SportFishing and Charters Forum - Wahoo rig question

GM Anglers,

I just ordered a wahoo rig from bluewatercandy with the cigar weighted lead troll & skirted lure on a heavy gauge wire. For average size Wahoo 20-25 lbs, Need I add a "shock cord" 100-200 lb. test of mono coming off the rod line prior to the weighted lead? This will be my first attempt at Wahoo down in Islamorada first week of June. We're going to dedicate one day targeting wahoo, anyone know if this species is biting in early june down in Islamorada.

Thank you all in Advance,

Ray

The shock leader goes between the cigar weight and the lure and IMO should be bigger than 100-200. Not sure what the bite is like over there this time of year but Wahoo generally like the cooler temps. Here in Cayman our peak wahoo season is roughly december thru march

On another note, you mention 20-25 lb wahoo, there is nothing stopping a 70lber from picking up a lure so always be prepared.

The shock leader goes between the cigar weight and the lure and IMO should be bigger than 100-200. Not sure what the bite is like over there this time of year but Wahoo generally like the cooler temps. Here in Cayman our peak wahoo season is roughly december thru march

On another note, you mention 20-25 lb wahoo, there is nothing stopping a 70lber from picking up a lure so always be prepared.

Thanks Cayman fisher for clarifying shock cord location...I'm a noob when it comes to off shore rigs and such... Our usual fishing trip consists of trolling for Mahi with pre-rigged ballyhoos bought at the tackle shop and an "ATTEMPT" to bottom fish for Grouper ( no success with this so far). I read where wahoos like 72-78 deg. water temps.
I will beef up that shock absorber mono I guess to 300 # test :)

Thank you,

Ray

This link should help you out for the high speed trolling. http://www.wahooking.com/articles.html
I could be wrong,but I think the majority of the wahoo caught in the keys in June are found hanging below flotsam. So when you come across a floating pallet, log, ect...., after picking away at any dophin which may be hanging out, send a bait down about 100ft and you may be surprised.
If trolling with ballyhoo, after a couple passes by the debris, put the boat in neutral and let the baits sink, then put it back in gear at trolling speed which will make the baits look like they're fleeing to the surface and hopefully draw a strike from any wahoo hanging around.

Great Advice and Info there Venator!! Thanks a lot!

Ray

In Florida 150-200 pound is fine. Remember that you have to handline below the sinker. So that is a consideration on length. A 70 pound Wahoo is really really rare around here in general especially in the summer.

And don't forget to rig your wahoo lure with 18 inches or so of wire - goes from the hook to 18 inches or so in front of the lure. Many of us use Sevenstrand 49 strand as it is very pliable. 100 - 200 lb test is usually sufficient.

Thanks for that advice Firstlight.

Ray

First time I tried the high speed thing I was running a pinnacle marine 50 short bent butt rod with an old daiwa sealine spooled with 100 lb power pro to bimini twist to 300 lb ball bearing swivel to 18" of #10 hard wire to a 16 oz. Trolling weight to another 18 or so inches of wire to 30' of 300 lb mono to another b.b. swivel and about 18" of wire to a big black and purple wahoo lure. Had the wife at the helm as I deployed it, asked her to speed up to about 13 knots, before I got back to the wheel the reel was singing. My first wahoo and it was 64".

Tried it again and no takers, haven't been able to try it again since then. I am sold on it now. And I just kinda ghetto rigged my setup, that lure was wet for all of 45 seconds before it got bit.

Got a 28 lb wahoo out of Islam last Tuesday. 650 fow on a black and red islander trolled at 14 its. We were on a charter with nick stanczyk out of bud n Marys. Got an 80 lb sword on the same trip.

GM Anglers,

I just ordered a wahoo rig from bluewatercandy with the cigar weighted lead troll & skirted lure on a heavy gauge wire. For average size Wahoo 20-25 lbs, Need I add a "shock cord" 100-200 lb. test of mono coming off the rod line prior to the weighted lead? This will be my first attempt at Wahoo down in Islamorada first week of June. We're going to dedicate one day targeting wahoo, anyone know if this species is biting in early june down in Islamorada.

Thank you all in Advance,

Ray

Ray, how do you target 20-25 lb wahoo? Been wahoo fishing 20+ years and I target wahoo, can never target a certain size. That being said, who says you don't catch a 40 or 60 lber? Get in the habit of doing it right and when the big one comes, you will be ready.,

Use a 24-48 oz lead. Your choice, if you only want to buy one, I suggest 36 or 48 oz. Do not get the lead with rings molded in, get the one with a hole all the way through. You can buy them pre-rigged if you want. That attaches to your snap swivel. Make a 25' shock leader(I use 400 or 450 lb mono), put a loop on the front and a snap-swivel on the back. Attach that to your lead and then attach the leader to the snap swivel on the lead. You are good to go.

I have no idea what size tackle you are using but I am guessing not very big. If that is the case, you should be able to troll up to about 12 knots without issue with smaller(under 50 lb) tackle. Good luck, hope you catch em.

Hey Jags....I heard wahoos running in the middle keys this time of year are on the smaller side, that's all. I hope we hook an 80 lb'er and you all will be the first to see it on here :)

Ray

Caught a double header saturday out of BigPine key both on islander/ballyhoo on 100lb mono! highspeed trolling is more of a wintertime thing down here, so save your gas money and heavy cable til then..dont waste your time targeting them, as wahoo are more of a by-catch throughout summer ..ps do i have to have an online album to post a picture on here?

dropped a weehoo boatside big pine this weekend on a red and black islander w/ ballyhoo. we were sitting at a weed line with a school of dolphins under the boat,i had left the islander out and it was waaaayyyyy out there. the bait had sunk for maybe 10 minutes, so i cranked as fast as i could and got the pick up. I was excited till the fish let go about 30' from the boat.

Caught a double header saturday out of BigPine key both on islander/ballyhoo on 100lb mono! highspeed trolling is more of a wintertime thing down here, so save your gas money and heavy cable til then..dont waste your time targeting them, as wahoo are more of a by-catch throughout summer ..ps do i have to have an online album to post a picture on here?


You can use photobucket or other similar sites as well as the albums on THT

Hey Jags....I heard wahoos running in the middle keys this time of year are on the smaller side, that's all. I hope we hook an 80 lb'er and you all will be the first to see it on here :)

Ray

Gotcha. I am just a big believer that I can take my spread, the same spread with the same rigging, anywhere and catch a 20 lber or a 100 lber. Hope to see that 80 lb telephone pole! Good luck.

drop a bait down deep on some debris and hold on;cool; Boated a 30pounder on sunday while dolphin fishing :thumbsup:

drop a bait down deep on some debris and hold on;cool; Boated a 30pounder on sunday while dolphin fishing :thumbsup:

Do you mean drop the lure down 100-150 feet and hall away bringing that lure up on a 45 degree angle? It's the first time I Target wahoo and I'm gathering all the useful info I can get. Thanks Captn

Ray