Byplusroi

Fishing for Wahoo in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Annual Wahoo Fishing Tournament Draws Enthusiasts to Providenciales

Wahoo!

It’s both an exclamation and a reason to grab your rod and reel. The Wahoo is a highly prized sports fish that is the focus of an annual fishing tournament held each January on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Fishing for wahoo is challenging, and avid sportsfishermen pit themselves against nature’s “torpedoes” to see who can bring aboard the biggest wahoo speciman possible.

wahoo fishing tourament

Winter Wahoo Rodeo

“The Winter Wahoo Rodeo”, formerly called “Who Cares Wahoo Tournament” is a fishing contest named after the “wahoo” fish. The all day event is held annually out of Turtle Cove Marina, and it draws fishermen from all over. There are categories for largest wahoo, tuna, mahi mahi and barracuda, and participants vie for cash and other prizes.

So, what makes this event so popular? Is it the stunning Caribbean location? Is it the wonderful weather? Is it the pristine water? Well, these are all good reasons, but they come for the fish.

Wahoo Fishing

What is so special about wahoo? First, they’re fast. Wahoo are a member of the Scrombrid family of fish which include tuna and mackerel. They are streamlined and built for speed, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Second, they are extremely strong and will put up a good fight making them a great challenge to catch. Finally, wahoo can grow to a significant size. While on average they weigh 30-40 pounds, one memorable monster weighed in at over 180 pounds! Check out the Wahoo Tournament prize winner and his 61 pound catch!

Let’s Go Fishing for Wahoo in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

Not only is the fishing phenomenal, but all this angling is for a good cause. Proceeds will be used to build playgrounds for the children in care of the SNAP (Special Needs Association of Providenciales) program.

So if you’re in Providenciales in January, you might want to travel fifteen minutes down Leeward Highway from Villa Del Mar to Turtle Cove Marina and be prepared to yell out “Wahoo!”

Check Villa del Mar’s Rates and Reservations page to plan your trip.