Troll For Big Barra...Tips Of The Best Spots In The Cairns Area
By: Rick Mewburn
The author with a nice Wahoo caugth off the Cayman Islands
There is no better sound than the clicker on a big fishing reel going into overdrive when a wahoo hits. Their speed is incredible.
They have been clocked at more than 75 kilometers an hour over short distances.
Readily found worldwide, these fish are a fantastic sportfish and are great on the plate. They are a common fish due to the fact
that when a female spawns she can produce up to 60 million eggs.
Although found year-round in the waters surrounding the Cayman Islands, wahoo are fond of cool water temperature and are more
prevalent from November 'til about March.
Often found close to the "drop off" they can be pursued in fairly small craft. I remember seeing an 80lb fish that was caught
right off Northwest Point using a live jack for bait that was caught in a little aluminium dinghy. It hardly even fit in the boat.
The world record for wahoo is just a shade under 200lbs. Here, they average 20 to 40lbs with anything over 50lbs considered a
"reel nice fish". The island record was broken two years ago and stands at 146lbs 2oz. Truly a world class fish in anyone's book!
No matter how big they are, wahoo are a welcome sight near the boat. Speaking of having one near the boat, this
is where most are lost. You see, the wahoo has an amazing jaw - big, strong bones and razor sharp teeth. As you fight the fish the
hook is constantly wearing a hole in the soft skin. If you don't keep constant pressure on the line, the fish will shake its head
and the hook will just fall right out. Nasty words will immediately fill the air. Yes, this is the voice of experience talking!
Now, I mentioned the sharp teeth and they are just amazing. I often see the results of a bite. It is easy to tell when your bait or
a small tuna you are reeling in gets whacked by a 'hoo. As a general rule you could not make a cleaner cut with a knife. I find it
incredible how they hit so hard and can still avoid the hook by millimeters.
You would have a tough time trying to find better bait than ballyhoo for wahoo. Down deep on a wire line, or even deeper using a
downrigger, is the classic method to target these high speed critters. I like trolling fairly fast for them at eight to 10 knots
but others do the "high speed thing" and hit over 14 knots. They have more gas money than I do.
When you go fast your baits will "blow out" quicker, so I usually use lures such as jet heads and Marauders. There is only one
colour to use in my book - the purple/black combo that resembles small tuna, one of their favourite snacks.
As with most fish, I bleed them before putting them on ice. You do this by cutting the flesh under the head just behind the gill
covers. By doing this you will get a better quality flesh with less of a blood line.
So, there you have it, folks. Wahoo, silver bullet. It's time to get out and get a 'hoo. Please take me with you! hook a 'hoo
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