White marlin season off Wildwood
White marlin fishing out of Wildwood runs through summer and early fall, with June, July and August the best months. This page covers when the fish are here, how far boats run, which named grounds hold them and who fishes for them from this port. For the inlet and conditions picture, see the Wildwood port page.
Peak months
June, July and August are the best months. The fish are in New Jersey offshore waters, which is where Wildwood boats fish for them.
Early fall
The window extends into early fall. The regional guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide) covers the wider migration picture.
Where Wildwood boats run for white marlin
Wildwood boats fish New Jersey offshore waters, with the canyons as the long-range targets. Wilmington Canyon, listed at 600 ft, lies about 70 nautical miles off southern New Jersey.
Wilmington Canyon
Wilmington Canyon is listed at 600 ft and sits about 70 nm off southern New Jersey. At that distance, fuel and range need planning before you leave the dock.
Spencer Canyon
Spencer Canyon is a named canyon ground on the Wildwood list.
Lindenkohl and Carteret canyons
Over Under Charters reaches both Lindenkohl Canyon and Carteret Canyon from Avalon.
Reading conditions before the run
The nearest station is NOAA CMAN4, station 8536110, at Cape May, NJ, 38.968 N 74.960 W. Read wind, wave height and period as numbers, then check the official marine forecast before committing to the run. The station describes one point near Cape May and says nothing direct about the canyon edge about 70 nm out. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Structure between the inlet and the canyons
Several named pieces of structure sit near the port, short of the canyons.
| Ground | Type | Listed detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wildwood Reef | reef | 42 ft |
| Pair of Kings | tanker barge | northern end of Wildwood Reef |
| Michael DePalma barge | barge | 70 ft barge on Wildwood Reef |
| Five Fathom Bank | bank |
Wildwood Reef
Wildwood Reef is listed at 42 ft.
Pair of Kings tanker barge
The Pair of Kings tanker barge lies on the northern end of Wildwood Reef.
Michael DePalma barge
The Michael DePalma barge is a 70 ft barge on Wildwood Reef.
Five Fathom Bank
Five Fathom Bank is a named bank near Wildwood.
Who fishes white marlin out of Wildwood
Charter boats are the local presence for white marlin, and one operation lists the species.
Over Under Charters
Over Under Charters (Wildwood Fishing) lists white marlin. Its billfish team fishes summer tournaments, including the Ocean City White Marlin Open, and the charter reaches Lindenkohl and Carteret canyons from Avalon.
Methods
For spreads, baits and behavior, use the species guide.
FAQ about white marlin fishing out of Wildwood
What are the best months for white marlin off Wildwood?
June, July and August are best. The window runs through summer and into early fall.
How far is Wilmington Canyon from Wildwood?
About 70 nautical miles off southern New Jersey, at a listed 600 ft. Plan fuel and range around that run.
Which canyons do Wildwood boats fish?
Wilmington, Spencer, Lindenkohl and Carteret canyons are the named canyon grounds. Over Under Charters reaches Lindenkohl and Carteret from Avalon.
Where do I check conditions before the run?
Use NOAA CMAN4, station 8536110, at Cape May. Read wind, wave height and period, then the official forecast. The station is one point near shore, not the canyon edge.
What other billfish do Wildwood boats target offshore?
Start with the billfish guides for the wider picture of billfish fishing from this coast.
