How To Catch Wahoo

Have you always wanted to catch wahoo? Do you want to learn how to catch wahoo? Wahoo is one of the fastest gamefish in the world. It puts up a hard fight when hooked and can slip away in a second. Its jaws have the ability to up and down and side to side. This allows the fish to work the hook loose and get away in a few seconds. Wahoo is found in tropical and subtropical waters like the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Wahoo is known for moving at fast speeds like 60 mph.

How To Catch Wahoo

1. Trolling

Trolling is the most popular fishing method used to fish for wahoo. Anglers implement both high-speed and slow-speed trolling. When trolling, speed is very important. When fishing for wahoo, anglers usually move the boat at a speed from 12 to 18 knots. The speed used depends on the lures used. Always vary the trolling speed until you get a bite. With high-speed trolling, you attach the bait and move the boat, waiting for a strike. High-speed trolling speeds range from 14 to 20 knots.

Slow trolling with speed from 8 to 10 knots can also be used to catch wahoo. Live baits like ballyhoo or flying fish can be used to fish for wahoo. When using live bait, you need to go at a slow speed to keep the bait alive for as long as possible. Additionally, the slow speed allows the scent of the bait to permeate the waters and attract the fish.

With slow trolling, you with have a planer of two in the water with down baits and rigger baits. Check these baits regularly to make sure they haven’t been eaten by wahoo or other fishes. Slow trolling speeds range from 6 to 10 knots.

2. Casting

Casting can also be used to catch wahoo although it is not effective as trolling. When casting for wahoo, keep on the lookout for birds circling overhead as they target baitfish. If there is baitfish that is being targeted by the birds in an area of the waters, most likely wahoo and other fishes will be in that area to prey on the baitfish.

3. Jigging

You can also jig for wahoo. Drop your line with bait down to about 100 feet and retrieve it fast if you feel anything on the line.

Wahoo Tackle

You can use standard offshore tackle for trolling wahoo. Use a 100lb braided line when trolling for wahoo. They have very sharp teeth and many anglers use wire leaders to prevent the breaking of the line. A titanium leader can also be used. A single hook of size 6/0 or 7/0 will work.

How To Catch Wahoo In Florida

Wahoo is caught in open waters and you will need to use a fish finder to locate them. You can use ballyhoo, sardines, mullet, or mackerel as bait. Lures such as plugs can be used when fishing for wahoo. Trolling and jigging are fishing methods used to catch wahoo.

They are very fast and trolling is one fishing method that will keep up with them. Early morning is the best time to go fishing for wahoo.

How To Catch Wahoo In The Keys

Wahoo is found out in the open waters and is built to be very fast. When fishing for wahoo in the keys, you want to look for structures. Wahoos will often be found around the structure. Look for reefs, wrecks, and other structures that may be hiding. Trolling, jigging, and drift fishing are fishing methods often used when fishing for wahoo.

In the Florida Keys, the best time to go fishing for wahoo is from dawn to early morning. Mullet, ballyhoo, sardines, and mackerel are some of the baits that can be used when fishing for wahoo. Lures are also used when fishing for wahoo.

How To Catch Wahoo In The Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is one of the best places to go fishing for wahoo. It can be found anywhere in the Gulf. Look for structures that it may be used to hide as it waits in ambush. Artificial and natural coral reefs and shipwrecks are some of the structures that you may fish wahoo around. Use your fish finder or sonar device to locate structures for wahoo.

Ballyhoo, mullet, mackerel, and sardines are some of the fish that you can use as bait when fishing for wahoo. Additionally, since wahoo is often found in open waters, trolling, jigging, and drift fishing are some of the fishing methods used when fishing for wahoo.

How To Catch Wahoo In North Carolina

Wahoo is found in open waters and feeds on squid, mackerel, flying fish, crustaceans, and other fish. They can be found around the bottom, weed lines, and structures. Trolling is the most popular fishing method used by anglers for wahoo in North Carolina. However, bottom fishing, drift fishing, and vertical jigging can also be used when fishing for wahoo.

