Wahoo fishing out of Virginia Beach starts when the fish arrive in late spring and peaks from October into the first half of November, with most fish coming from 20 to 50 fathoms between the Fingers and Norfolk Canyon. This guide covers the season, the run, the grounds to plot and how local boats rig, all from Rudee Inlet. The Virginia Beach port page covers the inlet and the port, and the species guide covers biology and general technique.
When wahoo are off Virginia Beach
Two local windows overlap, and each comes from a different source. Plan around both.
Late spring through summer
Wahoo arrive in Virginia waters in late spring and are caught all summer. Fly’n Fish reports the bite as sporadic until late September.
October and early November
Neill puts prime time at October and the first half of November, per Neill’s October wahoo notes. Fly’n Fish sees the bite heat up in late September and run hot through mid-October, so October is where the two windows agree.
| Source | Window |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Late spring, caught all summer |
| Fly’n Fish | Sporadic until late September, hot through mid-October |
| Neill | October and the first half of November |
Where boats run
Most wahoo come from 20 to 50 fathoms. For the wider regional picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide), see the Atlantic Northeast guide. The local run below goes from inside to outside.
20 to 50 fathoms
Plot this band first. Most local wahoo are found here, and the grounds below fall in or around it.
The Fingers to Norfolk Canyon
The core run goes from the Fingers out to Norfolk Canyon. A 1994 list puts Norfolk Canyon at 690 ft, about 62 miles east of Cape Henry. Treat that distance as a planning figure and confirm it on your own plotter.
The Cigar
Neill’s best catches come around the Cigar.
Inside grounds
These sit closer to the beach and make shorter runs.
| Ground | Depth | Distance or position |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Lumps | 19 to 28 miles off Rudee Inlet (1994 list) | |
| 21 Mile Hill and 26 Mile Hill | Named for distance from Wachapreague Inlet, not Rudee | |
| Chesapeake Light Tower | ||
| Triangle Reef (Triangle Wrecks) | 100 ft | 16.5 nm on 073 degrees true from Chesapeake Light Tower |
| Tower Reef | Listed by VMRC among offshore sites |
Wrecks and towers hold wahoo, so these inside marks are worth a pass on the way out or back.
What holds them
Wahoo stack on a few features you can search for before you put a line in.
Temperature breaks inside 100 fathoms
Hard temperature changes inside the 100-fathom curve hold wahoo. The OBS SST layer shows these breaks against Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Wrecks, towers, weed lines and debris
Wahoo also hold over wrecks, around towers, along weed lines and under floating debris. Triangle Reef and the Chesapeake Light Tower are the named structure close to port.
How it is fished locally
Two approaches work here, and they differ in leader and speed.
Ballyhoo behind Ilanders
Neill’s rig:
- Large ballyhoo behind Ilanders
- 300-pound mono, no wire
- Planer on a downrigger
- Trolled at 6 to 7 knots
Wire and lures
The classic approach is fast trolling lures on wire. Both methods catch fish.
Charters and tournaments
These Rudee Inlet charters list wahoo:
- Fly’n Fish Sportfishing: 54 ft Custom Jim Smith "Fly’n Fish," Capt. Jake Boltz
- E-Fishinsea Sport Fishing Charters: Capt. Greg Weaver
- AquaMan Sportfishing: The Flat Line and the 54 ft Game On, Coast Guard certified for up to 18
- Payback Sport Fishing: a 35 ft vessel described as the fleet’s fastest 35-footer, departing Rudee Inlet
- Knot Tell’n Charters: Capt. Scott Horton, 36 ft Albemarle Express
The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament (VBBT) is usually held in August. If you mix wahoo with tuna and dolphin on the same trip, the offshore gamefish guides cover those species.
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Virginia Beach
When is wahoo season off Virginia Beach?
October and the first half of November, per Neill. Fly’n Fish sees the bite heat up in late September and run hot through mid-October. Wahoo arrive in late spring and are caught all summer.
How far offshore do boats run for wahoo?
Most fish come from 20 to 50 fathoms, out to Norfolk Canyon, about 62 miles east of Cape Henry on a 1994 list. Southeast Lumps lie 19 to 28 miles off Rudee Inlet (1994 list).
Where are the best wahoo grounds out of Rudee Inlet?
The Fingers out to Norfolk Canyon, with Neill’s best catches around the Cigar. Hard temperature changes inside the 100-fathom curve hold fish, so wahoo fishing out of Virginia Beach comes down to finding the break first.
What rig do local captains use for wahoo?
Neill pulls large ballyhoo behind Ilanders on 300-pound mono, with a planer on a downrigger, at 6 to 7 knots. The classic alternative is fast trolling lures on wire.
Are 21 and 26 Mile Hill measured from Rudee Inlet?
No. The names come from their distance from Wachapreham Inlet, so the run from Rudee is a different number.
