The point of this thread was either completely missed or ignored. Thank you to the few that pmed me. I guess I now know why posts here have so many views and so few replies.
Were your wahoos as big as this one:
If so, I think I know what you did wrong…
Looked nothing like that. Fatter and darker
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
Darker I can buy…but fatter?
They were long but had a pretty wide body and the tail looked more like a V than that one. I also got a really good look at the mouth of the one that hit the bait right at the boat. I’ve only caught one barracuda but it had some pretty gnarly teeth and I couldn’t really see any on this one. With that being said, it did look like there was one barracuda that swam in front of the boat that made me double check. I could be wrong though so that’s why I’m asking. If they were barracuda, what could I have done differently?
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
Wahoo don’t have forked tails.
Mackerel do. As do amberjack.
Is there a reason why you think they weren’t wahoo?
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
Probably because the area you were fishing, but I have seen big wahoo in 100ft this time of year so it is definitely possible, but not the norm. One buddy caught a 73lb wahoo while king fishing in 85ft in August.
Most wahoo here are not caught chunking or free-lining baits but it is possible to catch them that way. Most are caught trolling either ballyhoo or big wahoo baits. The ones I have seen while bottom fishing are usually skittish to any quick movements and cruising at a pretty good pace.
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Anything is possible, so good luck getting after them.
In no way would I try to tell you what you saw when I wasn’t there, but take this for what it’s worth…
-It is very common to have 1,2,3 or even big schools of barracuda follow your boat for long periods of time offshore anywhere from 40ft on out to the ledge.
-It is very uncommon to have 1, let alone more than one wahoo follow your boat at all. I’ve seen a few swim by the boat but it is rare, brief, and as scdiver said they are super skiddish. Also, they are more commonly found in 100+ Ft of water.
With that being said, anything is possible and you may have had a school of wahoo following your boat?
If you want to catch the barracuda, take a large spinning rod filled with heavy braid (50+lbs), attach a 15 ft section of 60lb mono or flouro, attach a 6in piece of single strand bite wire, finally add a 6/0 circle hook with a haywire twist to your wire. Take a live bait of your choice (menhaden, blue runner, cigar minnow, pinfish, etc…) attach to circle hook, present to fish and hold on.
Good luck!
Try throwing a big spottail pinfish at those wahoo. If its a 'cuda, you’ll find out.
Key West 2300cc Mercury 225 optimax “Fish Tale”
Cobia?
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VERY well could have been cobia. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Just looking at the fish id chart I really think that could be it.
Thank you very much for the constructive answers today.
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
quote:
As the bait was coming in the boat, a second one went after it and about took my hand off
^^^That statement alone makes me believe it was “spotted wahoo” or some people refer to them as barracuda. Hard to imagine mistaking a cobia for a wahoo, but anything is possible. The advise about rigging with wire is about as good as it gets. You have the best possibility for seeing what is cutting you off by using wire.
218WA Sailfish
The "Penn"sion Plan
sounds like “Walterboro Wahoo” for sure
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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”
I cant imagine anyone would mistake cobia for a wahoo or a 'cuda… then again, they sell boats to all kinds of people.
Wahoo are not known for attacking the fish right next to your hand. Barracuda on the other hand dont seem to care when they arent wanted. When they stack up around the boat we try to gaff one or else the others wont leave.
Key West 2300cc Mercury 225 optimax “Fish Tale”
quote:Yes, primarily because you are asking in the first place and statistically, that is the most likely encounter you had...
Originally posted by cosborneIs there a reason why you think they weren’t wahoo?
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
If you had seen a cobia, you would have thought you were surrounded by sharks.
And yes, cudas do look dark from the top.
OP- Has anyone offered to lend a hand?
quote:
Originally posted by cosborneIs there a reason why you think they weren’t wahoo?
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
Yes…you specifically state that their tails were more forked than the cuda’s.
quote:
Originally posted by bobdesalvoOP- Has anyone offered to lend a hand?
Thanks for asking. Two people were nice enough to pm and offer to meet up and give me some advice which is really awesome. They say they’re not really into trolling but I’m interested in learning everything so I want to take every chance I get.
The Carbon Fiber King @ illstreet Composites
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishsounds like “Walterboro Wahoo” for sure
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PROUD YANKEEOyster Baron
NMFS = No More
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
^That’s funny right there