Inbound to MHC - advice?

[iguana1]

Hello,

This Northeast Canyon fisherman is heading down your way in early April to shake down a new ride in MHC. I should get 2-3 days on the water and am hoping to head out towards the stream to wash some lures while I figure out the boat.

My understanding is that April is YFT and wahoo time. I am planning on bringing the usual mix of plastic skirted stuff, islander/hoo combos as well as some swimmers and trying spread bars (GM and canyon runner squid). I have added a couple inches of wire to some lures for the wahoo. Any suggestions or other things I should think about?

Reels are 50s and 30s with spectra.

Also wondering what the inshore options are if it blows and what types of rod/reels for that.

[Sea Draggin]

I have added a couple inches of wire to some lures for the wahoo. Any suggestions or other things I should think about?

I would recommend using 12' of wire or no wire. But take off the short pieces.

[iguana1]

Sea Draggin,

If you go w/ 12" do you use a small swivel, knot or other joining technique?

Does the wire turn off the tuna bites?

If no wire (say 200 lb mono) what percentage of wahoo bites will result in writing off the lure?

[Sea Draggin]

Not 12 inches, 12 feet. You have to pick what you want to fish for....tunas....or wahoos? If you run a planer, always run wire on it. Tunas will hit wire on planers. Heck, if they are agressively feeding, they will hit wire on top.

[iguana1]

Seadraggin - thanks for the advice.

Assuming I wanted to fish for both, I was thinking a 7 rod tuna spread with a mix of ballys, lures and spreaders (all mono) with a couple marauders or rapalas underneath on wire. Think that would work out OK? Think I can get away with that without too much tackle loss?

[Sea Draggin]

Tuna fish in Morehead = Lost Tackle. But one day on the Bluewater Lady, I think I went somehting like 4 out of 6 wahoos, plus my dolphins, on mono. I told that party that one of of those guys must have had a lucky horseshoe with them.

[iguana1]

Given your business, I am surprised you didn't tell me to go all mono

Thanks for the honest advice. I guess I will take my chances with the mostly mono approach, at least until I get bored with tunas.

3 long weeks to wait....

[Glenn W]

The Gaffer Mahi's have had a respectible early showing this year and will only improve in the weeks too come. The Std. Spring rig is a sea witch (or lantern) and medium Ballyhoo--- no need or desire for Ilanders generally as the flyers tend to be on the smallside and with the witches out producing the larger Ilanders. Suit yourself but I would heed Sea Dragon's advise--- twist up some #9 wire leaders at leat 12 feet in length, pin rigged w/ sea witches and you are good to go--- yes, the tuners will eat wire. If the Wahoo bite gets hot you'll be glad you have the wire.
Most use 100lbb mono leaders--- no more.
Pull the plugs if you want--- the damn kings will give you fits under 50 ftms. though.

[iguana1]

Great info all, thanks. Never caught a king before. Can you eat those things?

Also, I have seen reports about some grouper and other bottom fishing. Is that on in April? IF so, whats that program?

[Procastinator]

The bottom fishing will be on fire. Red grouper should be moving in from the stream. Gags , seabass, beeliners, American reds, triggers, you name it will be stacked up on the live bottom areas . Start looking in about 90 ft. and work your way deeper.