Wahoo fishing out of Fernandina Beach means a 40 to 75 mile run from St. Marys Entrance to the inside edge of the Gulf Stream. Local captains fish a spring peak and a fall peak, and one operator runs a live-bait trip through the winter. This page covers when, how far, where and how for boats leaving Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. For general wahoo behavior and tackle, see the wahoo fishing guide.
When wahoo are here
Pipe Dream puts the peaks at March to May and October to December. Reel Dream, a St. Augustine operator, runs a Fernandina live-bait wahoo trip November through March, so November and December fall inside both windows.
- Spring and fall peaks: March to May, October to December (Pipe Dream)
- Live-bait trip: November to March (Reel Dream)
For the wider pattern up and down the coast, see the Atlantic Southeast wahoo guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide).
How far boats run and where
Pipe Dream runs 40 to 60 miles to high spots, bottom relief and the inside edge of the Gulf Stream. Local guide Terry Lacoss places blue water about 50 miles out, where depth drops from 100 to 1,000 ft in under a mile. Pipe Dream puts the temperature break and weed lines 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet, and the Reel Dream trip fishes 60 to 75 miles from land.
From inside to outside:
- 40 to 60 miles: high spots, bottom relief and the inside edge (Pipe Dream)
- About 50 miles: blue water, 100 to 1,000 ft in under a mile (Lacoss)
- 50 to 70-plus miles: temperature break and weed lines (Pipe Dream)
- 60 to 75 miles: live-bait trip (Reel Dream)
Wind, wave height and period for the run are on the forecast and buoy sources on our port page.
Grounds and structure
Named structure off Fernandina runs from 60 ft reefs near the beach to the 1,000 ft drop at the Gulf Stream edge.
The Ledge
The Ledge is a named offshore ground that boats from this port fish. Local charter sites use it as a reference point for offshore trips.
Gulf Stream break and weed lines
Pipe Dream works the temperature break and weed lines along the 100 to 1,000 ft edge, 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet. Boats troll along the lines instead of sitting on a single spot.
Nearshore artificial reefs
These reefs sit on the chart between the inlet and the offshore grounds. The Captain Daddy (CD-06-#01) position comes from the FWC artificial reef guide.
| Name | Depth | Position |
|---|---|---|
| FB-6 culverts site | 60 ft | About 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W |
| BA reef sites (BA Reef, BA Site) | 60-65 ft | |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#01) artificial reef | 67 ft | 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W (FWC) |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#02) artificial reef | 67 ft | |
| Fernandina Banks Barbett (wooden boat) and 1989 culverts | 70 ft | About 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W |
| Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts (FC sites, 1988 to 1991) | 70-83 ft | Concrete culverts at about 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W |
Coordinates and depths are for planning; chart layers are not for navigation.
How it is fished locally
Two methods are used here.
High-speed trolling
Pipe Dream trolls at high speed with planers and heavy lures. The fast spread covers the water along the break and weed lines.
Slow-trolled live bait
Reel Dream slow-trolls live blue runners and live bonitas on its 60 to 75 mile Fernandina trip. For other species on the same grounds, see the offshore gamefish guides.
Who fishes for wahoo here
Five operators list wahoo trips from this port:
- Pipe Dream Charters, Captain Scott Thompson: high-speed trolling with planers and heavy lures, 40 to 60 miles.
- HooDoo Sportfishing Charters, Captains Tim Altman and Chris Altman (father and son).
- Big Fin Charters: offshore trips.
- Amelia Island Sport Fishing, Captain Billy.
- Reel Dream Fishing Charters: St. Augustine-based, runs a Fernandina live-bait trip, November to March, 60 to 75 miles.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Fernandina Beach
When is wahoo season out of Fernandina Beach?
Pipe Dream puts the peaks at March to May and October to December. Reel Dream runs a live-bait trip from Fernandina November through March.
How far offshore are wahoo off Fernandina?
Pipe Dream runs 40 to 60 miles to high spots and the inside edge of the Gulf Stream. Terry Lacoss places blue water about 50 miles out, with depth dropping from 100 to 1,000 ft in under a mile. Reel Dream fishes 60 to 75 miles from land.
How do local captains fish for wahoo?
Pipe Dream trolls at high speed with planers and heavy lures. Reel Dream slow-trolls live blue runners and live bonitas.
Which Fernandina charters target wahoo?
Pipe Dream Charters, HooDoo Sportfishing Charters, Big Fin Charters, Amelia Island Sport Fishing and Reel Dream Fishing Charters list wahoo trips. Reel Dream is based in St. Augustine and runs a Fernandina trip.
