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Post by mikey111k on Nov 20, 2018 14:45:47 GMT -5
This weekend when i looked at the forecast it looked windy all week. Then on the way to work Monday i notice that there's no wind. I check the forecast and Monday and Tuesday (today) are FLAT. Knowing that we are approaching a full moon this gets the ideas going. I start making some calls to find someone to fish with Tuesday. Cant find any takers so i decide to go solo. The plan was to high speed for wahoo for a few hours and be at work for the afternoon. Get headed out around 6am. Attachment DeletedHad a nice sunrise. Attachment DeletedAround 9am i get the strike i'm looking for. Dealing with 4 lines solo was a little tricky but managed to avoid any tangles and slid him through the transom door with no problems. Not the biggest (mid 20's) but he filed up 2 gallon zip lock bags once cleaned. Looking forward to making that cheesy fish recipe i posted on the other thread. Attachment DeletedWithout an autopilot this type of solo trip would be impossible. Those things are great. Trolled for about 3 hours and didn't touch the wheel once, literally. Sat back and zig-zagged my way down the edge using the remote. And i made it to work by 1. Hope everyone has a good thanksgiving.
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Post by outtadblue on Nov 20, 2018 15:48:01 GMT -5
Nice zebra Michael! How fast were you pulling your lures? Not many hoos have shown up over our way yet.
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Post by Twisted on Nov 20, 2018 15:50:46 GMT -5
Nice job Mikey, beautiful pictures!! I need to move south...
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Post by fishnfool on Nov 20, 2018 17:54:59 GMT -5
Beautiful fish.
You guys are killing me with this auto pilot talk...
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Post by mikey111k on Nov 20, 2018 19:28:29 GMT -5
Richard, 14-18 mph usually. I assume your wahoo is a winter fishery just like over here?
Fishnfool, I don’t think I will own a boat without again. When you are fishing short handed it is a huge help.
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Post by outtadblue on Nov 20, 2018 19:40:09 GMT -5
They are caught year round, but most are caught November through March. Just hard to get out with the cold fronts blowing 30.
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Post by finatic on Nov 20, 2018 20:03:11 GMT -5
Man that looks sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2018 7:51:19 GMT -5
Great job 👍🏻 Good way to start the day before work!
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Post by Gitsum on Nov 21, 2018 9:00:04 GMT -5
Way to get it done solo! Did a solo trolling trip earlier this season and it was tough to say the least. Looking forward to doing it again with the AP.
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Post by Team Ruby on Nov 21, 2018 10:06:32 GMT -5
Nice fish and a good story. I'm glad you mentioned using the AP as a mate while you fished solo.
Just a note on the AP I had. We all talk about how the boat wanders at slow speeds. When I came in single-handed I would engage the AP to hold a course line while I got the boat ready for docking. The first time I did this the AP surprised me in that the boat had no wander even when I moved around the boat. I found that the AP puts in very little counter-steer compared to the size of the corrections I would put in. At times it was hard to see the engines move, I could hear the pump running, but the engines showed only very minor changes in direction.
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Post by mikey111k on Nov 21, 2018 20:44:28 GMT -5
They are caught year round, but most are caught November through March. Just hard to get out with the cold fronts blowing 30. I agree, it’s tough to get out during the winter months. That’s why when I saw the weather I had to at least try.
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Post by mikey111k on Nov 21, 2018 20:49:10 GMT -5
Nice fish and a good story. I'm glad you mentioned using the AP as a mate while you fished solo. Just a note on the AP I had. We all talk about how the boat wanders at slow speeds. When I came in single-handed I would engage the AP to hold a course line while I got the boat ready for docking. The first time I did this the AP surprised me in that the boat had no wander even when I moved around the boat. I found that the AP puts in very little counter-steer compared to the size of the corrections I would put in. At times it was hard to see the engines move, I could hear the pump running, but the engines showed only very minor changes in direction. I find that below about 5mph the AP doesn’t work very well. It makes big corrections and just doesn’t track right. I may be able to adjust settings to improve this I’m generally not going that slow. I guess I have gotten use to how the boat responds at slow speeds. In a channel I can hold a course well making only small corrections. Whenever I have the wife steer out the channel we are using up the entire width as we zig zag our way out.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2018 13:24:11 GMT -5
So not knowing anything about high speed trolling could You please fill me in. We have a place down in Stuart and I would like to learn all about the fishery down there.
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Post by mikey111k on Nov 24, 2018 16:12:43 GMT -5
I have heard that your area can be really good for wahoo. Definitely worth trying. I will keep it simple but if you want more details send me a message and we can talk through the details. High speed trolling (HST) is a tactic for targeting wahoo that developed from the Bahamas tournaments. It essentially eliminates all other bi catch, other then the occasional cuda when you get too shallow. It is TOUGH on gear. You are trolling really fast and when a speedy wahoo rips a lure in the opposite direction the reel dumps line fast. HST is generally ~14-20 mph. Using heavy gear, usually 50’s or even 80’s. 80-100# mainline usually mono over braid backing. Mainline is attached to a trolling lead, 16-96oz depending on position, sea conditions and lure size. From the lead you have a shock cord which is ~200# mono and ~15’. Then comes your lure. The lure is on cable and a bullet head. I fish all bent butt rods but some people prefer straight butts. You reel the fish in with the rod in the holder. Always keep the boat moving forward. The initial hookup tends to rip a hole on the wahoos mouth. Any slack and they will spit the hook. Here is a link to my YouTube videos. Most of them are HST related. www.youtube.com/channel/UCd_U6Ctk-gFZwRtJRTJsnxA
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Post by kbh on Nov 25, 2018 8:44:11 GMT -5
Although not very sporting, wire lines are also good for wahoo fishing.
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