High speed wahoo hunting

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

Any one had any luck with high speed hoo trolling? We have had some good results but want to see how every one else is doing it. Like speed, we keep our speed down to around 16 knots, but I heard some go faster. Weights use before the lure, We use 32 ozs, how far back do you run the lure from the trolling weight. And why do you run it whatever lenght back. In a couple of months we all should be looking for the warm and blue water.

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

We have lures similar to wahoo kings with trolling weights in front. Can't remember what weight they r tho. I'd have to take one out of the storage bag for rigging details bc I don't remember- I know they are rigged pretty similar to the j&m display hi speed rigs. Purple & black is my fav color for hooters

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:23 am Post subject:

When we are covering water at higher speeds I put out ilanders and jet heads with a 16 - 32oz bar weight. I can troll 15 to 20 knots which depends on the conditions. I have a shore piece of cable on both sides of the bar because wahoo attack weights. Then I have I have about 10 feet give or take of 300# mono. That attaches to the short piece of cable in front of my lure.

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

What type of rod and reels is everyone using? 50's 80's or ? Any good catches or just now and then? Let say you could be running at 25 knots but you are traveling in an area that has a good number of hoos. Do you slow down and high speed or just keep running 25 or so? The few hoos that we have caught while at high speeds, did not make that run to the boat just after hooked. Maybe at that speed it just knock them crazy. Pretty much just a trip to the boat with no fight. Anyone had any fight after the hook up at high speed ?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:34 am Post subject:

Gene I use 30s and 50s for wahoo. My 80s and 130s are saved for billfish. There's not much wahoo that a 50 can't handle even if you have to chase a big boy down. I high speed troll until I get steady strikes. Then since I know the fish are there I slow it down and maybe even change out my tackle to a new presentation.
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Fountain 34 CC
"Devils Rejects"

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:02 am Post subject:

I pull Wackos and Wackers to 20 knots. They donn't require weights, but I use 2 or 3 pound. I have 12 - 15' of 200 pound range cable or 300 pound mono for my leader. Add another 1' of cable in front of the lure that also helps with quick change outs. I don't even own an 80 wide. The 30 wides and 50 wides hold up.

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

I read this today. Wahoo King placed 2nd in the bahamas wahoo challenge via high speed trolling.

Just got from the Bahamas Wahoo Challenge leg 2 in Port Lucaya...Fishing was rather slow, water temp was cold and weather was bad...coming out of the SE at 30 kts....We prefished over 100 miles in a day with only one 20 lb snake...We knew were not to fish...Day 1 we headed in the other direction and caught one at 50lbs and the other went 56lbs...Day 2 was the big egg goose plus we had some minor engine issues...The two fish on day one were enough for 2nd overall and we did take the big fish honors...Also, had to take a flight home cause seas were fierce to insanity on Sun. am.

All fishing was done on the high speed troll with trolling sinkers, cable shock leaders and my WahooKing lures...trolled up to 19 kts...Both fish came off my red/blk WahooKing lure with glow heads...Some strange highlights for the trip were a 10 lb horse eye jack/black jack that we caught on the shotgun at 18 kts...Also, did see two fish at the docks with a small circular chunk taken out of the meat...Cookie cutter sharks were the culprit.

When I get the pics in a day or two, I will post em up
_________________
Fountain 34 CC
"Devils Rejects"

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject:

I fish ledges and drop offs where a hoo has found bait congregating. I don't think you can troll too fast for wahoo. They like fast. At 20 knots I feel thats a good average speed to get them fired up on lures. On the opposite spectrum if you're pulling baits that's when I would drop it under 12 knots. For lures, speed the boat up.

Got Bait? Joined: May 29, 2010 Posts: 29

hi speed wahoo trolling ballyhood lures www.ballyhood.com 32 oz. ''banchee'' up to 20 knots -no trolling weight required -- faster will get bigger wahoo 7-10 knots will get more wahoo


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