Rigged and ready for battle, Miami's Top-Vee heads off in search of productive wahoo grounds. tatewide, the unforgettable re- phin are tasty, blackfin tuna pull hard and enthusiasts to effectively target these super- S sults that come with high-speed sailfish lead our pelagic plethora in acrobatic fast speedsters at ridiculous trolling speeds wahoo trolling are typically the abilities, but when it comes to shear velocity, once thought impossible. Forget 12, 14 or same - periods of anticipation highlighted wahoo swim alone! For decades, anglers in- even 16-knots, how about 20-knots plus! You by bursts of blistering strikes. Neverthe- the-know have been taking these ferocious heard right; 20-knots plus! Warp-Speed less, one thing is for certain, two or three fighters by means of a variety of tactics; live To cash in on this adrenaline-filled fish- drag-screaming wahoo in a row will quick- bait fishing…slow-trolling…kite-fishing…all ery, understanding the tips, tricks, tackle endlessimagery.com ly satisfy any blue-water angler’s expecta- are effective and all continue to account for and techniques employed during these tions – that’s a guarantee! respectable numbers of these highly-prized insanely fast pursuits will surely help put For Florida anglers, wahoo represent the game fish year after year. Recntly, advance- more trophy ‘hoo in the box! The laT esT obsession in T he making… pinnacle of offshore excitement. Sure, dol- ments in technology have permitted wahoo BY CAPTAIN MIKE GENOUN Wahoo PHOTOGRAPHY: 52-109.indd 58 10/15/08 2:59:14 PM 52-109.indd 59 10/15/08 2:59:21 PM warp-Speed Warp-Speed waHoo Wahoo When the men is not unheard of and How big do an otherwise gently slop- bite is on, the wahoo grow? results can definitely not hard to be- Just ask the ing region. Fortunately for be more than lieve, especially for such a crew aboard impressive. Zephyros. warp-speed wackos resid- specialized hunter capable ing in the southeast stretch of racing through dense ocean depths at of the state through the prolific Florida I-95 speeds. Keys, promising grounds mean a short run Typically, wahoo are not a school- of only a few miles. For Gulf Coast gurus ing fish. They tend to be solitary hunt- the story is not the same, as a significant ers, although they may occur in loose amount of fuel may need to be sacrificed congregations patrolling the same in order to reach pay dirt. forage-rich strike zones. Their diet con- Temperature breaks…current rips… sists primarily of bonito, juvenile tuna, floating debris…the presence of bait- mackerel, dolphinfish and squid. How- fish…working birds…all are signs that ever, a hungry wahoo will not hesitate can lead to warp-speed success and chasing down and devouring just about should not be overlooked. anything that is unfortunate enough to swim in its field of view. When to put the pedal to the metal HiGH Speed wHat While wahoo are caught during every The debate still continues over the true month of the year, the season many of definition of “high-speed” trolling, as us highly anticipate generally peaks just one man’s “fast” may be another’s “slow.” a week or two before Thanksgiving and One thing that we know for certain is Some may try and convince you that runs strong through the tail end of March. that you can’t outrun a full-grown ‘hoo. trolling for any pelagic at such a high rate of Unfortunately, this same time frame co- They’re simply too fast. For the sake of speed is at best a futile attempt at offshore incides with the strongest winds of the Get to know ‘Hoo The business end of a wahoo is this application, anything less than 14 to “ success. They would be incorrect. year (hurricane season aside), and can In case your offshore career just got equipped with large upper and lower in- 16-knots and consider yourself searching create treacherous conditions best left to underway, here is a brief introduction cisors lined with closely positioned den- for dolphin. To truly enjoy the benefits ing for any pelagic at such a high rate of Wahoo Where super-size sportos. However, windows of to the target species. Wahoo are found tures as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel. While of ultra high-speed wahoo trolling, get speed is ludacrious and nothing more Regardless where your search pattern lies, opportunity do open, allowing small to worldwide in both tropical and subtropi- little is still known about their character- the boat up on plane and push the guage than a waste of precious fuel. They would a number of factors remain the same. mid-size open-fisherman an equal