When wahoo are around Cape May
Wahoo season out of Cape May runs September through early October, matching the club tournament window. Saltwater Pros Cape May wahoo puts the peak in September and October. The species guide covers the fish itself; this page covers the port.
Summer events in July and August carry wahoo categories too, but those are tournament dates and fall before the peak. The Tournaments section below lists them. For how this window fits the coast north and south, see the Atlantic Northeast wahoo picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
| Window | What it is |
|---|---|
| September through early October | Wahoo season out of Cape May |
| September to October | Peak, per Saltwater Pros |
| July and August | Tournament events with wahoo categories |
Where Cape May boats run for wahoo
Wahoo fishing out of Cape May means running past the nearshore marks to the canyons. The sections below sort the grounds by type.
Canyon edges
Boats run to the canyon edges, per Saltwater Pros. Canyon edges show on Chart Contours, and OBS SST helps read where warm water sits against them. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Before committing to the run, read the NWS Mount Holly coastal forecast and check wind, wave height and period.
The canyons
| Canyon | Distance from Cape May |
|---|---|
| Wilmington Canyon | |
| Baltimore Canyon | About 65 miles, per Saltwater Pros |
| Poorman’s Canyon | |
| Spencer Canyon |
Saltwater Pros puts Baltimore Canyon about 65 miles out. For an owner-operator that is a full day of fuel, crew and forecast window, so plan the return before the run.
The same edges hold other canyon species, covered in the offshore gamefish guides.
Nearshore structure off the cape
These are landmarks for orientation on the run out rather than wahoo grounds. Boats pass them on the way to the edges.
| Structure | Distance or depth |
|---|---|
| Cape May Artificial Reef | About 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May |
| Cape May Rips | 30 ft |
The Rips include Eph, Prissy Wicks, Somer, North, Gunmount, Round, Overfalls and Middle shoals.
How wahoo are fished from Cape May
The local method is high-speed trolling, per Saltwater Pros. Boats work the canyon edges at speed instead of drifting or chunking. Rigging details are in the species guide.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Cape May
Charters and tournament crews run wahoo trips from this port.
Charters
- Common Sense Sportfishing lists wahoo.
- Captain Mark runs a 16-hour canyon trip listing on Captain Experiences, with 56 years of experience.
Tournaments
Summer events are where crews fish wahoo categories:
- July Jackpot: usually July
- South Jersey Yacht Sales Offshore Showdown: usually July
- The MidAtlantic tournament site: usually August
FAQ: wahoo fishing out of Cape May
When is wahoo season out of Cape May?
September through early October, in line with the club tournament window. Saltwater Pros puts the peak in September and October.
How far is Baltimore Canyon from Cape May?
About 65 miles, per Saltwater Pros. Treat it as a full-day commitment and plan the return before you run.
Which canyons do Cape May boats run?
Wilmington, Baltimore, Poorman’s and Spencer canyons. Boats work the canyon edges.
How are wahoo fished from Cape May?
High-speed trolling along the canyon edges, per Saltwater Pros.
Do Cape May tournaments have wahoo categories?
Yes. The July Jackpot and the Offshore Showdown are usually in July, and The MidAtlantic is usually in August. These are summer events that come before the fall window.
