Wahoo Fishing is Starting to Heat Up
Miami Wahoo Fishing heats up every year at the end of the summer and beginning of the fall. The best fishing comes about a week before the full moon in August, September and October. This year was no exception, and the Wahoo bite was is on! Capt. Manny has been on the Wahoo all week catching at least one Wahoo each day. Our largest fish this past week was an almost 6 foot fish weighing in at over 70 pounds. We had other fish in the forty pound range. As well as a trip with a two fish double header of 20 pound Wahoo.
The Rig We Use For Fishing Wahoo
We have found that off Miami and Miami Beach the “old school” tried and true rigs work best for us. Ballyhoo trolled in the long riggers are a long time favorite. Rigged with a small pink chugger in front of the bait has been a great producer this past week. We fish a ten foot number eight wire leader with a double strength 8/0 or 9/0 needle eye hook. The hook size is chosen depending on the bait size. We also use black and red, purple and black as well as blue and white chuggers, skirt & sea witch combinations. As well as many other styles of lures. With Islanders being another great choice.
Getting your baits down deep is another effective way to target Wahoo while Miami wahoo fishing. We have found that inline number six and eight Old Salty planers work best. We fish eighty pound spectra line on the reel connected directly to a 500 pound barrel swivel. The most important trick I can share with you is to put a very large ball bearing swivel directly off the back of the planner. That swivel will keep your leader from spinning up into a tangled ball. Or worst of all, breaking off.
We fish a long 45′ to 75′ leader made of 60 pound to 100 pound monofilament line. The best all around lure is the 3 1/2 Drone Spoon. My personal favorite is the chrome with blue tape. We also do very well fishing bonita strips and double hooked Ballyhoo. We add a combination of skirts and lures. This is done to enhance the action and color of the baits. As well as protecting the baits from wearing out.
This time of year we find most of our fish in as shallow as 100′ of water and out to about 600′ of water. With most of our fish caught in 140′ of water to 180′ of water. Troll at 5 knots to about 8 knots, speed should be chosen to make your baits fish the best they can. Staying in the water
Capt. Jay Cohen
Capt. Jay owns and operates the Miami fishing charter Capt. Jay’s Deep Sea Fishing. Capt. Jay has fished Miami for more than 40 years and holds several I.G.F.A world records and has won multiple tournaments, including the METT tournament and the fun fish boat in the Miami Billfish tournament. Capt. Jay discovered a new species of tilefish and had the honor of naming the fish (Bahama Tiger Tilefish).
