These are some helpful tips for anyone who wants to learn how to wahoo fish in North Carolina. The following information will help to find the best catch, no matter if you are fishing from an offshore trolling vessel or using high-speed lures. Remember that recreational wahoo catch is unlimited. It's easy to land a trophy fish if you hold the correct commercial licenses.
Offshore trolling
The best time to go offshore trolling for wahoo fishing in North Carolina is during the fall, especially late August and early September. The first signs of wahoo are seen in the waters close to Morehead City around mid to late august. Clear water with little to no current is the best for fishing. For offshore trolling, the best bait is a simple ballyhoo. There are many other lures available, such as cedar plugs, Green Machines and Wahoo Whackers.
Whajoo do not fear boats and prefer baits that are fished below the surface. This method is quite popular in the Bahamas, where boats pull artificials at speeds of twenty knots. Barracuda aren't a problem in the Carolinas. The ocean temperature rises and so does the wahoo. The water temperature and conditions for fishing are ideal for wahoo.
Wahoo is the main target in spring and autumn. However, the timing of the winter to spring transition determines when other species will make an appearance. In the spring, yellowfin tuna used to be the main target, but this has changed in recent years. Although some fish are caught, their numbers are very low. This has made the catch more satisfying. The tactics of five successful captains may interest you if your interests lie in trolling at high speeds.
Ballyhoos
Ballyhoos is the best bait to catch wahoo. You can either freeze or freshen the bait and retrieve it with a trolling J-hook. The hook should be placed so the wire pin is in line of the fish's nostrils. Ballyhoos make great surface and seafloor fisherman.
Wahoos typically hang out in the deeper water column, but they can be found even on the sand and in the water. To attract wahoo strikes, ballyhoos should have a dark colored body. They are aggressive and can reach incredible speeds within seconds. Ballyhoos also work well in luring other types fish.
Ballyhoos, the most effective wahoo baits in North Carolina waters, are best. Ballyhoos come with a variety colors and textures. A ballyhoo can catch wahoo in its own waters if it is fished properly. Ballyhoos are a great bait for wahoo. You will need a hard lure such as a Yozuri Bonita and a Braid Marauder if your planer rod has one. These lures come in many colors such as purple/black or pink/black.
For fishing for wahoo, a single-strand coffee colored stainless steel wire leader works well. A bridle should be attached to the leader. Planers come in a variety of sizes and rigging can be crucial to their success. Capt. Weaver notes that wahoo have a tendency to be a common target. If you plan to target wahoo, you can rig a planer with an aide and a bridle to help you locate the sweet spot.
High-speed lures
Many high-speed lures for trolling are available to catch wahoo. These high speed lures can also be pulled with an inside trolling weight. If you are targeting large tuna or wahoos, dark colors work best. They are also very durable and will continue to run even after they catch a lot of fish. MagBay, Nomad and Nomad are other manufacturers of high-speed trolling baits.
This lure can be used to catch these fish as it is fast enough that you can get to your favorite fishing spot quickly. Wahoos can reach speeds up to 60 mph while strike lures travel at an average speed of 18 mph. That is the speed of an average transiting lure in two to four foot waves. Use heavy lures with high-quality drag to achieve this effect. Two people are required to gaff fish for maximum success.
The lip plug is a popular type of high-speed lure. These lures are typically rigged with wire or cable. The lure can be bent by this method, which can result in the cable breaking. This wire can also be run straighter as it is less likely that it will bend or kink. A clip can be used to make changing lures simpler.
Floating debris
This is a great area to hunt this trophy fish. Whajoo like to be found in bottom formations that are aggressive, such as wrecks or ledges. These structures create the perfect habitat environment for wahoos who like to stack up beneath these items. As it is often able to work under these obstacles, floating debris is another excellent place to target this species of fish. Floating debris may also be a good way to spot these majestic fish schools.
Before looking for schools of wahoo, the fisherman needs to first examine any floating debris in the area. If there are no baitfish, or dolphins around the area, then he should leave it alone. He must also use a fast-retrieve reel with a 6-to-1 gear ratio to reach the wahoo. A 4 to 6 ounce, diamond jig is recommended with a Mustad 3407 hook. Jigs should be long enough to protect a 60-pound fluorocarbon leader and a float if the bait gets entangled in the debris. Butterfly-style Jigs are not recommended. They have help hooks at the tip.
Wahoos are more likely to be found in cooler months when the water surface temperature is lower. This species prefers cool water and places with current. Satellite imagery is used to monitor temperature and determine if small temperature fluctuations will result in an increase in Wahoo. As the temperature of the water surface decreases, the fish population is more likely to move to these areas. These areas are the best for fishing during this time.
