Damn Good Wahoo Fishing Charters

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Top Cities for Wahoo Fishing

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Wahoo Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore, Jetty in Miami

Miami Sport Fishing 🎣

100% (6) Guided by Alek
29 ft 1 - 12 People From $750
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Fort Lauderdale

6 Hour Fort Lauderdale Offshore

100% (7) Guided by Xavier
25 ft 1 - 8 People From $850
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Pensacola

Emerald Coast Deep Water Trip

100% (5) Guided by Mike
28 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,250
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Edisto Island

OBX Off Shore Sportsfishing

NEW Guided by Link
38 ft 1 - 6 People From $3,300
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Pompano Beach

Unforgettable Day Offshore

100% (40) Managed by Tim
45 ft 1 - 6 People From $850
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Panama City Beach

8 Hr Offshore Deep Sea Fishing

100% (2) Guided by Joe
26 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,760
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Everything to Know About Booking a wahoo fishing charter

What are the best wahoo fishing charters?

The best wahoo fishing charters are:

What is a Wahoo?

The wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) is an aerodynamic predator who is known for its sharp teeth, zebra-like pattern, and speed, and they are prized gamefish because they are great to catch and great to eat.

The fish itself is very long and slender with a longish snout filled with sharp serrated teeth and a few small fins on the top and bottom of the fish. They have tiny scales similar to other members of the mackerel family. Its coloring is unique, generally showing a deep blue/purple color and silver below with vertical blue stripes running down its side that are especially prominent shortly after the wahoo is caught (be sure to snap some quick photos if you are keeping the fish, the colors fade quickly just like a mahi). 

Wahoo can be found in warm waters around the world and are beloved by anglers for their leap - it won’t happen every time, but wahoo are known to jump well out of the water (their speed helps them here). They have even been known to launch last-minute attacks at lures that are already coming out of the water at the boat. 


How big do Wahoo get?

Wahoo size usually limits out at about 5 ft and 20-50 pounds, but they can grow up to 100 inches and a bit under 200 pounds. Wahoo generally reach maturity at about 2 years of age depending on location and gender and are believed to live until about 6 years of age, making them a relatively fast-growing species. They are known to grow fairly quickly, and after reaching about 40 inches can grow an additional 1.5 inches per month. Their size is also correlated with water temperatures, and although they are a warm-water fish they are known to be bigger in cooler waters.

What's the biggest Wahoo ever caught?


The biggest on record is a massive 184 pound fish caught by Sara Hayward out of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2005. This is also said to be a nearly impossible record to beat by some, due to the sheer size and separation from other records. Wahoo also frequently break off, are hard to target, and are commonly taken by the tax man (shark), so this record will likely stand for some time unless someone gets lucky!


Where is the best place to catch Wahoo?


Wahoo are distributed throughout warm waters worldwide and can be found in most tropical and subtropical sportfisheries around the world. Common destinations outside the US include the Bahamas and Mexico, but this is a common “bycatch” in many regions around the world while trolling. The more temperate the waters, the more likely the wahoo is to be seasonal.

When should I catch Wahoo?

The best season for Wahoo in the Gulf of Mexico is both November to February and again in August to September, although for much of the year wahoo are an incredible bycatch if you are lucky enough. On the Atlantic side, wahoo will swim north in the warmer spring and summer months and otherwise be found closer to south Florida and the Keys.

The season in the US is always open, so if you can find them you can keep them. There is no size limit and a bag limit of 2 only exists in Florida, Maryland, and the Carolinas.

How do you catch Wahoo?

Wahoo are pelagic and are generally a solitary fish, preferring to swim either alone or in fairly small groups. Because of this, they are usually caught on accident while trolling or targeting other species because they are hard to predict.

If you want to target wahoo specifically, you definitely want to set up a high-speed troll with artificial lures (or a slightly slower speed for live bait) on downriggers about 20-40 feet down. You really can’t troll too fast for a wahoo, and they are also happy to munch close to the boat. You can use a standard 80 or 100 lb braid and Rapalas.

They’ll make a big initial run and may give a few acrobatic jumps, so make sure you have a wire leader so make sure the wahoo doesn’t slice right through your line


Are Wahoo good to eat? What are the best Wahoo recipes?

Wahoo meat is white to grey, and delicate to dense, and is known to be delicious both raw and cooked. If they were easier to catch, the fish would almost certainly command a bigger commercial market. As it stands, if you are lucky enough to catch some, you are in for a treat. The flavor is somewhat mild and can be slightly oily (reminiscent of other mackerel). The Hawaiian word for Wahoo is “Ono” which translates to “good to eat”. We recommend eating some raw right off the boat before taking some home to grill for a firm, white, crisp grilled fish.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Wonderful trip, they made it so easy to enjoy ourselves, crew was inviting and welcoming. will definitely be booking again

    Heather W. | November 27, 2025

    Trip: Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip! Capt Keith was the best!

    Rick P. | October 11, 2025

    Trip: Sport Fishing Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent service, professional and very knowledgeable. Would try and teach as well as provide a service. Would highly recommend. Top notch.

    Wayne R. | October 9, 2025

    Trip: Let's GO! DEEP Offshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    The best

    Jodie R. | October 9, 2025

    Trip: Dry Tortugas Fishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time with captain Kevin he put us on some good fish and had some great conversations looking forward to fishing with him again!!!

    Bryce K. | September 6, 2025

    Trip: Extended Day Deep Sea

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