oppor- cal seas. The missile-like fish’s blistering istics, it is believed growth is rapid. Under up to 20-knots. Trust me, if you put in the be incorrect. Structure is key. Distinct ledges…drop- tunity to safely and effectively cash in on speed and top-quality table fare distin- ideal conditions, gaining close to two- time; you, too, will become a believer! One of the advantages of trolling at offs…just about any irregularity lying be- the chaotic wintertime action. guish it as a prize catch for anglers of all pounds per month for a maturing speci- Some may try and convince you that troll- cruising speed is that you can relocate be- low 100 to 300-feet of clean, nutrient-rich skill levels. Shaped like a deadly torpedo, tween promising areas that are relatively blue-water that attracts bait; will attract tackle hoW a wahoo’s elongated body is covered with The missile-like fish’s blistering speed and close in a short period of time without wahoo, too. Fifty miles off the First Coast, Appropriate gear for this fishery does not small, barely visible scales for minimal re- top-quality table fare distinguish it as a prize having to retrieve your spread. An addi- even a minimal drop-off from 180-feet to come easy, and is certainly not for the faint sistance. For a few extra mph when they catch for anglers of all skill levels. tional benefit is the tremendous amount 200-feet is a significant wahoo-magnet in of heart. For starters, stout aluminum- need it most, wahoo tuck their peck and “ of productive water you can cover. In only dorsal fins into perfectly streamlined in- a few hours of fishing, you can effectively dentations. Most don’t know this, but troll your lures for over 60-miles! Taking ndlessimagery.com wahoo also have the supernatural ability e this fact into consideration, it stands to exude a unique slime coat that makes to reason that the more promising ter- their body extra slippery during sudden ritory you pull your It pays to prepare bursts of aggression. baits through, the more for the elements Propulsion for this magnificent hunt- likely you are to cross when targeting wintertime 'hoo. er is generated by a powerful tail fin gy- paths with the targeted rating back and forth at unimaginable species and thus, the more strikes you speeds. Close cousins to the Armed with will potentially experience. Also, speed is king mackerel, wahoo are razor sharp clearly an enticement for wahoo, as these dentures, camouflaged in a mythical- wahoo fish thrive on tuna and bonito, some of like striped pattern high- are killing the fastest fish in the sea. Any consis- machines. lighted by iridescent hues tently successful wahoo angler will tell of silver and blue, which quickly fade to you wahoo enjoy a good chase. Lets also a pale bluish gray at death. From above (3), right) wolfden.com from bottom (clockwise not forget that when ’hoos smash a lure or below, these silent hunters magically trolled at such high speed, a solid hook 60 melt into their surroundings, leaving set is fairly certain - a positive factor for 61 unsuspecting prey no chance of escaping a fishery that is not about catch and re- their deadly attacks. PHOTOGRAPHY: lease, but rather about catch and kill! FSF MAG NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2008 FLORIDASPORTFISHING.COM FSF MAG 52-109.indd 60 10/15/08 2:59:29 PM 52-109.indd 61 10/15/08 2:59:37 PM Warp-Speed Warp-Speed Wahoo Wahoo this fact may be true, options do exist. Ballyhood Lures based in crews devote the first two or three hours of light to high-speed- Santa Ana, California, is one particular manufacturer who has taken ing and then switch off in search of other species. One thing to high-speed wahoo trolling to a whole new level with the introduc- consider is that records and rumors both indicate that a greater RunnInG tion of the Banchee. I have caught numerous fish on this lure, so I number of these magnificent fish fall victim to anglers’ efforts lIne believe in it! Water pours through the Banchee, rather than around during the first hour or two after sunrise. However make no it. Its open-face provides virtually no resistance and keeps the lure mistake; these highly specialized predators kill from dawn to tracking in the strike zone at ridiculously high speeds. A 32 or 48 dusk. Get out there and give warp-speed wahoo trolling a try. If oz. Banchee can effectively be pulled at 20-plus knots without the at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up. Good things come to addition of a trolling lead. For an added level of enticement, the those who put in the time.