When wahoo are around Destin
Wahoo fishing out of Destin runs year-round. Summer is the busiest stretch, and November through March is the period usually called prime. Every run on this page starts at Destin Pass (East Pass), the jettied entrance into the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico). Ramps and pass detail are on that page.
Sources conflict on the season, and this page doesn’t pick one. It gives depths, bearings and run distances to named structure, and it makes no promise about fish.
Summer
Summer is the most popular wahoo season out of Destin. Offshore boat traffic peaks over the same months.
November through March
November through March carries the strongest billing as prime season, though fewer winter wahoo trips run.
Year-round
Wahoo are caught here in every month, and trolling and sight fishing are listed in every season. For the biology, see how wahoo feed and travel in our wahoo guide.
Where boats run offshore Destin
Wahoo are fished in offshore Destin water from 100 to 500 ft. The named structure in the next section sits mostly at 110 to 138 ft, the shallow end of that band.
The Chart Contours layer shows where the 100 ft and 500 ft lines fall off the pass. Chart layers are not for navigation.
East Pass is the jettied entrance from Choctawhatchee Bay, and the U.S. Coast Pilot 5 covers it. For water level, use NOAA tide station 8729511 (Destin, East Pass). No NDBC buoy sits at Destin Pass. For wind and seas, read the NWS Mobile coastal waters forecast and go by the numbers.
For the picture beyond this port, see wahoo across the wider Gulf (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide).
Named grounds and structure off Destin
The grounds and structure below are listed with depth and run from the pass. The listing gives position and depth, not catch history. The Miss Louise sits in 60 ft, shallower than the 100 to 500 ft band where wahoo are fished.
| Site | Depth | Relief or size | Distance and bearing from Destin Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conch Reef complex | 110 ft | – | About 15.2 nm at 151 degrees |
| Army Tanks 10-14 | 115 ft | – | About 16.6 to 18.0 sm at 154 to 158 degrees magnetic |
| Monica Lee Tugboat | 117 ft | – | About 17.2 sm at 152 degrees magnetic |
| The Boatyard (M/V Miss JoAnn, M/V Dylan, M/V Brannon) | 119 ft | Relief 40 ft | – |
| Baskins Barge | 135 ft | – | About 21.8 sm at 156 degrees magnetic |
| Prewitt Tugboat | 135 ft | – | About 24.6 sm at 152 degrees magnetic |
| Culvert Reef A-F | 138 ft | – | About 20.3 to 25.1 sm at 152 to 160 degrees magnetic |
| Miss Louise (tugboat, OK-100) | 60 ft | Length 95 ft, beam 23 ft | – |
The sites with published bearings cluster between 151 and 160 degrees, 15 to 25 miles out, in 110 to 138 ft.
The Boatyard
M/V Miss JoAnn is placed beside M/V Dylan and M/V Brannon. The site sits in 119 ft with 40 ft of relief.
Miss Louise, Okaloosa County site OK-100
The Miss Louise is a tugboat on the Okaloosa County artificial reef site OK-100. It is 95 ft long with a 23 ft beam, in 60 ft of water.
How wahoo are fished out of Destin, and who runs for them
Trolling is the local method, and sight fishing is also listed. For other offshore gamefish off the coast, see the gamefish guides.
Trolling
Trolling is the main method used locally. It is listed for every season, across the whole 100 to 500 ft band.
Sight fishing
Sight fishing is listed alongside trolling in every season.
Charters that list wahoo
These Destin charters list wahoo:
- Finest Kind, a 53 ft G&S sportfisher
- Capt. Jason Mikel
- Catching Memories Charters, where you should confirm the captain when booking
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Destin
When is the best time for wahoo fishing out of Destin?
Summer is the most popular season, and November through March is called prime. Wahoo are caught year-round.
How deep do boats fish for wahoo off Destin?
Wahoo are fished in 100 to 500 ft. Most named structure sits at 110 to 138 ft, and the Miss Louise sits at 60 ft.
How far is Conch Reef from Destin Pass?
About 15.2 nm at 151 degrees, in 110 ft.
Is there a buoy at Destin Pass?
No NDBC buoy sits at the pass. NOAA tide station 8729511 (Destin, East Pass) covers water level.
Which Destin charters list wahoo?
Finest Kind (53 ft G&S), Capt. Jason Mikel and Catching Memories Charters. For Catching Memories Charters, confirm the captain when booking.
