AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2005 ISSUE

I knew it the second I put it out there. I knew that crazy color plug was going to get killed! If you’re anything like me, instinctively you look at a trolling lure and think to yourself, “Man, that thing looks too good not to get hit”. Well this thing looked wild. First of all it was like a foot long. It had this wicked neon paint job with two huge claw hooks that looked like they could hold a horse.

The thing quivered so erratically, I swear it looked just like a peanut dolphin scrambling for its life. It practically mesmerized me as I stared at it next to the boat. Letting out half the spool of line, I popped the reel in gear, triple checked the drag, and threw the clicker on.

No more than five minutes went by when the 4/0 screamed to life. Anyone who’s owned a Senator is familiar with the sweet sound. In one swift motion I leaped to the opposite corner of the 21’ Mako and grabbed the doubled over stick. My brother pulled the throttle back and went to work clearing the remaining two lines. All I could do was hold on as I watched the pink 50 disappear off the reel. I remember thinking to myself that I shouldn’t have fed the thing out so far.

To make a long story short, fifteen minutes later a lit-up twenty something pound wahoo bloodied the deck. It was my first, and at the time it was an absolute monster. Precisely how many years ago that was, I can’t exactly remember. What I do vividly recall, is that my first introduction to deep diving plugs close to 20 years ago sparked a wahoo fire in me that has burned bright ever since. 

Vicious predators, wahoo are absolute killers. Have you ever actually taken a close look at a wahoo’s jaw? Their mouth is lined with a serrated band-saw designed for one purpose, pure destruction. Think about it. Wahoo hunt tuna. Members of the Thunnas clan can book at speeds exceeding 50 MPH!

You want to know how wahoo catch and eat such fast prey? I’ll tell you how. They chase them down and slice them clean in half in one swift bite. That’s unadulterated raw power. After the initial fatal blow, the killer circles and comes in to devour its prey. It’s no wonder these pelagic predators are often referred to as the leopards of the sea.

While plenty of wahoo have been taken by anglers fishing live bait, trolling deep diving plugs is the most common tactic for targeting these awesome adversaries. Trolling plugs diversify spreads by presenting a 3rd dimension without the need of a downrigger or planer. Deep diving plugs reach into the heart of the water column where wahoo strike more readily.

Though offshore trolling plugs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, they all share a single purpose - to entice big pelagic game fish with their subsurface action. Deep diving plugs create havoc below the surface. They give off an inviting action while creating both a visual and sonic attraction.
Anglers who regularly troll diving plugs know how to recognize the optimal time and conditions to include them and understand the best position for deep diving plugs in their trolling spreads.

Rigging and tackle is equally important. Remember were dealing with vicious killers. Powerful saw toothed wahoo will melt 200lb. mono leader material like a red-hot knife to soft butter. 4-ft. of stranded cable is your only chance of staying connected.

Ideal tackle for trolling deep diving plugs consists of 30 and 50-pound class outfits on med/heavy action 6-ft. stand-up rods. Safety lines are a must. Monofilament is an ideal line choice for novices as it offers a bit of elasticity, a welcomed advantage when a fierce marauder intercepts the tempting offering. The new generation of super braids is quickly gaining popularity amongst the pros as microfilament’s ultra-thin diameter to strength ratio permits plugs to track deeper.
  
For wahoo and other fast fish like yellowfin tuna, trolling deep diving plugs from 8-12 knots will put you in the running. On the other hand, big smoker kingfish, large bull dolphin and even gargantuan grouper prefer slower diving plugs pulled between 4-8 knots. This leaves a vast window of opportunity for numerous species. 

Though trolling deep diving plugs does require patience and a watchful eye, the rewards are well worth the effort. If you’re not already dedicating at least one position in your spread for a diving plug, it may be time to take another look at your overall presentation…Capt. Mike

Plug sources
Braid Products:    www.BraidProducts.com
Yo-Zuri America:     www.Yo-Zuri.com
Rapala:           www.Rapala.com
Manns Bait Co:           www.MannsBait.com

“What I do vividly recall, is that my first introduction to deep diving plugs close to 20 years ago sparked a wahoo fire in me that has burned bright ever since” 

Rig a deep diving plug South Florida Style!
48” of 150lb. stranded cable with crimped connections.
Anything less will leave you empty handed!

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