Michael Moreines caught the fish of a lifetime on Saturday, Sept. 12. Fishing 20 miles off Point Loma, he hooked an estimated 80-pound wahoo while trolling a Marlin Jig in 78-degree water. Hooked on 40-pound tackle, the fight time was just 10 minutes when fellow anglers Eric Turner and Jason Smith stuck the fish. That’s right — the wahoo required two gaffers. Ryan Marovish rounded out the 4-man team.
Back at the San Diego Marlin Club, the official weight was 79.4 pounds. Moreines’ wahoo catch was a couple pounds shy of the state record. Alex “Fishmon” Dupre, of Dana Point, California, returned to the docks with an 84.3-pounder in October 2014.
Just a few years ago, wahoo were uncommon along the Southern California coast. That’s all changed as anglers are landing massive ‘hoos in recent years. SoCal anglers won’t complain as wahoo continue to extend their northern range.
Michael Moreines, co-owner of the boat Plan B, docks at the Coronado Cays in San Diego.
