Wahoo are famous for high-speed trolling, but plenty are caught at normal trolling speeds too. Each approach has advantages, and knowing when to use each helps you catch more wahoo.
High-speed trolling
Speed: roughly 12 to 18 knots.
Lures: heavy bullets, jet heads, and weighted lures that stay in the water at speed, rigged on wire.
Advantages:
- Covers huge amounts of water quickly to find scattered fish.
- Triggers aggressive reaction strikes.
- Filters out many smaller species that cannot keep up.
Drawbacks: requires heavy lures, trolling weights, and strong tackle. Hookups can be violent and some fish pull off.
Standard-speed trolling
Speed: roughly 7 to 10 knots.
Lures: medium resin lures, skirted ballyhoo, and diving plugs, still on wire leaders.
Advantages:
- Lets you target wahoo along with mahi, tuna, and billfish.
- Natural baits can be used.
- Easier on gear and crew.
Drawbacks: covers less water, and wahoo may be mixed with other species.
When to go fast
- Searching large areas for scattered fish
- When wahoo are the main target
- Along long ledges and drop-offs
When to slow down
- When fish are concentrated in a known spot
- When you want a mixed bag
- When high speed is not producing
The hybrid approach
Many crews run high speed to locate fish, then slow down and work the area with a standard spread once they get bit.
Gear for high speed
High-speed trolling puts serious load on tackle. See high-speed trolling gear and wahoo trolling weights.
For lures, see the best trolling lures for wahoo and shop our wahoo lures.
