Livebaiting da wahoo

[cayman al]

Hi guys

Thought i'd ask the experts over here if they can help with some advice. I was out at 12 mile banks again over the weekend, drifting for yellowfin tuna with cuda and blackfin chunks but with little success. We ended up catching a couple of nice flying fish on a light rod, so decided to rig one onto my drifting rig - 8ft of 80lb flouro to a 6/0 circle hook and let it out. After about 10 mins I saw my flyer jump into the air with a couple of other wild flyers and as it hit the water the line went limp. I reeled in to find a very neatly cut line and no hook. I guess a wahoo grabbed it?

Question is, do many people use live flying fish as a live drifted bait and if so how do they rig them - fluoro or wire, hooked though jaw and with or without stinger hook. we have plenty of wahoo down this way and seem to get cut off pretty regularly but I do want to be in with a chance on the yellowfin. Also is there an easier was to catch flying fish other than the squid and v light rigs (and the sheet at night trick).

P.s. kite fishing is a little too technical at the moment for my boat and I’m a big believer in KISS. Maybe in time I will go down the kite road but this question isn't really for that tactic.

Al


Thanks for any views

[WAHOONBOX]

DUDE YOU MUST USE SOME WIRE FOR A LEADER EVEN IF IT IS BUT A TRACE....NOW YOU GOT THE RIGHT IDEA WITH THE FLYER AND ALL...

BUT USE AT LEAST 3 FT WIRE LEADER #8 WILL WORK...BUT THE LONGER THE BETTER

AND USING A CIRCLE HOOK IS .....WELL....VERY DIFFICULT TO SNAG A WAHOO WITH!

GO TO A JHOOK

[nautiduck]

Whats the sheet trick? As it relates to catching flyers. I figured I better add that after I typed.

[BTH284]

Back in the mid to late 90's when the 14 buoy and the 90 foot drop area was DAMIFINO's playground and I was lucky enough to be able to fish with him. We were striclty live bait back then for anything that would bite. Many mornings grey light sun not up yet mid-late August right up against the bouy chain. We would hug tight at live bait speed and get slammed by wahoos.

2 arm lengths approx 5-6' of #3 wire 27lb or #4 wire 32 lb with #4 4x trebles and about 4-6 lbs of drag did not stand a chance with the wahoos. Usually a spectacular topwater strike on live bait, followed by a nice speedy short run then the wire would get bit which kinked it then broke! Most memorable was a double header bite which both 12T's almost got spooled then poof gone!

We figured it may have been wahoos. Next trip out, 6' of #6 wire and #2 4x trebles with a HUGE mendhaden long run, and a patient fight by the angler=dead Wahoonbox!

[cayman al]

the sheet trick is something i learnt on here actually - it is a very simple way of collecting flying fish at night. tie an old white sheet to your T-Top and shine a bright light onto it at night in fishy looking water. Before long flying fish should be leaping towards the light, hitting the sheet and sliding down into the boat, ready to be used.

[Jared D]

I would use a j hook with a short trace of wire. Probably use about 12 inches if tuna are a possibility, but just do a wire to mono knot. Should work.

Never done it, but I have heard of people running wide open at night with a net looking contraption on the side of the boat which catches flyers as they skitter.

Good luck.