Wahoo out of Boca Grande at a glance
Wahoo fishing out of Boca Grande means a long offshore day, with trips running 45 to 50 miles into the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico). The fish are a possible catch, trolled or free-lined between bottom stops. They come as an add-on to deep bottom fishing here and are not the main target. You launch from Boca Grande, between Boca Grande Pass and Gasparilla Pass, and those two passes are the reference points for every bearing below.
When they are around
Timing here follows the wider Gulf, not a local calendar. The species guide covers how wahoo feed and move. For seasonal timing across the Gulf (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide), use the regional guide.
How far boats run
The trips that list wahoo are the long ones:
- 8 hour offshore trip: up to 45 miles.
- 9 hour offshore trip: up to 50 miles.
Anchors Away lists wahoo as a possible catch on both. Check those miles and hours against your own boat’s range and fuel.
Grounds and structure off Boca Grande
Eight named reefs sit off the two passes. The table lists them nearest to farthest, with the two depth-only reefs at the end.
Reefs on the way out
| Reef | Depth (ft) | Distance (mi) | Bearing (degrees) | Measured from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Reef | 30 | 3.0 | 205 | Gasparilla Pass |
| Helen Reef | 30 | 5.7 | 195 | Boca Grande Pass |
| PowerPole Reef | 45 | 7.3 | 254 | Boca Grande Pass |
| Charlottes Reef | 52 | 12.7 | 286 | Boca Grande Pass |
| Causeway Reef | 26 | 12.8 | 286 | Boca Grande Pass |
| Boxcar Reef | 70 | 21 | 267 | Boca Grande Pass |
| CCA Phoenix Reef | 50 | depth only | depth only | n/a |
| Gasparilla Reef | 12 | depth only | depth only | n/a |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Reading the reefs
The farthest named reef, Boxcar Reef, is 21 miles out, while the trips that list wahoo run 45 to 50 miles. The reefs mark the route out and the bottom stops along it, with lines in the water between them. They are not wahoo spots.
Mary Reef is the only distance measured from Gasparilla Pass; every other distance is measured from Boca Grande Pass. Charlottes and Causeway share the 286 degree bearing, 0.1 mile apart, at 52 ft and 26 ft. CCA Phoenix and Gasparilla Reef are listed by depth only.
The bearings read best against the Chart Contours layer. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How wahoo are fished here
Wahoo are worked on the transit between bottom stops. Anchors Away lists two methods.
Trolling between bottom stops
Anchors Away trolls on the way between bottom stops. That ties the method to the route above: leave the dock, make a bottom stop, then put lines out for the run to the next one. The long 45 to 50 mile transits are where a wahoo gets its chance.
Free-lining bait
Free-lining bait is the other method Anchors Away lists for the same transit. Drop a bait back on the run between stops and let it work.
The pelagic slam
Jay Withers calls king mackerel, mahi and wahoo a pelagic slam. The other offshore gamefish share the same long runs, so lines out on the transit can raise any of the three.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Boca Grande
Anchors Away Charters
Capt. Jeff Watkins Sr. runs Anchors Away Charters in Boca Grande. The 8 hour trip runs up to 45 miles and the 9 hour trip up to 50 miles. Wahoo is listed as a possible catch on both.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Boca Grande
Can you catch wahoo off Boca Grande?
Yes, as a possible catch on long offshore days, trolled or free-lined between bottom stops. It is an add-on to deep bottom trips that run 45 to 50 miles, and there is no dedicated nearshore fishery for it.
How far offshore do boats run for wahoo?
Up to 45 miles on 8 hour trips and up to 50 miles on 9 hour trips, per Anchors Away. Both list wahoo as a possible catch. Compare those miles and hours with your boat’s range.
Which named reef is farthest out?
Boxcar Reef: 70 ft, 21 miles at 267 degrees from Boca Grande Pass. That is still well inside the 45 to 50 mile range of the trips that list wahoo.
Which charter lists wahoo?
Anchors Away Charters, Capt. Jeff Watkins Sr., lists wahoo as a possible catch on its 8 and 9 hour offshore trips.
Where are the fishing rules?
The Florida saltwater rules and the federal dolphin and wahoo rules, both linked in the Regulations section above. Check both before fishing.
