Wahoo on the Deeper Reefs Off Miami

With this years grouper season quickly coming to an end, Capt. Manny, crew and our customers have been doing their best to a few groupers in the box before season ends. We have been finding some good size Black Grouper on wrecks and reefs in about 100 feet to about 200 feet of water. The rigs that we are finding most productive are long leader rigs. Two pounds of lead will typically do the job of keeping a bait near the bottom. We will typically use 80 lb to 120 lb leader. The heavy leader will protect us from the jagged and rough terrain that groupers love. Sharp coral and rusted metal can be a one tough place to pull a big grouper free.

Wahoo can strike baits with speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. Strikes are violent so light tension keeps hooks in place. A wire leader is necessary. Wahoo have razor shark teeth and tremendous bite pressure, and are capable of cutting lighter wire.

Trolling with Ballyhoo, fresh cut Bonita Strips and artificial baits is another affective way of catching Wahoo. One of our best methods to target Wahoo is through the use of a planner. We like an Old Salty brand planner in size 6 or 8. We fish the planner on 60lb to 80lb braid line attached with a large barrel swivel. The bait is attached to the planner with a large ballbearing swivel and a 40 – 60 foot 80lb leader. One of our favorite Wahoo baits is a 3 1/2 Drone Spoon, silver with blue tape.