BajaNomad - Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo

Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo

Bill Collector - 7-14-2010 at 08:39 AM

The fishing here on the East Cape has finally started.. There are about 50 boats sitting right in front of our home. We live between Spa Buena Vista and Rancho Leonero. For the last 3 days there have been, Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo, not more than a mile to mile and half off shore...The guys are using squid for bait.
Temp is about 80 today.

Frank - 7-14-2010 at 08:38 PM

Can you keep them going for 15 more days. Its killing me slowly :lol:

Thanks for the update!

Bill Collector - 7-15-2010 at 06:53 AM

They are out front again today, no more than a mile off shore. They are fishing in about 30 ft of water. Today even the hotel boats are here, if you had a kayak it would be fun.

Peloncito - 8-14-2010 at 09:27 PM

08/12 hit the spot Bill Collector speaks of and maybe a little farther south. First bite was a 30# Wahoo (released). Later came a mixed bag of Dorado & small Tunas between 10-25#. Overall we landed 1 Wahoo, 16 Tunas & 4 Dorado. Kept one Dodo and one tuna for eats! Released the rest. Other boats around us bagging about the same.

mike odell - 8-15-2010 at 02:40 AM

peloncito,
your post is too weird to believe, sorry, but no fisherman that I know
is gonna release a 30 pd wahoo,!! As to the rest of your count? care to
rethink your count and kept ratio?

maspacifico - 8-15-2010 at 07:41 AM

I release em all the time....after I fillet them

acadist - 8-15-2010 at 09:07 AM

Doesn't Dorado mean 'gold'? But I agree with you: Wahoo= Best tasting fish ever!!!

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor

Quote:

Originally posted by mike odell
peloncito,
your post is too weird to believe, sorry, but no fisherman that I know
is gonna release a 30 pd wahoo,!! As to the rest of your count? care to
rethink your count and kept ratio?

X2

I wouldn't ever release a wahoo, and then keep a dodo for dinner. Wahoo is out of this world. Dodo is good, but it is like comparing silver to gold! The Wahoo being the gold.

bill erhardt - 8-15-2010 at 10:10 AM

Releasing a wahoo at the boat is no mean trick. Not quite as easy as a billfish, tuna, dorado, or any other fish, for that matter. If the hoo is hooked well enough that you are able to get him to the boat, he is pretty well hooked, and it's not easy removing the hook from his bony mouth. He is certain not to make it any easier for you, and you don't want to come in contact with any of those teeth......

49kbhoo.jpg - 49kB

monoloco - 8-15-2010 at 11:05 AM

I have never released a wahoo but have released hundreds of dorado and other species by grabbing the leader close to the fish and putting the gaff in the bend of the hook and giving it a quick jerk.

Cypress - 8-15-2010 at 04:27 PM

Keep a cheap .22 caliber pistol handy. Shoot the fish , if you want to keep him, if not, just let him go. :biggrin:

Cypress - 8-15-2010 at 04:48 PM

fishabductor, Yea, you've got to keep 'em clean and well oiled (the gun that is)

bill erhardt - 8-15-2010 at 05:12 PM

A lot of wahoos are hooked like this 60 pounder was. With the 10/0 imbedded about a foot down his gullet. And no, loco, you don't grab the leader near his head and work the hook out with your gaff. If you value your hand you don't get it close to a wahoo until rigor mortis has set in. Even after a wahoo is dead you should proceed with care in removing the hook. Any contact at all with those teeth will result in a cut.

phpV7qcocPM.jpg - 41kB

monoloco - 8-15-2010 at 08:38 PM

Well, like I said, I've never released a wahoo and can't figure out why anyone would want too, but if someone wanted too, the best way, unless the hook is too deep in the gullet, is to use the gaff to dislodge the hook so your hand is nowhere near the mouth of the fish.

BajaBruno - 8-16-2010 at 09:34 AM

Bill, nice fish. What kind of lure is that, and how fast do you troll it?

bill erhardt - 8-16-2010 at 10:19 AM

Chris......That is a wahoo bigbite www.bigbiteoffshore.com Actually, one I rig myself from a billfishbite over 2- 12" squid skirts and an egg sinker. pink/white is probably most productive, along with red/black and blue white. I usually fish a bigbite on one side and a YZ Bonita on the other.

[Edited on 8-16-2010 by bill erhardt]

bnhoo1.jpg - 46kB

bill erhardt - 8-16-2010 at 10:21 AM

YZ Bonita doing its job.......

bnhoo2.jpg - 32kB

bill erhardt - 8-16-2010 at 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
Bill...You are making me hungry!!

I have to admit to having wahoo on the brain. Last year in mid-August the hoos showed up outside Mag Bay and the bite was on until mid-January. I just brought a new boat down and after the first oil change I'm going to take it over to Lopez Mateos and park it for the duration. Usually from now through the end of the year 2 - 4 days per week are fishable in small boats outside on the tuna banks......

Pompano - 8-16-2010 at 05:12 PM

Bill...nothing beats Wahoo on The Brain...unless it's Wahoo on the Grill.

You keep up the fight, amigo..we'll see you on the blue come this winter.

BajaBruno - 8-16-2010 at 11:07 PM

OK, Bill, I see now. You put on the egg sinker to get past the 6 knot design of this lure?

bill erhardt - 8-17-2010 at 04:02 AM

Chris.....Yes, and also to add some size and heft to it. The combo is 14+" and weighs a pound or so. I troll just slow enough to keep the Bonita in the water, 10 - 15 knots, depending on the conditions. The skirted lure through a flat line clip on one corner of the transom and back far enough that it stays down......

Peloncito - 8-17-2010 at 05:13 PM

Quote:

Mike,

I know it sounds weird, but my wife caught a 65# Hoo a while back and if I ever showed up at home with a baby wahoo like that, she would fillet me. I am only down for a few days at a time and I only keep what I can eat in those few days. So for this latest trip, one Dorado & one Tuna was enough. I don't like to freeze them and bring them home, so there you go......

BTW, the money I save by not vacuum sealing/freezing at the smoke house usually ends up in a very nice furniture store in LB and La Ribera

[Edited on 8-18-2010 by Peloncito]

[Edited on 8-18-2010 by Peloncito]

Bill Collector - 8-17-2010 at 05:21 PM

Release a WAHOO, that is unheard of... Dorado, tuna, marlin maybe but never, ever a WAHOO..........

bill erhardt - 8-17-2010 at 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
WOW!!! Those Wahoo Bigbites are $45!!! I am trying to rig up something with random materials that is similar in profile, color and weight and see what happens.

The billfish bites are around $15, the skirts $3 ea., a 6 oz. egg sinker a buck or so. I use Mustad 7732 10/0 hooks, but a cheaper hook will catch fish.
If you buy them made up by Big Bite they use a two hook rig and one skirt. I like one hook rigs and double up the skirts for the bulk.
Here's a blue/white with 2 squid skirts I made up for less than $30.

bb.jpg - 35kB

BajaBruno - 8-17-2010 at 10:42 PM

Bill, has the new boat gotten bloody yet? All geared up now? The name painted on it? Any photos?

bill erhardt - 8-18-2010 at 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBruno
Bill, has the new boat gotten bloody yet? All geared up now? The name painted on it? Any photos?

It has, and I do. I will email and not drag this thread any further afield.