When wahoo are around off Chincoteague
Wahoo fishing out of Chincoteague happens offshore, and wahoo are an occasional catch there. FishingBooker’s Chincoteague seasonal note says only that wahoo can sometimes be found offshore, which is as much as the timing can be pinned down.
The port is Chincoteague, and every run starts through Chincoteague Inlet. For the broader mid-Atlantic timing picture, the regional guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide) covers how wahoo show up along the coast.
Wahoo turn up on some trips and not on most. Plan a canyon day around the run, and treat a wahoo as a bonus fish.
What to plan around
- Wahoo are a bonus on a canyon day, not the whole plan
- The fish are offshore, not on the nearshore reefs and wrecks
- Wind, wave height and wave period decide whether the run happens
Where boats run
The wahoo trip is offshore; the nearshore wrecks and reef are a separate day. If you want the tuna and mahi that share the same canyon runs, the offshore gamefish guides cover them.
Check wind, wave height and period on the NWS marine forecast before the run. For inlet and ramp information, see the inlet and ramp details on the port page.
Washington, Baltimore and Norfolk canyons
Miss Stella runs to Washington Canyon, Baltimore Canyon and Norfolk Canyon, according to Miss Stella’s Virginia listing. These are the canyon targets for boats out of this port.
The Parking Lot
The Parking Lot lies 25 miles off the beach, on the way to deeper water. A big steel barge sits near its center.
Grounds and structure between the inlet and the canyons
The grounds below are named spots near Chincoteague, listed in the order a boat meets them heading out. None of them is claimed to hold wahoo; they are structure along the way.
| Name | Depth | Distance or position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unidentified wreck, north side of channel | On the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef | ||
| P. J. Hooper wreck | North of the inlet, around the point | ||
| Blackfish Bank Reef (subway car patch) | 65 ft | About 5.5 miles offshore (FishTalk) | Probable menhaden vessel wrecks within the reef |
| Large unidentified wreck | About 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner | ||
| Parking Lot | 25 miles off the beach | Big steel barge near the center | |
| Little Hill |
You can mark these grounds on Chart Contours in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Wrecks near the inlet: P. J. Hooper, and the north side of the channel
An unidentified wreck sits on the north side of the channel, on the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef. The P. J. Hooper wreck lies north of the inlet, around the point.
Blackfish Bank Reef: subway car patch and probable menhaden wrecks
Blackfish Bank Reef sits in 65 ft of water, about 5.5 miles offshore per FishTalk. It is a state reef with a subway car patch and probable menhaden vessel wrecks within the reef. See Virginia’s Blackfish Bank Reef page for the official listing.
The wreck northwest of the reef
A large unidentified wreck sits about 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner.
The Parking Lot barge
A big steel barge sits near the center of the Parking Lot, 25 miles off the beach.
Little Hill
Little Hill is a named local ground.
How wahoo are fished here
Local offshore trips troll or chunk. For rigging and behavior, the wahoo species guide carries the detail.
Trolling
Trolling is one of the two methods used on offshore trips from this port.
Chunking
Chunking is the other method used on offshore trips from this port.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Chincoteague
Two local charters list wahoo, and their boats give a sense of how the local fleet is set up.
Salt Addict LLC
Salt Addict runs a 36 ft Cape Horn offshore boat and a 24 ft Carolina Skimmer inshore boat.
Miss Stella Sport Fishing Charter
Miss Stella runs a 42 ft Jersey-style boat with a fighting chair. It runs to Washington, Baltimore and Norfolk canyons.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Chincoteague
Do wahoo show up off Chincoteague?
Sometimes, offshore. Wahoo fishing out of Chincoteague is occasional, so treat one as a bonus on a canyon day.
How far do boats run?
Offshore. The Parking Lot is 25 miles off the beach, and canyon trips run beyond it.
Which canyons do local boats run to?
Washington, Baltimore and Norfolk canyons, per Miss Stella.
How is wahoo fished here?
Trolling or chunking on offshore trips.
Which Chincoteague charters list wahoo?
Salt Addict LLC, with a 36 ft Cape Horn, and Miss Stella Sport Fishing Charter, with a 42 ft Jersey-style boat and a fighting chair.
Where are the rules for wahoo out of Chincoteague?
Both the Virginia rules and the federal rules apply, because canyon trips reach federal waters. Check both pages before fishing.
