Wahoo fishing out of St. Augustine runs two ways: live bait offshore from November through March, and a summer nearshore bite. This page covers when each pattern shows up, how far boats run, which reefs hold depth and structure, and how locals fish them. For inlet and conditions detail, see the St. Augustine port page, and for rigging and biology, the wahoo species guide.
When wahoo are off St. Augustine
The two seasons don’t conflict: live bait offshore in winter, nearshore in summer. The broader Gulf Stream picture is in the Atlantic Southeast wahoo guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
| Pattern | Window | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Live-bait wahoo | November through March | Fishardy |
| Nearshore wahoo | Summer | Long Line |
Winter live bait, November through March
Fishardy puts live-bait wahoo at November through March. This is the pattern that sends boats offshore, covered in the next section.
Summer nearshore
Long Line describes a summer nearshore pattern, which is where the nearshore reefs below come in.
How far boats run
Outside summer, Long Line puts the run to the Gulf Stream edge at 50 to 70 miles. Fuel, range and weather window all depend on that distance.
- Fuel: that distance each way sets how much you carry.
- Window: a long run needs a forecast you trust at both ends of the day.
- Return: plan the way home before you leave the dock.
The Gulf Stream edge, 50 to 70 miles
Long Line says non-summer wahoo require a 50 to 70 mile run to the Gulf Stream edge. Plan the round trip around that distance.
Deeper structure: the Orion example
Fishardy’s 30 ft Orion runs farther offshore to deeper structure for wahoo. The deeper reefs in the table below sit at 97 to 104 ft: Capo, Moody and Intruder.
Reading conditions before the run
NOAA NDBC station 41012 off St. Augustine is not an active reporting buoy, and no active replacement was found. Get wind speed and direction, wave height and wave period from the official NWS marine forecast before you run.
Grounds and structure
The grounds fall into two depth bands: nearshore reefs at 56 to 80 ft, and deeper structure at 97 to 104 ft.
Nearshore reefs
Nine Mile Reef, the tug Leon Roddy, sits about 9 miles out per Long Line. The North Nine Mile sites run 56 to 80 ft by site. These reefs fit the summer nearshore pattern.
Deeper reefs
Capo Reef North and South sit at 97 ft. Moody Reef is at 100 ft, 26 miles east of St. Augustine. Intruder Reef 1 and 2, the A-6 aircraft frames, are at 104 ft. These fit the deeper-structure runs.
| Reef | Structure | Depth | Position or distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine Mile Reef | Tug Leon Roddy | 63 ft | About 9 miles off St. Augustine (per Long Line) |
| North Nine Mile Reef, sites 1 to 7 | Concrete culverts, dumpsters, rubble | 56 to 80 ft by site | Near 29 54 N, 81 07 W |
| Nine Mile North Reef | Concrete culverts | 56 ft | 29 54 47 N, 81 07 01 W |
| Andy King Reef | Bridge of Lions permit area | 60 ft | 29 52.591 N, 81 09.207 W |
| Capo Reef North | Artificial reef | 97 ft | 29 51 4 N, 80 46 2 W |
| Capo Reef South | Artificial reef | 97 ft | 29 50 59 N, 80 46 1 W |
| Moody Reef | Artificial reef | 100 ft | 26 miles east of St. Augustine |
| Intruder Reef 1 and 2 | A-6 aircraft frames | 104 ft | Reef 1 at 29 54 20 N, 80 48 10 W |
Coordinates are for planning. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How wahoo are fished here
Three methods come up locally: live-bait trolling, high-speed trolling and ballyhoo trolling.
Live-bait trolling
Fishardy describes live-bait trolling for wahoo. It fits the November through March window.
High-speed trolling
Local reports describe high-speed trolling as a way of covering water between structure.
Ballyhoo trolling
Local reports also describe ballyhoo trolling. For rigging detail, use the species guide.
Who fishes for them
The local wahoo fishery is visible mainly through charter captains and tournament crews.
Charters that list wahoo
These St. Augustine charters list wahoo:
- Long Line Charters with Ledford, Captain David Ledford
- Fishardy Charters out of St. Augustine
- J-Hook Fishing Charters, Captain Jason Hadjis
- Drop Down Sport Fish Charters, Captain Alex
- Sly-Fox at the Conch House, Captain Red Beard and crew
Tournaments
Three tournaments run out of St. Augustine with wahoo in play:
- Don Combs Wahoo Round-up, usually November
- El Pescado Billfish Tournament, usually November
- Salt Life Bluewater Tournament, usually May
FAQ
When is wahoo season out of St. Augustine?
Fishardy puts live-bait wahoo at November through March, and Long Line describes a summer nearshore pattern.
How far is the run to the Gulf Stream edge?
Long Line puts the non-summer run at 50 to 70 miles. Plan fuel for the round trip.
Which reefs are deepest?
Intruder Reef 1 and 2 are at 104 ft. Moody Reef is at 100 ft, and Capo Reef North and South are at 97 ft.
Which tournaments target wahoo?
The Don Combs Wahoo Round-up is usually in November. El Pescado Billfish Tournament is usually in November, and Salt Life Bluewater Tournament is usually in May.
What buoy covers St. Augustine?
NOAA NDBC station 41012 off St. Augustine is not an active reporting buoy. Get wind, wave height and period from the official NWS marine forecast.
What else is offshore here?
Our offshore gamefish guides cover the other species you will meet off this coast.
