Page 38 - Let's Make Waves - September 2018

F i s h i n g T i p The surge of interest in the Halco Max 130, because of their
effectiveness. brought the Wahoo Hunter back into the picture
because of their similarities. My use in the past was primarily
Of The Month for blackfin tuna. Over the past months, the success rate when
using Halco's has been high when targeting yellowfin and
blackfin tuna in my part of the Gulf, off the Texas Coast. A
recent overnight trip by a party boat out of Galveston has 24
yellowfin tuna taken, 4 on chunks, 2 on poppers. the other 18
on Halco Max 130's. Another of their trips in October pro-
duced 40 yellowfin tu1li to 120#, 10 or so of the 40 caught
were taken on Halco Max no's; the rest on poppers, chunks and
other swim baits. Overnight trips by Port Aransas party boats
have also had success with them for yellowfin.
With either of these lures, I attach a 230# size 2 Spro Power
Yellowfin & Blackfin Tuna Swivel on the line/ leader eye with their 225#, size 8 split ring.
This gives a
T T una Candy, what is it? andy, what is it? By greater range of
By Patrick Lemire Patrick Lemire
una C
motion for in-
creased swim
Actually, it is a family of lures that are sort of like a
Actually, it is a family of lures that are sort of like a
box of assorted chocolates. Sometimes you, and the
box of assorted chocolates. Sometimes you, and the
tuna, prefer one variation then change to another.
tuna, prefer one variation then change to another. motion, vibration
and rattle of the
The same sort of applies to lures used in tuna fishing. The fam- lure. A 2 to 3-
The same sort of applies to lures used in tuna fishing. The fam-
ily partially consists of the following: diamond jigs, which are foot leader of80-
il p rtitit ll
hi h r
nsists f th f ll
in di m nd ji s
old stand-bys and account for a lot of tuna, assorted surface 100# mono and
poppers, speed and butterfly jigs, free fall jigs, subsurface swim- its lead swivel
mers and Snapper Slappers also come to mind. There are two marries the braid
other casting/trolling lures that come into play when fishing main line to the
swivel/split ring. A wire leader of about a foot is in order when
tuna One is the sort of’ “new kid on the block", the other has swivel/split ring. A wire leader of about a foot is in order when
been around for a while. The Halco Max 130 is the recent arri- targeting toothy species such as wahoo or kingfish as they love
targeting toothy species such as wahoo or kingfish as they love
this type lures also. A suitable spin rig loaded with 65 or 80#
val and the Strike Pro Wahoo Hunter (don't let the name fool this type lures also. A suitable spin rig loaded with 65 or 80#
you) is also a proven tuna taker. They both can be cast long braid gives the longest casts, especially when casting with a rod
braid gives the longest casts, especially when casting with a rod
distances, have stainless thru wire construction and troll to 12 in the 7-112 to 8-foot range. The braid's small diameter not
in the 7-112 to 8-foot range. The braid's small diameter not
only increases reel capacity and casting range, hookset potential
knots. Wahoo Hunters weigh a little only increases reel capacity and casting range, hookset potential
under four ounces, have "1" hooks also goes up.
also goes up.
on ball bearing swivels, internal rat-
In my area of the Gulf, the Texas Coast, party boats out of
tles and a Japanese Cypresswood In my area of the Gulf, the Texas Coast, party boats out of
Galveston
body is available in six color combi- Galveston and Port Aransas have overnight trips targeting and Port Aransas have overnight trips targeting
nations and claim to "Last longer
than plastic". Their "Marauder"
shaped body is bib-less and gives them a vibrating swimming
shaped body is bib-less and gives them a vibrating swimming
motion on the retrieve due to the line leader attachment's eye
motion on the retrieve due to the line leader attachment's eye
being placed high on their flat, angled head top. The Halco
being placed high on their flat, angled head top. The Halco
Max 130 also has its line leader attachment eye high on its head;
Max 130 also has its line leader attachment eye high on its head;
they, like the Strike Pro, come in at just over 5" in length. Their
they, like the Strike Pro, come in at just over 5" in length. Their
bib-less, minnow-shaped plastic body also has internal rattles
bib-less, minnow-shaped plastic body also has internal rattles
and a pair of trebles attached with split rings; a slender tail sec-
tion gives maximum hook exposure at the strike. Internal rat-
tles send a distant touch vibration to a predator's lateral line
sensors that your tuna can soon convert into a visual contact
and a strike ... a nice plus. Ten color combinations are available.
See the illustration for the Hot Sardine look.
My use of the Wahoo Hunter was sort of phased out a couple
of years ago because of my constant search of “Another way".
38 | Waves Magazine | September 2018 Issue