(345) 924-6527
DETAILS OF FISH SPECIES- TECHNIQUES & GEAR
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
