Wahoo fishing out of Ponce Inlet runs in two windows, one in the warm season and one in winter. Boats head to Gulf Stream water and deep offshore grounds, well past the reefs most local anglers know. This guide covers the grounds from the jetty out to the Rolldown, with the distances and depths you need to plan the run. For ramps, marinas and inlet notes, see the Ponce Inlet port guide.
When wahoo are around Ponce Inlet
Ponce Inlet has a warm-season window and a winter window, and the grounds and runs below apply to both. For biology and general seasonality, see the wahoo species guide. For the wider Gulf Stream context, see the Atlantic Southeast picture (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide).
- Warm-season window: the first of the port’s two windows
- Winter window: the second window
- Same grounds both times: the runs and structure below do not change
Warm-season window
You fish the same grounds and make the same runs described below.
Winter window
A winter run of this length starts with the official forecast. The next section covers where to read it.
Where boats run for wahoo out of Ponce Inlet
Boats run to two destinations: Gulf Stream water and deep offshore grounds.
| Destination | What to know |
|---|---|
| Gulf Stream water | A destination for wahoo boats from this port |
| Party Grounds | About 35 miles offshore |
| Rolldown | About 40 to 55 miles offshore |
Gulf Stream water
Gulf Stream water is a destination for wahoo boats out of this port.
The deep offshore runs
The Party Grounds sit about 35 miles out, and the Rolldown about 40 to 55 miles out. Before a run of this length, read wind, wave height and period from the official NWS marine forecast.
Grounds and structure off Ponce Inlet
The grounds below are listed in run order from the inlet.
| Ground | Depth | Distance or location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponce Inlet jetty (Lighthouse Point Park) | n/a | At the inlet | 1,000 ft jetty inside Lighthouse Point Park |
| Volusia Artificial Reef Site 1 (Argoil barge and culverts) | 60 to 80 ft | 10.8 nm from the inlet | Waypoint on the run out |
| Volusia Artificial Reef Site 2 (Semarca and culverts) | 75 ft | About 12.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at 067 degrees | Waypoint on the run out |
| Cracker Ridge | n/a | A few miles west of the Party Grounds, near Volusia Site 2 | n/a |
| Mango Hole | n/a | On the way out to the Party Grounds | n/a |
| Party Grounds | 80 ft | About 35 miles offshore | n/a |
| East Ridge | n/a | Alongside the Party Grounds | Named as a trolling ground |
| Rolldown | n/a | About 40 to 55 miles offshore | n/a |
On the way out
The Ponce Inlet jetty is a 1,000 ft jetty inside Lighthouse Point Park, right at the inlet. Volusia Artificial Reef Site 1 (the Argoil barge and culverts) sits 10.8 nm from the inlet in 60 to 80 ft. Volusia Artificial Reef Site 2 (the Semarca and culverts) sits in 75 ft, about 12.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at 067 degrees. Treat both reef sites as waypoints on the run out.
Cracker Ridge lies a few miles west of the Party Grounds, near Volusia Site 2. Mango Hole sits on the way out to the Party Grounds.
Party Grounds and East Ridge
The Party Grounds sit in 80 ft, about 35 miles offshore. East Ridge is named as a trolling ground alongside them.
Rolldown
The Rolldown lies about 40 to 55 miles offshore, the farthest ground on this list.
How wahoo are fished from Ponce Inlet
Wahoo here are trolled, and the named trolling ground is East Ridge, alongside the Party Grounds. With a run this long, the plan for the day matters more than the spread.
Settle these before you leave the dock:
- Pick your first ground from the table above and work outward.
- Look at the bottom around the Party Grounds and East Ridge on Chart Contours, alongside OBS SST, before you pick a troll line. Chart layers are not for navigation.
- Treat the reef sites and Mango Hole as waypoints on the way out, not as the destination.
For other species on these runs, see the guide to other offshore gamefish. The numbers above are the place to start when deciding where to look.
Who fishes wahoo out of Ponce Inlet
Two charters list wahoo from this port, and either is a reasonable way to learn the grounds before running your own boat.
- Hull’s Sea Lover: docked in Ponce Inlet
- Rare Breed Charters: a 31 ft Cape Horn
Hull’s Sea Lover
Hull’s Sea Lover is docked in Ponce Inlet and lists wahoo. See Hull’s Sea Lover in Ponce Inlet for details.
Rare Breed Charters
Rare Breed Charters runs a 31 ft Cape Horn and takes up to 6 passengers. The trip page names Captain Daniel. See Rare Breed Charters offshore trips for the trip details.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Ponce Inlet
When are wahoo around Ponce Inlet?
Wahoo fishing out of Ponce Inlet runs in two windows: a warm-season window and a winter window. The same grounds and runs apply to both.
How far is the run to the Party Grounds?
The Party Grounds sit in 80 ft, about 35 miles offshore. Mango Hole sits on the way out.
Where is the Rolldown?
The Rolldown lies about 40 to 55 miles offshore, the farthest ground listed for this port.
Where are the Volusia reef sites on the run out?
Site 1 is 10.8 nm from the inlet in 60 to 80 ft. Site 2 sits in 75 ft, about 12.5 nm from the Bell Buoy at 067 degrees.
Which charters list wahoo out of Ponce Inlet?
Hull’s Sea Lover, docked in Ponce Inlet, and Rare Breed Charters, which runs a 31 ft Cape Horn for up to 6 passengers.
