When wahoo are off Palm Beach
Wahoo fishing out of Palm Beach runs on two windows, per Mallard: a winter peak from December to February and a second push in late summer. Boats work the 100 to 300 ft edges off the inlet. For inlet, marina and conditions sources, start at the Palm Beach port overview.
Winter peak: December to February
The winter trip belongs inside the December to February window.
Late summer
Wahoo come through again in late summer, per Mallard.
How far and where boats run
Boats work the 100 to 300 ft edges and deep ledges off Palm Beach Inlet. If you are visiting with your own boat, that depth band is the working zone.
| Zone | Depth (ft) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Edges and deep ledges | 100 to 300 | Offshore of Palm Beach Inlet |
| Sailfish Alley | Gulf Stream corridor | Fort Pierce to North Miami Beach |
The 100 to 300 ft edges
Wahoo are targeted along the 100 to 300 ft edges and deep ledges off the inlet. The named grounds in the next section sit inside this band, deeper than it, or shallower than it.
Sailfish Alley and the Gulf Stream corridor
Sailfish Alley is the Gulf Stream corridor running from Fort Pierce to North Miami Beach, and the edges off Palm Beach Inlet sit inside it. The Southeast Atlantic wahoo guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide) covers the corridor beyond this port.
Grounds and structure off the inlet
The named structure off the inlet ranges from 80 ft wrecks to 300 ft edges.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Location note |
|---|---|---|
| Sailfish ledge | 120 to 200 | About 20 minutes from Palm Beach Inlet |
| The Hill | 200 to 300 | Farther out than the sailfish ledge |
| 120 ft ledge (Mallard’s kingfish edge) | 120 | Offshore of the inlet |
| 100 to 300 ft edges | 100 to 300 | Offshore edge |
| Bridge Reef and the Playground | 100 to 200 | Off the inlet |
| M/V Ana Cecilia | 80 to 85 | 1 mile off Singer Island |
| Danny McCauley Memorial Reef (tug) | 80 | 1 mile off Singer Island, part of the Wreck Trek |
The sailfish ledge: 120 to 200 ft
This ledge sits inside the wahoo band, about 20 minutes from Palm Beach Inlet.
The Hill: 200 to 300 ft
The Hill lies at the deep end of the band, farther out than the sailfish ledge. It is also a blackfin tuna spot. The same structure holds other fish, and the offshore gamefish guides cover them.
The 120 ft ledge
The ledge sits at 120 ft offshore of the inlet, on the shallow side of the band. Mallard calls it the kingfish edge, so expect kingfish to be mixed in here.
Bridge Reef and the Playground: 100 to 200 ft
This is named structure in the 100 to 200 ft range, inside the wahoo band.
The Singer Island wrecks
M/V Ana Cecilia sits at 80 to 85 ft and the Danny McCauley Memorial Reef tug sits at 80 ft. Both are 1 mile off Singer Island, and the tug is part of the Wreck Trek. Both are shallower than the 100 to 300 ft wahoo band, so treat them as nearby named structure.
How wahoo are fished locally
Biology and tackle basics are in the wahoo species guide. Off the inlet, three methods are used:
- High-speed trolling with lures
- Rigged ballyhoo
- Planers with bonita strips
High-speed trolling with lures
High-speed trolling with lures is a local method along the edges, and it covers water fast.
Rigged ballyhoo
Rigged ballyhoo is a separate local option that runs alongside the lure spread.
Planers with bonita strips
A planer pulls the bait down. Planers with bonita strips are the third local option, suited to the deeper edges.
Moon and current timing
Island Time ties the bite to the stronger current around the full and new moon, so pick days around those phases.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Palm Beach
Five local charters list wahoo, and four of them are based at Sailfish Marina on Singer Island. A trip aboard one is a way to see the edges before you run them yourself.
- Island Time Sport Fishing: 52 ft Viking. Capt. Tyler Morris. Departs Sailfish Marina.
- Mallard Sport Fishing: Mallard, a 54 ft custom-built sportfishing vessel. Sailfish Marina.
- Reel Intense Fishing Charters: Custom 35 ft center consoles. Captain Weston.
- Reel Candy Sportfishing: Reel Candy. Capt. John Bobnar. Sailfish Marina.
- Sol Search Charters: Based at Sailfish Marina.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Palm Beach
When is wahoo season off Palm Beach?
Per Mallard, the peak runs December to February, with a second window in late summer.
What depth do boats fish for wahoo off Palm Beach Inlet?
About 100 to 300 ft, along the edges and deep ledges off the inlet.
How far is the sailfish ledge from Palm Beach Inlet?
About 20 minutes, in 120 to 200 ft.
Does moon phase matter for wahoo off Palm Beach?
Island Time ties the bite to the stronger current around the full and new moon.
Which Palm Beach charters list wahoo?
Island Time Sport Fishing, Mallard Sport Fishing, Reel Intense Fishing Charters, Reel Candy Sportfishing and Sol Search Charters. Four are based at Sailfish Marina.
