Winter can be the best time to target some of our favorite big-game species. Just because there is snow on the ground doesn’t mean bluewater fishing is on ice. In winter, pelagic fish congregate in warm water, improving the odds of catching a trophy. From wahoo to tuna to marlin, anglers find the best offshore fishing of the winter in exotic locations and close to home.
Wahoo and Blackfin Tuna off the Outer Banks
North Carolina’s Outer Banks are known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” because of the number of shipwrecks on the barrier island shoals. Capt. Andy Piland on Good Times out of Hatteras Harbor says, “In early winter, bait congregates on the shipwrecks on the west side of Diamond Shoals drawing king mackerel, wahoo and blackfin tuna close to shore.” Piland expects fish to congregate on the WWII wrecks within 20 miles of shore. The biggest challenge is waiting for a period of nice weather to draw bait and fish inshore. Piland slow trolls live menhaden on a stinger rig around the wrecks. The tactic led to the two largest wahoo he’s ever caught. He also expects 20- to 40-pound blackfin and king mackerel up to 60 pounds. “When the planets come together, it’s awesome light tackle fishing,” he says.
Giant Yellowfin Tuna on the Surface in Louisiana
Over the past few winters, Capt. Hunter Caballero of Paradise Outfitters in Venice, Louisiana, has noticed a shift in tuna migration. “We used to fish for yellowfin tuna on Midnight Lump and East Lump,” he says. “But now we find 100- to 200-pound yellowfin tuna on baitballs just a few miles off the beach.” Caballero leaves the pass and looks for schools of menhaden or mullet from 5 to 20 miles offshore. When Caballero finds tuna feeding on the surface, he throws large topwater lures and 5- to 8-inch No Live Bait soft-plastic jigs. When the fish are finicky, he rigs a live mullet or menhaden. “There are days we see acres of tuna feeding on the surface. It’s like Nat Geo,” he says.
California Long Range Trips for Bluefin Tuna
For San Diego anglers, winter fishing calls for long-range overnighters and multi-day trips. Elliott Duenas of Point Loma Sportfishing recommends a one-and-a-half to three-day trip for bluefin tuna. “There are a lot of 30- to 60-pound fish,” he says. Duenas fishes live bait on light leader and a small hook. “I’ll go down to 25-pound- test leader and a No. 4 hook to entice picky tuna,” he says. At night, Duenas switches to knife jigs and finds a larger class of tuna. Winter is prime time for longe-range trips to Baja, Mexico. “Five- to eight-day trips are catching big wahoo and yellowfin tuna,” he says.
Blue Marlin at Kona, Hawaii
“We’re seeing a lot more blue marlin in winter,” says Capt. Chris Donato of Grander Marlin Sportfishing in Kona, Hawaii. The captain expects to release four to six blue ones on a good day. He credits his 360-degree scanning sonar for increasing his fish count. Donato likes to target blue marlin with pitch baits. “Pitch baits are more fun,” he says. Donato runs large trolling lures on his long lines. “In case the fish doesn’t come to the teasers,” he says.When a blue marlin comes to the teaser, the angler drops the rigged bait and entices the marlin to eat. With consistent weather and water conditions, Donato expects blue marlin fishing to be excellent this winter.
