Wahoo fishing out of St. Marys means a long run past the jetties to the Ledge and the inside edge of the Gulf Stream, mostly from fall into winter. This page covers timing, where boats run, the structure you pass on the way, how the fish are caught here, who fishes for them from this port, and the rules to check. Biology and the wider picture are in our wahoo fishing guide. We can point you to better water to look at, but we can’t promise fish.
When wahoo are off St. Marys
The fish are around from fall into winter on the Florida side of the inlet. Local timing sits inside a wider coastal pattern, covered in our Atlantic Southeast wahoo (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide) coverage.
| Source | Timing it gives |
|---|---|
| Florida side of the inlet | Fall into winter |
| FishingBooker’s Fernandina guide | Winter |
Fall into winter on the Florida side
The window on the Florida side of the inlet runs fall into winter, so plan trips for that stretch.
What FishingBooker’s Fernandina guide says
FishingBooker’s Fernandina Beach guide puts wahoo in winter, which overlaps the fall-into-winter window.
The run to the Ledge and the Gulf Stream
The wahoo grounds are the Ledge (Big Ledge), which is the continental shelf, and the inside edge of the Gulf Stream. Before timing a run, read the NWS Jacksonville marine forecast and check wind, wave height and period against what your boat handles well.
The run, in order:
- Clear the St. Marys jetties.
- Pass the St. Marys Sea Buoy.
- Run to the Ledge.
- Work the inside edge of the Gulf Stream.
Leaving St. Marys Inlet
The St. Marys jetties (north and south) mark the inlet, and the St. Marys Sea Buoy is the next reference outside them. Cumberland Island is the reference point for the nearshore reef distances below.
The Ledge (120 to 200 ft)
Trolling on the Ledge starts at 120 ft and runs to 200 ft. Rainbreak runs 12-hour trips to the Ledge for wahoo, which gives a sense of the scale of the day. The Ledge, Big Ledge and the continental shelf are the same ground.
Inside the Gulf Stream
The Florida-side forecast places wahoo just inside the Gulf Stream.
Grounds and structure near St. Marys
These are the named reefs and landmarks between the inlet and deep water. The wahoo grounds sit farther out on the Ledge.
| Name | Depth | Location / note |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marys jetties (north and south) | At St. Marys Inlet | |
| St. Marys Sea Buoy | ||
| Reef KBY | 35 to 45 ft | 8 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island |
| Tug Brenda K. | about 50 ft | At KBY, 30.805283, -81.27555 |
| Reef MRY (Metalmorphosis) | 63 ft at the vessel | 52-ft steel vessel |
| Reefs A and CDH | Listed as nearby reefs on the KBY page | |
| FA fish haven | Live bottom, tug and barge, Florida side of the inlet |
Chart layers are not for navigation. We show these as reference layers, so navigate by official charts.
Reef KBY
Reef KBY sits in 35 to 45 ft, 8 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island. The tug Brenda K. lies at KBY in about 50 ft, at 30.805283, -81.27555.
Reef MRY (Metalmorphosis)
The 52-ft steel vessel sits in 63 ft at the vessel. Georgia DNR says MRY is deeper, with clearer water than KBY.
Reefs A and CDH
Both are listed as nearby reefs on the KBY page.
FA fish haven
The FA fish haven is live bottom with a tug and barge, on the Florida side of the inlet.
How wahoo are fished here
Rigged ballyhoo is trolled on the Ledge, through 120 to 200 ft. Broader trolling context is in our offshore gamefish guides.
- Bait: rigged ballyhoo.
- Ground: the Ledge, 120 to 200 ft.
- Spread: trolling with outriggers and downriggers.
Rigged ballyhoo on the Ledge
Rigged ballyhoo is the bait trolled on the Ledge.
Outriggers and downriggers
Rainbreak lists trolling spreads with outriggers and downriggers.
Who fishes them from this port
Rainbreak Charters out of St. Marys, run by Captain James (Michael) Walker, fishes wahoo from this port. It runs a 12-hour trip to the Ledge for wahoo, and its tournament-rate note also lists wahoo.
FAQ about wahoo fishing out of St. Marys
When is wahoo season out of St. Marys?
Fall into winter on the Florida side of the inlet. FishingBooker’s Fernandina guide says winter.
Where do boats troll for wahoo?
The Ledge (Big Ledge), which is the continental shelf. The Florida-side forecast places wahoo just inside the Gulf Stream.
What depth do you troll on the Ledge?
Trolling starts at 120 ft and runs to 200 ft, with rigged ballyhoo.
Who runs wahoo trips out of St. Marys?
Rainbreak Charters, with Captain James (Michael) Walker. It runs 12-hour Ledge trips and lists wahoo on its tournament-rate note.
Are the nearshore reefs wahoo spots?
KBY, MRY, A, CDH and the FA fish haven are structure and landmarks near the port. Wahoo here are tied to the Ledge and the Gulf Stream edge.
