Capt. Jon Zeller
The blustery winter experienced this season have not allowed many to take advantage of the good fishing offshore. February may be the shortest month of the year but anglers need to take advantage of the breaks in-between fronts whenever possible. Numerous Sailfish sightings this January with the late billfish migration show that predatory fish and bait are still here in good numbers. This month starts the wahoo bite that has dedicated anglers chasing these speedy torpedoes. Trolling along the edge of the continental shelf is almost a guarantee to catch one of the fastest fish in the ocean. Occasionally the largest wahoo up to 90 pounds may be caught in 21-23 fathoms with 67 – 70 degree water that looks “green”, so do not be afraid to start fishing inshore of the ledge itself.
Dead bait trolling at 6.5 to 7.5 knots working the bottom is very effective for locating the variety of fish. Pulling a mixed pattern with two deep lines (one at 20-30 feet, the second at 40-55 feet deep) on planners or downriggers using a dark color Hawaiian eye combo with a double hooked horse ballyhoo, swimming mullet or bonita strip is a proven bait. A 125 – 150# leader with a 2-3’ section of # 10 or 12 wire connected with a swivel or spro will produce the most bites down deep. On the surface, deploy one short rigger with a naked ballyhoo on 80#mono cedar plug swimming on the shotgun furthest back completes the spread.
If the wahoo’s are ferocious, remove the mono rigs, tighten up the spread and include more bigger wire Islander combos or naked swimming mullets on the outriggers. Look for the fish in waters from 71 to 74 degrees to be near structure with bait marking on your bottom machine. When multiple strikes occur, save the coordinates and then work the area for additional bites. When the bite is slower, run the spread back considerably further and put out all mono on top. Blackfin tuna and dolphin will be in the same areas where one of the fastest fish in the ocean prowls. High speed trolling techniques will cover the most ground and is the preferred method by some crews strictly hunting wahoo. Fishing at 9-15knots with lures attached to large trolling leads will make a reel scream at every bite
FORECAST BY:
Capt. Jon Zeller
New Smyrna Beach Billfish Invitational Sport Fishing Charters
(386) 290-4181
www.nsbbi.com