much of the schooling kind and usually travel solitarily or in small groups of 3 fish but the smaller fish do school and feed in big groups. They feed voraciously on squid and other fish species and are known to use their razor sharp teeth and blazing fast speed to cut up fish bigger than themselves to consume.<\/p>\n

Frequent Locales <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wahoo is a pelagic species found in all the world\u2019s tropical and subtropical waters, like the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Vanuatu<\/a> is lucky to have both amazing quantity and quality of this fish. They are also known as the Pacific kingfish<\/em> as it is closely related to the King Mackerels.<\/p>\n

Usually caught when trolling for billfish, Wahoo frequent the subsurface world hunting for squid and other baitfish.<\/p>\n

Remember, Wahoo teeth are extremely sharp and when they come in contact with monofilament or fluorocarbon, no matter how thick they are, say goodbye to your lure.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Gear <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most often caught as by-catch when angling for bigger targets like Marlin and other Billfish, you\u2019ll soon come to realize that any trolling outfit that you currently have are well-suited to fishing for Wahoo. Obviously, the smaller 16 and 20 overhead outfits will work well but will sometimes meet some challenges in terms of line capacity when hooked up to bigger specimens. 30 to 50 wide outfits does the trick well and can still be heaps of fun on stand up when you have a gimbal on. Wire leaders are a good insurance against getting bitten off. Remember, Wahoo teeth are extremely sharp and when they come in contact with monofilament or fluorocarbon, no matter how thick they are, say goodbye to your lure.<\/p>\n

Basically, from your braid or main line, a bimini twist to double your main line is needed, then loop to loop connection with your leader of choice may it be 80 or 100lb test of about 3 meters in length. A ball bearing swivel with snap will then be attached to your leader which will be clipped directly onto a wire leader of around 2 feet in length.<\/p>\n

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Wahoo High Speed Trolling <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether utilizing a 4 or 6-lure spread, speed is the key. Ideally, a speed of 12 – 14 knots to troll and a max of 18 knots when using certain lures. Vary the speed you are trolling until you get a bite. It is no use to go slower than 12 knots when high speed trolling.  Lures like the Halco Max and the Yozuri Bonita work great and they are heaps more durable than trolling skirts, which take a tough beating after getting bit by razor sharp Wahoo jaws.

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