First Wahoo trip on the new boat planned for friday. Do you typically bleed a wahoo? If so, I assume its just like a tuna with a slit behind the head on each side. How about gutting it on the boat? We caught them in Hawaii a few years ago but that was on a charter. Only thing I remember was the mate beating it with a bat and placing it straight into the box.
Thanks
I’ve never bled them. Use a gaff, stay away from the mouth. Typically everyone is standing on the gunnels staring down at our fish with razor sharp teeth and tons of erratic energy. We put it in the box in the floor as soon as possible. If they have color, they’re too lively for me to pick up. Be careful.
Gaff it in the head. Keep control of the head.
BG
I would be more concerned with the wahoo bleeding you as opposed to you bleeding the wahoo. Keep the boat moving forward, take your time, and stick the fish right behind the head through the pectoral fins so you have full control over the razor blades. Wahoo is a very white meat fish so bleeding isn’t necessary but I dont think it would hurt it. Just get it in (not on, in) the ice and cooled down asap. If this is a day trip you don’t have to gut the fish. If you’re staying overnight it might not be a bad idea.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
As Touche suggests, you can keep several bags of ice in the bags and move them around/dump them where you need as you load fish into the box. Don’t have a tub full of ice that you have to try to get the fish in/under.
BG
E
26’ Regulator, Twin 250s “On da Reg”
I have learned if you can get them in the boat with no gaff,they just lay there and die
SAFMC you suck!
quote:
Originally posted by Gut WrenchI have learned if you can get them in the boat with no gaff,they just lay there and die
SAFMC you suck!
A good charter captain friend that runs out of Marathon tells me this all the time. They open the tuna door and slide them in. Fishing out of a CC makes that a little more challenging and I am usually fishing with fairly light line/leader so we’re not slinging 50lb wahoo over the gunnel.
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.
- More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927
31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs
Thanks for all the advice. Really appreciate it and will let you know if we have any beginners luck.Heading south towards the deli and will be on vhf 68 leaving in am.
I gut them after they die, makes for much cleaner fillets / steaks, with no need to rinse
.
PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Lucked out yesterday and had one bite in around 140 ft of water. Ran for a solid minute screaming line and then seemed to drop dead. Reeled him in and gaffed him right behind the gills.Nice 35 to 40 pounder straight in the box and covered with bags of ice. No more bites on wahoo but found some nice bottom dwellers and we got a ton of steaks off that one guy and loved that reel screaming.I did stick him behind the gills after a few minutes on ice but by then, I think he was dead. Thanks again.
Congrats on your wahoo!
BG