Mahi-mahi fishing out of Wildwood is mostly a canyon and offshore game. Boats from the Cape May and Wildwood area run to the canyons, and Wilmington Canyon sits about 70 nautical miles off southern New Jersey, in 600 ft. Inlets, ramps and navigation are covered in the Wildwood port guide. The same canyon runs also hold other offshore gamefish. This page covers the grounds, their distance and depth, the operators who run there, and the station to read before you go.
When mahi are off Wildwood
Timing follows the wider pattern described in mahi-mahi in the Atlantic Northeast (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide), which gives the seasonal picture for this coast.
Reading conditions at Cape May
The nearest NOAA station is NOAA CMAN4 (station 8536110), Cape May, NJ, at 38.968 N 74.960 W. It reports conditions at the coast, not at the canyons 70 nm out. Read wind, wave height and period as numbers, then check the official NWS marine forecast for the offshore picture.
Where boats run from Wildwood
Canyon trips out of the Cape May and Wildwood area go to the grounds below. These are places boats run, and none of them guarantees fish.
Wilmington Canyon
Wilmington Canyon sits about 70 nautical miles off southern New Jersey, in 600 ft. It is the farthest and best-defined ground on this list.
Spencer, Lindenkohl and Carteret Canyons
Spencer Canyon is another canyon in the area. Over Under reaches Lindenkohl and Carteret Canyons from Avalon.
Wildwood Reef and Five Fathom Bank
Wildwood Reef sits in 42 ft. The Pair of Kings tanker barge lies on the northern end of the reef, and the Michael DePalma barge, a 70 ft barge, is also on it. Five Fathom Bank is the other named structure near Wildwood. Like the canyons, these are named structure and carry no promise of mahi.
| Ground | Type | Depth | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Canyon | canyon | 600 ft | about 70 nm off southern New Jersey |
| Spencer Canyon | canyon | ||
| Lindenkohl Canyon | canyon | Over Under reaches it from Avalon | |
| Carteret Canyon | canyon | Over Under reaches it from Avalon | |
| Wildwood Reef | reef | 42 ft | |
| Pair of Kings tanker barge | barge | northern end of Wildwood Reef | |
| Michael DePalma barge | barge | 70 ft barge on Wildwood Reef | |
| Five Fathom Bank | bank |
Chart Contours in Breakpoint shows canyon edges. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How mahi are fished from Wildwood
Fishing from this port means canyon trips out of the Cape May and Wildwood area, plus offshore trips. Bodacious lists mahi with its canyon trips, and Over Under lists mahi on its offshore trips. Trolling, weed lines and the rest of the method are in the mahi-mahi fishing guide.
Who fishes mahi out of Wildwood
Two local operators list mahi.
Bodacious Sportfishing
Bodacious Sportfishing runs the 55 ft Custom Carolina Bodacious, which has twin diesels. It lists mahi with its canyon trips.
Over Under Charters
Over Under Charters (Wildwood Fishing) lists mahi on its offshore trips. It reaches Lindenkohl and Carteret Canyons from Avalon.
FAQ: mahi-mahi fishing out of Wildwood
How far is Wilmington Canyon from Wildwood?
Wilmington Canyon sits about 70 nautical miles off southern New Jersey, in 600 ft. It is the main canyon ground for boats running from the Cape May and Wildwood area.
Which canyons do boats from Wildwood reach?
Boats from the area reach Wilmington, Spencer, Lindenkohl and Carteret Canyons. Over Under reaches Lindenkohl and Carteret from Avalon.
What structure is on Wildwood Reef?
- Wildwood Reef sits in 42 ft.
- The Pair of Kings tanker barge is on its northern end.
- The Michael DePalma barge, a 70 ft barge, is also on the reef.
Which station do I check for conditions?
Check NOAA CMAN4 (station 8536110), Cape May, NJ, at 38.968 N 74.960 W. It reports conditions at the coast, not at the canyons, so read wind, wave height and period as numbers and compare them with the official marine forecast.
Which charters list mahi out of Wildwood?
- Bodacious Sportfishing lists mahi with its canyon trips, on a 55 ft Custom Carolina with twin diesels.
- Over Under Charters lists mahi on its offshore trips.
