When wahoo are around Orange Beach
Wahoo fishing out of Orange Beach follows the offshore tournament calendar, which starts with the Orange Beach Billfish Classic in May. For the biology and behavior of the fish itself, see the wahoo species guide. This page covers the port.
Orange Beach Billfish Classic
Wahoo is one of the categories in the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, usually held in May. It is the first marker on the local wahoo calendar.
Summer tournaments
Three later events also list wahoo:
- Blue Marlin Grand Championship (usually July)
- MBGFC Ladies Tournament (usually July)
- Charter Boat Billfish Tournament (usually August)
Counting the May event, wahoo stay on the offshore calendar from May into August.
Where boats run and the structure along the way
Wahoo here are fished offshore. The named structure below comes with depths and distances, so a run can be planned around numbers. For the wider Gulf picture beyond this port, see the Gulf wahoo guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
| Name | Type | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poseidon’s Playground | Nearshore structure | 38 ft | 3 miles offshore |
| Orange Beach artificial reef zone | Reef zone, 48 sites from 64 pyramid modules | Not listed | 8 to 15 miles offshore |
| The LuLu (formerly M.V. Yokamu) | Freighter wreck | 100 ft | About 20 miles south |
| Argosy VI | Reef barge | 122 ft | About 23 miles offshore |
Chart layers are not for navigation.
Orange Beach artificial reef zone
The zone covers 24 square miles and holds 48 reef sites built from 64 pyramid modules, 8 to 15 miles offshore of Orange Beach. Maps and coordinates are on the Alabama offshore reef zone maps page.
The LuLu
The LuLu, formerly the M.V. Yokamu, is a freighter wreck in 100 ft of water, about 20 miles south of Orange Beach.
Argosy VI
Argosy VI is a former riverboat casino that was sunk as a reef barge in 2026. It lies in 122 ft, about 23 miles offshore from Orange Beach, which makes it the farthest-out named structure listed here.
Nearshore structure
Poseidon’s Playground sits in 38 ft, 3 miles offshore. Whiskey Wreck is a Gulf Shores dive site, 150 feet from Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe. Both are well inside the offshore water.
How wahoo are fished here
The local method is trolling offshore. Conditions are best read as numbers from the nearest buoy.
Trolling offshore
Lines go out on the way to the grounds above and stay in the water across them.
Reading NDBC 42012
NOAA NDBC station 42012 is the Orange Beach buoy. It sits at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, 44 NM SE of Mobile, in 27 m of water (about 89 ft).
Three readings matter:
- Wind speed and direction
- Wave height
- Wave period
Check them, along with the official NWS forecast, before the run.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Orange Beach
Charter captains and tournament crews work these waters. The same events weigh other offshore fish too, and the offshore gamefish guides cover them.
Shady Lady Charters
Shady Lady Charters lists wahoo. It runs the Shady Lady, a 60-foot A1 Marine vessel, with Captain Brian per its listing. Anyone who wants a first look at the grounds before taking their own boat out can book a charter.
The tournament fleet
Four events draw boats that list wahoo:
- Orange Beach Billfish Classic (usually May)
- Blue Marlin Grand Championship (usually July)
- MBGFC Ladies Tournament (usually July)
- Charter Boat Billfish Tournament (usually August)
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Orange Beach
Which Orange Beach tournaments have a wahoo category?
Four events list wahoo: the Orange Beach Billfish Classic (usually May), the Blue Marlin Grand Championship and MBGFC Ladies Tournament (both usually July), and the Charter Boat Billfish Tournament (usually August).
How far is the LuLu from Orange Beach?
The LuLu is about 20 miles south of Orange Beach, in 100 ft of water. It is the former M.V. Yokamu, a freighter wreck.
Where is the Argosy VI reef?
Argosy VI lies about 23 miles offshore from Orange Beach, in 122 ft of water. It is a former riverboat casino sunk as a reef barge in 2026.
How big is the Orange Beach artificial reef zone?
The zone covers 24 square miles. It holds 48 reef sites built from 64 pyramid modules, 8 to 15 miles offshore of Orange Beach.
Which buoy covers offshore Orange Beach?
NDBC station 42012, at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, in 27 m (about 89 ft) of water. It reports wind, wave height and wave period.
How is wahoo fished out of Orange Beach?
By trolling offshore. Shady Lady Charters is a local charter that lists wahoo, for anyone who would rather fish with a captain.
