Wahoo fishing out of Jupiter happens in about 120-300 ft of water, and the fish move through that band as the day goes on. They feed shallower at first light and slide out as the sun gets up, so where you run depends on the clock. This page covers when the fish are around, where boats run, the named grounds, the rigs used locally, and the captains who fish them. For inlet, ramp and conditions detail, see the Jupiter port page. For general wahoo behavior beyond this port, use the species guide. The offshore gamefish guides cover the other pelagics you will meet on the way.
When wahoo are around Jupiter
Do Stay Sportfishing Charters calls late summer through fall prime time. That window lines up with the daily pattern below: early fish sit shallow, then move out as the light climbs. For the view beyond this port, see the wider Atlantic Southeast picture (see also the Atlantic Southeast fishing guide).
- Season: late summer through fall, per Do Stay
- First light: 120-150 ft
- Sun up: 200-300 ft
Where boats run and the grounds that hold fish
The working band is about 120-300 ft. Some boats fish north and south of Jupiter, and the same depth pattern applies along the coast either way. Start shallow and follow the fish out.
| Structure | Depth (ft) | Location note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120-foot ledge | 120 | Off the Juno Beach and Jupiter Inlet stretch | Morning band |
| Push Button Hill | 200-300 | Later band, blackfin tuna bite depth | |
| Juno Ledge | Named nearby structure | ||
| Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef | 40-59 | About 1.5 miles off Jupiter Inlet | Nearshore landmark |
| Jupiter Inlet Step Reef | 35-45 | Nearshore landmark |
The ledges show on Chart Contours. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Morning, 120-150 ft
Early in the morning the fish feed shallower, at 120-150 ft. Be set up in that band before the sun clears the horizon.
Later, 200-300 ft
As the sun gets up, the fish slide out to 200-300 ft. Timing the move out is the most important decision of the day.
The 120-foot ledge
The ledge tops out at 120 ft, off the Juno Beach and Jupiter Inlet stretch. It sits at the top of the morning band, which makes it the first place to work at first light.
Push Button Hill
Push Button Hill sits in 200-300 ft, the blackfin tuna bite depth. That range falls inside the later wahoo band, so work it once the fish have moved out.
Juno Ledge
Juno Ledge is named structure near Jupiter. Plot it alongside the 120-foot ledge when you work the stretch north of the inlet.
Nearshore reefs off the inlet
Andrew "Red" Harris No Shoes Reef sits about 1.5 miles off Jupiter Inlet. It was built in cells: the original 2015 cell at about 40 ft, a 2016 cell at 55 ft, and a 2017 boulder reef at 59 ft at the base and 43 ft at the top. Jupiter Inlet Step Reef runs 35-45 ft. Both are landmarks on the way out, inshore of the wahoo band.
How wahoo are fished locally
Locally, boats use a planer for deeper water and high-speed trolling to cover ground.
Planer, sea witch and bonita strip
The local rig is a planer pulling a sea witch dressed with a bonita strip. The planer takes the bait down to the fish.
Live sardines
Live sardines work if the bait gets past the bonita. Bonita often intercept live baits before wahoo see them, so the planer rig is the more reliable of the two.
High-speed trolling
Do Stay trolls at 12-15 knots with a wire leader and a dark lure.
Nomad DTX
The Nomad DTX also works locally and fits the same high-speed program as the dark lure.
Who fishes for wahoo out of Jupiter
Three operations list wahoo and are worth learning from:
- Do Stay Sportfishing Charters: Captain Lou Mauro runs a Bertram with twin Yanmar 315 hp. Do Stay is the source of the season and trolling calls above.
- Seek The Deep Charters: Captain Luke Faulkner runs a Contender 31 with twin Yamaha 300s.
- Blue Heron Fleet: Founded in 1955 by Capt. Harry Nagel and now in its third generation.
FAQ about wahoo out of Jupiter
When is the best season for wahoo fishing out of Jupiter?
Do Stay calls late summer through fall prime time. Within a day, fish feed at 120-150 ft early, then slide out to 200-300 ft as the sun gets up, so start shallow and move deeper.
What depth do wahoo hold in off Jupiter?
About 120-300 ft. Expect fish at 120-150 ft early in the morning, then at 200-300 ft once the sun is up. Start on the 120-foot ledge and work out toward Push Button Hill.
How fast do Jupiter boats troll for wahoo?
Do Stay trolls 12-15 knots with a wire leader and a dark lure. A planer pulling a sea witch with a bonita strip and the Nomad DTX also work locally.
Do live sardines work for wahoo here?
Yes, if the bait gets past the bonita. Bonita often intercept live baits first, which is why the planer with a sea witch and bonita strip is the more reliable local rig.
Where is the 120-foot ledge?
Off the Juno Beach and Jupiter Inlet stretch, at 120 ft. It sits at the top of the morning 120-150 ft band, which makes it a first-light stop.
