Wahoo fishing out of Sarasota is a bluewater trolling run, spring through fall, and it goes well past the 22-35 miles most offshore trips cover. The wahoo species guide covers the fish itself. This page covers the run from here: timing, distance, the grounds you pass and who runs it, so you can decide whether and when to go.
When wahoo are off Sarasota
Wahoo here are a spring-through-fall fish, with a good window in summer. The local season is one slice of the wider picture in wahoo across the Gulf (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide).
Spring through fall
FishingBooker lists spring through fall as the wahoo window off Sarasota, so plan around that span.
June to August
June-August is called good for wahoo. If you can pick your days, aim for it.
How far boats run from New Pass
Every bearing and distance on this page is measured from New Pass. Anything inside 22-35 miles is part of the run, not the destination, because wahoo water off Sarasota is a long way out.
Past the 22-35 mile range
Sarasota Offshore Fishing runs a typical 22-35 mile trip. Wahoo and mahi are possible if the boat goes beyond that, so plan for the extra range rather than the standard trip.
60-90+ mile bluewater days
Kokomo’s 12-hour bluewater trip pushes 60-90+ miles. Plan fuel, range and daylight against that scale.
Reading conditions at VENF1
The nearest NDBC station is C-MAN VENF1 at Venice, FL (27.072 N 82.453 W). It is a coastal station, so it reports what the wind is doing at Venice and says little about the Gulf 60-90+ miles out.
Read the NWS coastal waters forecast for the offshore zones before you decide. Check wind speed, wave height and period as numbers, and make the call from those.
Grounds and structure on the way out
Every named ground below sits between 1.43 nm and 18 miles from New Pass, inside the 22-35 mile range. Treat them as structure and waypoints along the run, not as wahoo spots.
| Ground | Depth | Bearing (magnetic) | Distance from New Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-2 Fisher reef | 30 ft | 239 degrees | 1.43 nm |
| I-1 Silvertooth reef | 25 ft | 187 degrees | 1.74 nm |
| Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge | 49 ft | 246 degrees | 9.54 miles (from New Pass Gulf marker) |
| The Gully | – | 259 degrees | 10.29 miles |
| Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges | 25 ft (5-8 ft ledges) | 152 degrees | 11 nm |
| Old Barge | 80 ft | 249.6 degrees | 17.69 miles |
| Swiss Cheese | 70-85+ ft | about 250 degrees | 18 miles |
| Point of Rocks (Siesta Key) | – | – | off Siesta Key beach |
What these grounds are for
We’d treat Swiss Cheese and Old Barge as stops on the first leg of the run. They give you a position and bottom reference on the way out, and wahoo water starts beyond them. The bearings and chart layers here are not for navigation.
How wahoo are fished here
Local wahoo fishing is bluewater trolling, and the setup is simple.
Trolling a spread off outriggers
Locals troll with spreads and outriggers, which puts multiple lines in the water at once while covering bluewater. For broader trolling and gamefish context, see the offshore gamefish guides.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Sarasota
These operators list wahoo. A trip aboard one is a way to see the run before you fuel your own boat. Contact the operator directly.
Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters
FISH TALES is a 2001 Luhrs 40 ft sportfisher, and Captain Tyler is named on its FAQ. Its typical trip is 22-35 miles, with wahoo possible beyond that. Details are on Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters.
Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures
Capt. Tim Noe runs Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures out of Siesta Key aboard a 42 ft Freeman.
Kokomo Charters
Kokomo fishes offshore aboard Kai Fin, a 45 ft federally permitted six-pack, with Captain Rob. Its 12-hour bluewater trip pushes 60-90+ miles. See Kokomo’s offshore fishing page.
Mother Ocean Charters
Mother Ocean lists wahoo on its deep-sea fishing page.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Sarasota
When is wahoo season in Sarasota?
Spring through fall, per FishingBooker. June-August is called good for wahoo.
How far offshore do you go for wahoo from Sarasota?
Past the typical 22-35 miles that Sarasota Offshore Fishing covers. Kokomo’s 12-hour bluewater trips push 60-90+ miles.
Are Swiss Cheese and Old Barge wahoo spots?
No. They sit around 18 miles from New Pass, inside the 22-35 mile range. Treat them as waypoints on the way out.
How are wahoo fished off Sarasota?
Trolling a spread off outriggers, with multiple lines in the water.
Which buoy should I check before the run?
NDBC VENF1 at Venice is the nearest station. It is coastal and does not see conditions 60-90+ miles out, so read the NWS offshore forecast as well.
Who runs wahoo trips out of Sarasota?
Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters (FISH TALES), Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures, Kokomo Charters (Kai Fin) and Mother Ocean Charters.
