Angler Rich Slipspil holds one of three wahoo caught aboard the Wish List last July
using bonito strips pulled behind trolling planers. Capt. J.P. Wolf found
the wahoo in about 185 feet of water just north of Hillsboro Inlet.
Photo courtesy of Tony DiGiulian, IGFA School of Sportfishing
By Willie Howard
Most people who fish the Atlantic waters off South Florida have trolled for dolphin and possibly wahoo, too.
But as anglers with decades of offshore experience know, there are many small tips to keep in mind that can make the difference between a dull day of trolling and a memory-making offshore fishing trip that produces delicious fish for dinner.
Fine points of offshore trolling were shared by instructors Mike Theis and Tony DiGiulian during a May 6 class on dolphin and wahoo fishing at the International Game Fish Association’s School of Sportfishing.
Theis said anglers should start by assembling the right rods for the job: trolling rods that hold 20- to 30-pound-test line and two or three spinning rods holding 15- to 20-pound-test line. (The spinning rods are for pitching baits to dolphin that appear near the boat.)
Also, choose the right size trolling bait. For dolphin, use a ballyhoo, squid or lure that is about the right size for the fish you’re expecting to find. If you troll an extra-large “horse” ballyhoo, for instance, an average dolphin might not hit it. If your goal is to catch the largest dolphin you can find for a tournament, however, troll some large baits.
Tie a loop in the end of the line on the trolling rod and tie a 40- to 50-pound leader to the loop, then connect the leader to the snap swivel that will attach to the bait. The extra leader length allows fish to be lifted into the boat without breaking the line.
Thaw frozen trolling baits the night before you go fishing and salt their bellies with kosher salt to make them tougher. Salted baits last longer before washing out, increasing fishing time. (Trolling baits made from bonito belly strips and squid also are effective for dolphin.)
Troll south against the north-flowing Gulf Stream current, but make loops to the east and west to find deep blue water that might even appear “purple.”
Signs of good dolphin-trolling water include a slightly warmer temperature, mats of floating Sargasso weed and floating debris, such as tree branches. Floating objects that have small baitfish around them are ideal. Troll by them. If that doesn’t work, stop and toss out a few chunks of sardine, squid or ballyhoo to bring the fish to the boat.
Consider ocean current reports by providers such as ROFFS (www.roffs.com) or Hilton’s Real Time Navigator (www.realtime-navigator.com). Ocean forecasts are not free, but neither is fuel.
Fish with only as many rods as you have anglers, Theis said. If three rods are hit by dolphin at the same time and you have two anglers ready to handle them, the result might be that you catch none of them.
Stagger baits at different distances behind the boat to avoid tangles in turns. A typical spread might include baits trolled at 100 and 150 feet behind outriggers, a short bait 50 feet behind the transom and a bait trolled on a downrigger or planer that takes it below the surface.
When trolling for wahoo, DiGiulian and Theis recommended a planer rig. The planer is attached to the rod to take the trolling bait below the surface. When a fish hits a line attached to a planer, it comes up to the surface.
DiGiulian likes to rig planers with 60 to 100 feet of line leading from the planer to the bait. He recommends 80- to 100-pound-test line for the “shock cord,” but will fish as light as 60-pound to get more bites, despite the greater risk of losing a fish.
A key point: The line leading from the planer to the bait must be brought in by hand. That means one person on the boat needs to be ready to pull in the line holding the wahoo with gloved hands, being careful not to give it any slack, while the boat continues to move slowly forward.
When a wahoo nears the boat, bring it on board with a gaff and stand clear. A wahoo’s teeth can cause serious injury. Put the fish on ice for a few minutes and let it die before holding it up for photos.
To make the strip bait, use double 6/0 or 7/0 hooks tied to about 6 inches of No. 6 fishing wire. Add a “sea witch” that will dangle over the bonito strip while trolling, then finish the rig with a swivel, which allows the strip bait to be tied to the trolling line.
Measure the hooks against the bonito strip before threading it onto the hooks. Make sure the strip lies flat after the two hooks are inserted.
DiGiulian likes to poke the hooks through the meat side of the strip (as opposed to the silvery skin side) first. The first hook goes into the large part of the bonito strip; the second near the center. The thin, tapered end of the strip is what trails behind, flapping as it moves through the water.
There’s no need to troll fast with a strip bait towed behind a planer. Five to 7 knots (6 to 8 mph) is fine.
In South Florida waters, DiGiulian likes to troll for wahoo in summer. He trolls over structure such as drop-offs and wrecks. He likes to fish for wahoo around the full moon and likes to troll very early in the morning — and on an outgoing tide if possible.
Typical wahoo trolling depths are 100 to 300 feet. Some wahoo-fishing veterans focus their trolling time in depths of 150 to 250 feet. When a wahoo hits, note the depth and continue to fish in that depth.
Discover long-term fishing trends by writing down the details of your catches in a logbook.
The IGFA School of Sportfishing will begin a new round of classes in September. Look for the schedule in August on the IGFA’s website, www.igfa.org. Classes are limited to 24 students and are held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, just west of Interstate 95 at Griffin Road in Dania Beach. Tuition is $100 per class for IGFA members and $150 for nonmembers. (It’s worth joining the IGFA at $40 for a regular membership or $15 for an e-membership to get the member discount.) For more information on the IGFA School of Sportfishing, call Anthony Vedral at (954) 924-4254 or email him at: Avedral@igfa.org.
Noteworthy
• The Boynton Beach Fishing Club will hold its annual fishing tournament June 28 at the clubhouse building next to the boat ramps at Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park. The entry fee is $25. The captain’s meeting will follow the club meeting set for 7:30 p.m. June 24. Fishing will be from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m., followed by a weigh-in near the boat ramps from 1 to 2 p.m. and a barbecue. For details, go to www.bifc.org.
• The annual Lake Worth Fishing Tournament is scheduled for June 28. It begins with a captains meeting and late registration at 6 p.m. June 27 at Tuppen’s Marine and Tackle, 1002 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth. The weigh-in will be 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Palm Beach Yacht Center in Hypoluxo. The awards and barbecue will be from noon to 5 p.m. June 29 at Dave’s Last Resort in downtown Lake Worth. The entry fee is $175 per boat through June 22 or $250 thereafter. For details, go to www.lakeworth fishingtournament.com.
• Capt. George Mitchell will share tips for catching dolphin and tuna in the waters of South Florida and the Bahamas during the June 25 meeting of the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the club, 201 Fifth St., West Palm Beach. It’s free. Call (561) 832-6780.
Tip of the month: Fish over reefs for yellowtail snapper. The traditionally calm seas of early summer create good conditions for fishing offshore. Drift a chunk of cut sardine or ballyhoo on a 4/0 circle hook tied to 25- to 40-pound fluorocarbon leader. Use just enough weight (1 to 2 ounces) to reach the bottom, and continue to let line out slowly to keep the bait near the bottom while drifting. Longer leaders tend to work better in strong current. If the current is too strong, move into shallower water. Alternative: Anchor near a reef or ledge in about 50 feet of water. (Be careful not to anchor on the reef.) Hang a chum bag or two over the side so the chum draws in snapper from the reef. Drift back small chunks of ballyhoo or pieces of squid on small jigs (or small hooks) to catch yellowtail snapper on light spinning rods. The anchor-and-chum method is fun for kids and doesn’t require much boat fuel, though it often makes for a messy boat. No boat? Try fishing from one of the drift boats that run out of Boynton Inlet such as the Sea Mist III, Living on Island Time or the Lady K.
Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Reach him at tiowillie@bellsouth.net.
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