Thread: Fishing OB this weekend

Towing my 23ft center console down there this weekend. How far to I need to be to troll for kings wahoo etc.... Thanks

I have not really been out yet, but kings are reported to be "spotty" by the people I've heard from. Typically they can be anywhere from the Perdido Pass buoy, then out to the trolling corridor (7-10 miles south of the Pass) to as far as you want to go. Probably a good idea to ask at J&M when you get down for specifics.

We are not really Wahoo country close in because of the chlorophyll in the water, but it often starts to clear out towards the Edge about 32-35 SE of Perdido Pass (easily visible dropoff on charts or Google Earth).

If I were going blind I would work the trolling corridor (see Reef brochure at link) or anchor and chum, maybe out at the Trysler Grounds. If you want to stay close work from the Three Mile Barge and Cells over to the East Nearshore Reefs.

Artificial Reefs | Outdoor Alabama

Trolling for kings and trolling for wahoo are two completely different ball games. You can catch kings within a 1/4 mile of the beach. Slow troll dusters with cigar minnows or plugs, a little faster with trolling spoons, trolling jigs, dolphin delights, etc. You can troll a mixed spread of king rigs and lighter rigs for Spanish macs too.
I've never heard of wahoo being closer than 30 or 40 miles. And when we caught them we were trolling 8-15 knots.

+1 on what Carl says about putting some light stuff in your spread for Spanish. That will break the boredom if the kings are slow. My favorite is a small naked Clark Spoon on light line and either a mono leader or a very short piece of light wire. They will twist your line, but are my #1 for Spanish. If the spoon won't stay in the water because of chop or speed put a little lead a couple of feet in front (yes, it can get bit off, but that's fishing).

Take the spoon off and drag your line occasionally to get the twist out.

Back in the day, when I had my 20' cc, my go-to Spanish rig was 1/4 or 1/2 egg sinker, bead, swivel, 10' of 50# mono, swivel, 6" of wire and then the small Clark spoon.