How to Catch Wahoo

One of the great things about wahoo fishing anywhere globally is that it’s a never-ending learning experience. Even if you’ve been doing it for years, you can always fine-tune your techniques and learn new ways to catch more wahoo. In this blog post, we’ll look at how to catch wahoo, specifically focusing on how light transitions(sunny to cloudy conditions) wahoo fishing conditions.

Light Transition Period-Sun to Cloud

This light transition from a bright blue sky to cumulus cloud cover is a critical ingredient that you can now add to predicting when a wahoo bite may happen. Think of it like this; the best wahoo bites tend to occur in low light early morning hours or sunset because cumulus clouds break up the bright shades of blue on the sea surface by casting grey/black/silver shadows across it. Fish these light transition periods for wahoo 

When cumulous cloud cover replaces the bright sun during the middle of the day and that shadow-covered ocean surface sets in, it becomes a lousy time to be baitfish. During this light transition from sunny skies into cloudy ones, baitfish lose their ability to hide from predators. They become vulnerable and easy targets because they cannot reflect ocean colors at a wahoo. They also lose pigmentation, which allows them to take on the color of the water for camouflage. Hence, they become apparent to fish like wahoo when they lose that ability to camouflage themselves. Wahoo can now dial in more effectively on the baitfish silhouette.

Vision Adjustments 

A wahoo needs time to adapt to this sudden light transition from light to the darker sky during the day. It may take a little over an hour to adjust their vision. Think of it like this, when we walk outside our homes under low-light conditions and look up at the sky, it may take us 15-30 minutes or a little longer before our vision improves. The same happens with wahoo. So give it some time before calling it a day. The fish may just be adjusting to the conditions before they start feeding.

The Wahoo Super Hero Power 

Wahoos get the best of both worlds when stalking prey under cumulus cloud cover. They can use their cones and rods to the best of their ability. Since it is not entirely dark, they can use their cones to see more blue and use their superior system of rods (nighttime vision) on these cumulous cloud cover days. Under a cloudy sky, the wahoo can also use the power of UV light to aid in his hunt. 

Stabilized Conditions

The bite can be wide open on these light transition days, especially if you are in an area with 3-4 days of consecutive cumulous cloud cover and good water quality. Wahoos had time to adapt to these conditions and hold in spots for several days, feeding heavily on baitfish as conditions are optimum for an epic bite. 

Lure Color Selection

First, I recommend reading How Wahoo See Color before making lure purchases. Then, on cumulous cloud days, when flying fish are around, I use seawitches. I prefer the blue and crystal hair, witch rigged with bait strips or a fresh double-rigged ballyhoo. Finally, I recommend using the best wahoo trolling lure plug, the Baitfish Halco laser Pro 190.

Conclusion

The science of cumulus cloud cover and wahoo fishing has been an exciting journey. I have learned a great deal about the clouds that bring us our daily weather and how those clouds can help or hinder our chances of catching a wahoo. So, add a cumulous cloud cover to the bite formula mentioned in The Best Solar-Lunar Secrets blog. By understanding how light transition affects fish behavior and what type of bait to use, you’ll be one step closer to reeling in that personal best wahoo!