April and May mark the ending of the winter long range season. As the season comes to a close it is at this time that wahoo fishing can be center stage. The waters off of the Revilla-gigeddos Island start to warm and the wahoo concentrations increase. Warmer water temps and a denser wahoo population can produce some amazing scores.

    I have been on trips at this time of the year that have produced limits (15 fish) of wahoo for all hands aboard. One of the most enjoyable and frustrating way to hook and land wahoo is with "wahoo bombs". Tossing bombs is my favorite way to fool wahoo. Which leads to the first part of this article. What are "wahoo bombs"? For those new to long range fishing it is time for a short history lesson.

    The first "wahoo bombs" that I know of were put out by Carl Newell of NEWELL REELS. Carl’s first bombs were bullet shaped chrome plated leadheads. His bombs have a recessed collar to wrap skirts around to add color to the lure. His bombs also are free sliding on your cable. Carl’s bombs worked very well and as time went on others made their bombs.

    There were sinker bombs. Sinker Bombs are as the name implies made from sinkers. Just take a 4 or 6 oz. Torpedo sinker and wrap some mylar tinsel around the weight and add a siwash hook to one end and your cable leader to the other. This cheap lure does work ask any one who has fished for ‘hoos on a long range boat.

    Other types of bombs are the ones made by Burn’s Saltwater or Braid Products If you want to make your own there are several different chrome plated leadheads like the ones Lead Master produces. All of these bombs one thing in common, they are all chrome plated, that is the key to a good bomb. I have seen unplated bombs work, but I prefer the extra flash of the chrome plated ones.

    If you are going on one of theses early spring trips bring plenty of bombs, extra hooks and skirt material. Bring at least three different colors of skirt material. The best colors are red, silver and blue, but they are not a sure thing. Sometimes colors like purple, black or pink are the hot ticket. So now you know what "wahoo bombs" are.

Here are a few tips about tossing bombs.

    First is you do not have to cast a mile to get hooked up. Try dropping them over side when someone yells hookup on the troll. Free-spool them back about 50 to 60 feet, put your reel in gear and wait about 20 seconds. If you do not get hooked up, drop the bomb back another 50 to 60 feet and do the same. If you do not get hooked up, crank the bomb in as fast as you can, but stop half way back, and free-spool the bomb again. Count to about 30, put the reel in gear and crank again. This time crank all the way back to the boat If you do not get a bite, let the jig come to a complete stop before you raise the bomb out of the water. This is for the safety of you and other anglers. Wahoo have been know to follow a moving lure all the way on board the boat.

    Second tip is one that is difficult for first timers to do. Do not set hook, swing or stop cranking when the wahoo bites your iron. Just keep cranking. Wait until the wahoo is pulling line off your reel before you try to set the hook.

    Third tip is to use a very sharp single hook on your iron. Wahoo’s mouth is bony and dull hooks will not penetrate it. A single hook will have a better chance of digging in.

    Fourth tip is to try fishing the bombs at different depths or speeds. What for the guy that is getting hook the most and try to copy his technique. Being able to cast the farthest or crank the fastest is no guarantee to getting hooked.

    A final tip on safety, even dead wahoo are dangerous. Their teeth are as sharp as razors. Be very careful when handling even a dead wahoo. And if it is still alive, let the crew of the boat take care of it for you. There is no need to get a deep gash on your arm or leg from a wahoo.

Past Tips

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