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DETAILS OF FISH SPECIES- TECHNIQUES & GEAR

Deep sea species/technique/gear: Text

WAHOO

Wahoo fishing is primarily done trolling in depths of 300-900ft. We slow troll at 9-12 knots, dragging skirted bait strips or ballyhoo topped with an islander lure. Alternatively, we "high speed" troll at 14/20 knots pulling artificial lures with heavy duty tackle. 

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Our wahoo gear is top-notch and our spread usually includes:

  • Two Lindgred Pitman LP SV1200 Electric reels- 120lb. Monel wire, backed with 200lb. Dacron

  • A Shimano 80 wide- 120lb. Monel wire, backed with 200lb. Dacron

  • A Shimano 50 wide- 50/60lb. plastic line with 80lb. braid backing- which we send down on the Penn downriver with 10lb. ball 

Lures/ Bait:

  • Baitmasters Large Ballyhoo- 11/0 or 12/0 Mustad Hooks, with 250lb/ cable of wire

  • Bonito bait strips, 11/0 or 12/0, Mustad Hooks, with 250lb/ cable of wire

  • 4oz, 8oz, or 12 oz iislander lead head lure

  • Yozuri marauder

  • Cedar plug

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Wahoo are also caught "live baiting" or while "drifting" for tuna. Live baiting, we send out a live skip jack or blackfin tuna while drifting. Set with 2, 7/0 or 8/0 Gamakatsu hooks (one in the head, one in the tail) with 150lb cable on a ballbearing swivel.

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Deep sea species/technique/gear: Service

YELLOWFIN TUNA

A great majority of our yellowfin tuna fishing is done 'drifting/ chunking', a technique that is very productive for us. We find the right location to start our drifts based on how the currents are running. Using baitfish such as blackfin tunas, skipjacks, barracuda, sprats, goggleeyes, and/or oceanic yellowtails (rainbow runners) we cut up and create a chum slick in the water. We then slack our lines in that slick and wait for the yellowfin tug! Tunas are also caught using the live bait technique described in the wahoo section above. 


Typically caught drifting in deeper water, 900 to 2500ft. deep. Usually on the outer banks, however, we do find them around the island.

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Gear:

  • Shimano 50 wides, 50lb plastic line topshot, backed with 60lb braid  

  • Shimano 30 wide, 30lb plastic line for topshot backed with 50lb braid

  • Shimano Talica 50, 60lb plastic line for topshot, backed with 80lb braid

  • Shimano Talica 25, 50lb plastic line for topshot backed with 60lb braid

Tackle:

  • Yozuri fluorocarbon leader, 30lb to 120lb test

  • Gamagatsu size 5,6,7,8 hooks

  • Mustad circle hooks, side 6,7,8

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Deep sea species/technique/gear: Service

MAHI-MAHI

We typically catch mahi-mahi trolling in deeper waters, we look for and fish around weed or current lines, ‘drifts’(any floating debris which attracts baitfish), or areas where frigate birds are seen working on baitfish being chased to the surface. We often use naked ballyhoo (no skirts) on plastic leader, or whole squids (no skirts) on plastic leader, though also known to bite artificial lures.
Gear:

  • Shimano Stella 6000 and 8000 on custom Key Biscayne rods

  •  Saragossa 20,000 spinning reels, on Shimano rods

  • Shimano 50 wides, 50 lb plastic line for topshot, backed with 60lb braid

  • Shimano 30 wide, 30lb plastic line for topshot backed with 50lb braid

  • Shimano Talica 50, 60lb plastic line for topshot, backed with 80lb braid

  • Shimano Talica 25, 50lb plastic line for topshot, backed with 60lb braid

  • 50/250 lb leader

  • Selection of Mold Craft and Los Santos lures

  • Skirted ballihoo with islander bubbler lures

  • Cedar plug

  • Gamagatsu size 5,6,7 hooks

  • Mustad 8/0, 9/0 hooks

  • Nomad tackle top water poppers

  • Yozuri 30 to 120lb Fluorcarbon leader

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Deep sea species/technique/gear: Service

MARLIN

Often found slow trolling similar areas to Mahi-Mahi. Marlin can be caught all year round but predominantly during the summer months. Cayman has a couple of FAD’s (fish aggregate devices) which provide great marlin and/or Mahi territory. Marlin fishing is typically topwater action, around birds and bait balls. We use a selection of artificial and baited lures such as skirted ballyhoo with single 11/0 or 12/0 Mustad hooks, 300 lb leader. 

Gear:

  • Shimano 50 wides, 50 lb plastic line for topshot, backed with 60lb braid

  • Shimano 80 wides, 100lb plastic line for topshot backed with 150lb bread

  • Flashers, dredge or squids

Tackle:

  • Mixture of sizes and colors combs of Mold Craft lures, and Los Santos lures

  • Islander skirted ballihoo with 11/0 or 12/0 mustard hooks, 300lb leader

  • Teasers, artificial flying fish, squid

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Deep sea species/technique/gear: Service
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