How To Catch Wahoo In South Florida

Wahoo can be found in most parts of Florida including South Florida. They are usually found in open waters and around structures like reefs, and shipwrecks. High-speed trolling is the favorite fishing method of most anglers. It works well as wahoo moves at a very fast speed and high-speed trolling helps you keep up with it.

Mackerel, sardines, mullet, and ballyhoo are some of the baits that can be used when fishing for wahoo. Lures can also be used to catch them. Slow-speed trolling, kite fishing, and vertical jigging can also be used when fishing for wahoo.

Best Bait For Wahoo

1. Squid

Squid is a good trolling bait for wahoo.

2. Mackerel

When learning how to catch wahoo, remember that wahoo will go after mackerel, small tuna fish, squid, flying fish, and dolphinfish.

3. Herring

Herring, butterfish, and live porcupine fish work well as bait for wahoo.

4. Butterfish

Butterfish works well as bait for wahoo.

5. Scad

Scad also works as bait for wahoo.

6. Tuna

Oily fish like tuna also work well as bait for wahoo.

7. Flying Fish

Wahoo will go after anything including flying fish.

8. Mullet

Mullet, shrimp, ballyhoo, cigar minnows, pinfish, pilchards, croakers, and scad work well as bait for wahoo.

Best Lures For Wahoo

1. Diving Plugs

Deep-diving trolling plugs are some of the most effective lures for fishing wahoo.

2. Ballyhoo Lures

Ballyhoo lures are one of the best lures for wahoo.

3. Swimming Plugs

Swimming plugs are effective when fishing for wahoo.

4. Wahoo Lures

When learning how to catch wahoo, remember that using wahoo ures like wahoo trolling plugs increases your chances of catching wahoo.

Wahoo Fishing Tips

1. Anglers use speed trolling to fish for wahoo.

2. Trolling speeds from 14 to 18 knots are used to troll for wahoo.

3. Slow trolling is also used to fish for wahoo.

4. Wahoo spawns all year and has multiple spawning sessions during the year.

5. Wahoo has very sharp teeth, therefore; use a wire leader. Fluorocarbon or monofilament lines don’t stand a chance with their sharp teeth.

6. High-speed and slow-speed trolling is used to fish for wahoo.

7. When high-speed trolling, the speed is usually in the range of 12 to 18 knots depending on the lures that you use.

8. Always vary the trolling speed until you get a strike.

9. Casting can also be used to catch wahoo.

10. Large wahoo are attracted to bait schools in the up-currents of steep islands and offshore banks.

11. Wahoos often are found in packs. Hence, always have a “jig stick” when trolling for wahoo. When you get a bite, cast the jig quickly as you may catch other wahoos that are moving with the one that bit your line.

12. Jigging and chumming can be used to fish for wahoo.

13. Wahoo can be found around structures like wrecks, artificial reefs, floating debris, oil rigs, ledges, salt domes, and rocks.

14. Wahoo likes deep and warm waters.

15. Go fishing for wahoo on days before and after a full moon or time your wahoo fishing when there is a tide change.

16. You can drop a jig up to 60 feet deep around structures to catch wahoo.

17. The bait used depends on the fishing method and speed you implement.

18. Wahoo lives in the water column from 48 feet deep up to the surface.

19. The best months to fish for wahoo are February and March.

20. Wahoo doesn’t have the ability to regulate its body temperature. That is why you will often find wahoo in the warm waters.

21. Always keep a tight line when a wahoo is hooked. If not, it will work the line with its jaws up and down, and side to side until it gets the hook loose and get away.

22. The best time of the day to catch wahoo is from dawn to early morning and from late afternoon to sunset, especially on an outgoing tide.

The Bottom Line

Wahoo is known for its fast speed and is capable to move up to 60 mph. It is a favorite of anglers because of its size, speed, and tasty fish. It is a hard fighter when hooked and can easily slip away during the fight. Fishing for wahoo is intense and exciting because of its capabilities.

It can be challenging to catch because it works its jaws to set the hook loose and escape. In this article, we discussed the fishing methods, fishing tips, and the behaviors of wahoo to improve your chances of catching this speedster.

If you are interested in catching other fish like amberjack, Mahi Mahi, and marlin, then read the articles on how to catch amberjack, how to catch Mahi Mahi, and how to catch marlin.