Structure
It is possible that the structure of North Carolina's Wahoo fishing fleet may be an anomaly in the Gulf of Mexico. Wahoo tend to travel in migratory patterns. They might travel in the Atlantic through the following regions: the Caribbean Gulf of Mexico; the Western Atlantic; and then on to the eastern Atlantic. These fish are dependent on water temperature and currents to determine the structure they inhabit.
Whalos, which are structure-oriented in their fall, frequent inshore drops and lumps in 120 feet or more of water. This large fish is known for their razor-sharp jaws. Hagerich suggests heavy single-strand wire and heavy-duty rods to capture one. A captain is helpful when fishing for wahoos by helping anglers stay on the water and bumping the boat.
Whalos are aggressive bottom forms and love to hang around wrecks, ledges, or other weed lines. They often prefer to strike fast-moving baits. They can often be found near weedlines in North Carolina. This means that they are more likely to strike a weedline or an artificial lure. They can be caught at speeds of up 10 knots.
The best time to fish for wahoo is July through September, even though it's a year-round species. These fish prefer warmer Gulf Stream waters, and if you are looking for a good place to target them, the structure of wahoo fishing in North Carolina will give you plenty of options. To catch some wahoo, you might try trolling the offshore humps and wrecks.
Peak hours feeding
Although there are many times throughout the year when wahoo-fishing is most productive, there are a few peak times during the month that are particularly productive. Three days before and after the Full Moon as well as the New Moon are prime times to go wahoo fishing. You should be trolling at a normal or high speed during these peak times. And as long as you have a boat that can handle the extra speed, you can expect to catch a wahoo.
Summer is the best time of year to go wahoo fishing. The best time to target these fish is on the ledges and structure between the Jupiter and Stuart inlets. The average wahoo weighs around 25 pounds, but 50-pounders are not uncommon. During prime time you will be able catch both a large and a smaller wahoo.
You can target wahoo from October through March. These months are cooler than normal, which makes wahoo more inclined to bite. May is a great time to light-tackle fish, even though the weather can change quickly. Blue-crystal is the best bait for wahoo fishing if you are planning a trip. If you are looking for large fish, however, fishing can be done in late April or early May.
FAQ
What is the best bait for freshwater fishing?
Live shrimp is the best bait available for freshwater fisherman. Shrimp are cheap, easy to catch and great tasting!
Where can i buy fishing supplies
All of these items are available in most sporting goods stores. If you're looking for something more specific, you might want to look online. Many websites sell everything, from rods to reels to tackle boxes to lures.
Can I fish during the day?
Yes, fishing is possible at all hours of the day. Only times that fishing is banned are when you can fish.
Statistics
- Orvis, Simms, and Fishpond have been making some of the best packs and vests for a long time, and it seems like 90% of the anglers around the area use these brands. (troutandsteelhead.net)
- You likely have a fish hooked if the bobber moves erratically for over 5 seconds. (tailoredtackle.com)
- To substantiate this theory, Knight attempted a systematic inquiry by considering the timing of 200 'record' catches, more than 90 percent were made during a new moon (when no moon is visible). (myfwc.com)
- For most freshwater species you are most likely to target when first starting out, a reel size of 20 to 30 should be more than enough! (strikeandcatch.com)
External Links
How To
How to fish in freshwater
Freshwater fishing refers to the sport of catching freshwater fish, such as fish caught from rivers, lakes, streams, and other freshwater sources. There are many types of fish that can be caught, including bass, carp and crappie, trout as well, walleyes, perch, pike (muskie), eel and many other species. These species can be caught in a variety different ways. Some popular methods include casting, trolling, jigging, spinnerbaits, flyfishing, baitcasting, and ice fishing.
Finding a good spot to catch fish is the first step in any fishing endeavor. This often means finding a spot close to your water source. Next, you need to decide on the type of equipment that you want.
Live bait should look like food to fish, so that they will eat it. Live bait includes worms, minnows, crickets, frogs, leeches, bloodworms, grasshoppers, and other small insects.
Artificial lures include baits made from plastic, wood, feathers and metal. Artificial lures come as many styles and sizes. Artificial lures can mimic natural prey such as minnows and crawfish or shiners and grubs. People prefer to use lures as they don't require any skill to cast them in the water. Easy to set up, and easy to retrieve when they reach their target.
Casting is a great way to learn if you don't want to use live bait, or just want to experiment with new techniques. Casting can be one of the easiest methods to catch fish. Casting is easy and requires no special skills.
A rod, reel, line and sinker, floatant, hooks and weights are all you need. A simple pole can be used to cast. In order to cast you simply hold the rod vertically above the surface of the water. Then you slowly lower the tip of the rod until it touches the water. As soon as it does this the line starts to unwind from the reel. Once the line has reached its maximum length, release the rod and let the lure drop back into the water.
Trolling is another technique for catching fish. Trolling is the use of a boat to transport a lure across the water.
Fishing is fun and rewarding. There are many different types of fishing available and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although some techniques are easier than others, all methods require practice and patience.