Venice- Stud Wahoo

[customcat]

Good morning everyone. The skies are nasty here this morning as we are on the heels of a nasty cold front approaching this way. I was able to fish last Friday and Saturday with solid results on my favorite fish, wahoo. Friday’s trip I ran for Paradise Outfitters. These guys wanted yellow-fin, but being they have been playing hide and go seek lately, we opted for the prospects of wahoo. We started off early and headed offshore. Once again, while making way, I had a strange feeling that the weatherman’s voo-doo was going to get me again. The winds were on our heels most of the morning and getting sloppy with every hour. We managed a few large blacks with a few jacks mixed in on the wahoo baits. About mid morning we found fish working over a pogie ball. Birds were everywhere and the sounder was lit up. We worked this area over pretty hard but the kings were relentless. About 12:30 we decided to make a move west. The seas at this point were 4-6 ft and we had to take it on the nose. It took me a little over an hour to cover the 22 miles. Upon arrival we got everything ready for a three bait spread. We made a half wrap and all three go off! After crossing over this one and a little fancy boat handling, they hit the deck one by one. Cool! Next pass we tripled up again pulling the hooks on one and boating the other two. The fish were very aggressive in the rough seas. Normally the fish will be on a certain corner but they were all around the rig. We ended up going 7 for 12 in a little over an hour. I had to trim her all the way down and pounded thru a not so nice head sea and made a quick run to the marina once in the pass. Weighed the biggest three at 79lb, 74lbs, and 69lbs. The rest were from 40 to 50lbs. Saturday was a fun day and I wanted to head back out and see if my little friends were there. My buddy Ben Leblanc came with me. We cleared the pass and to my amazement the weatherman got it right! We had lines in right at an hour from the marina and got bit on the first pass. Nice 40lb fish hit the deck. We kept at it and picked up a large black before running in to Capt. Eddie. He had 9 in the box and it was just 9:30. He told me that a private boat got one over 100lbs earlier that morning. That’s another story that I will let him tell. We pulled the hooks on a couple and got a solid knock down. This one was mean and after 20 minutes I stuck the gaff in a not so happy wahoo that weighed right at 75lbs at the dock. On an interesting note we caught a 5lb bonita on the troll and immediately pinned him on a 50w and cable. He lasted about 30 seconds. Set up on the fish and he was dumping it hard. We pulled the hooks a few minutes later. Oh well. It seems the big wahoo have showed up and I couldn’t be more excited. I have been catching all of my fish on the Torsa 40’s and the new Talica 16’s. The Talica has 28lbs of drag and the Torsa is right at 36lbs. The speed and light weight make them perfect for wahoo. It looks like the weather will keep me off the water until Sunday. I have still have dates left for this month as well as March. The big yellow-fin were spotted close Saturday according to a reliable source, so hopefully they will be in the area soon.

Captain William Wall
Pelagic Charters
Venice, La

[Rob C]

SOOOO glad to hear every body is getting back to work over there! Nice catch, way to find them.

Rob C

[Captain Fred Archer]

G-G-G-Goodgoshamighty! That is some good gator fishing! And some growed up ones, too! Nice going and thanks...my favorites too.

(Good thing you missed this storm!)

[customcat]

G-G-G-Goodgoshamighty! That is some good gator fishing! And some growed up ones, too! Nice going and thanks...my favorites too.

(Good thing you missed this storm!)

Thanks Mr. Archer, I do love hoo. My favorite time of year for sure.

[squirtis]

you the man brother...stoked for ya

sick day for sure..way to make it happen