Species guide · Florida

Wahoo fishing in Florida

Acanthocybium solandri, a pelagic species also called ono and hoo. Listed for the Eastern Gulf, South Florida and the Keys and South Atlantic regions. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL out 20 NM at 50, one of 17 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season

Where it's scoring now All Florida waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Eastern Gulf

Shoulder season, about 1 more week

Jan: Off season
Feb: Off season
Mar: Shoulder season
Apr: Peak season
May: Peak season
Jun: Shoulder season
Jul: Off season
Aug: Off season
Sep: Shoulder season
Oct: Peak season
Nov: Shoulder season
Dec: Off season

Peak: Apr to May, Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Jun, Sep to Nov.

Research notes, Eastern Gulf region

Shelf-edge structure and rigs off the Panhandle and west Florida; spring and fall are best. Lower confidence.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

South Florida and the Keys

Off season, about 1 more week

Jan: Peak season
Feb: Shoulder season
Mar: Shoulder season
Apr: Shoulder season
May: Off season
Jun: Off season
Jul: Off season
Aug: Off season
Sep: Off season
Oct: Shoulder season
Nov: Peak season
Dec: Peak season

Peak: Nov to Jan. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to Apr.

Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region

Reef drop-offs and humps off the Keys and Southeast Florida; best from late fall through winter. Tagged fish in the Straits of Florida spent 90 percent of their time in 63.5-81.5 F water (NC Sea Grant).

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

South Atlantic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week

Jan: Off season
Feb: Off season
Mar: Shoulder season
Apr: Peak season
May: Peak season
Jun: Shoulder season
Jul: Shoulder season
Aug: Shoulder season
Sep: Shoulder season
Oct: Peak season
Nov: Peak season
Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: Apr to May, Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to Dec.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Gulf Stream edge, ledges and weed lines off the Carolinas, Georgia and Northeast Florida. Fish are most abundant from early spring through late fall, with a few lingering in winter (NCDMF); anglers key on the spring and fall runs.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 17

Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's wahoo score this hour.

50Good

Coastal waters from St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (50) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (55) · 4 named spots

49Good

Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm

Best window today 8-10 PM (49) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (54) · 21 named spots

48Good

Volusia-Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 8-10 PM (48) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (52) · 92 named spots

46Good

Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (46) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (53) · 22 named spots

45Good

Coastal Waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (45) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 PM (48) · 24 named spots

45Good

Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm

Best window today 8-10 PM (45) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (53) · 88 named spots

42Fair

Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm

Best window today 8-10 PM (42) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (46) · 49 named spots

42Fair

Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out to 20 Nm

Best window today 8-10 PM (42) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 6 PM (45) · 39 named spots

42Fair

Coastal waters from Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (42) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (46) · 81 named spots

41Fair

Coastal waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (41) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (45) · 20 named spots

41Fair

Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (41) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (46) · 131 named spots

35Fair

Coastal waters from Jupiter Inlet to Deerfield Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 5 AM (35) · 6 named spots

27Fair

Straits of Florida from Craig Key to west end of Seven Mile Bridge out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (27) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (35)

27Fair

Straits of Florida from Ocean Reef to Craig Key out 20 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (27) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (35)

21Poor

Caribbean Waters of Puerto Rico from 10 NM to 17N, including the Coastal Waters of Saint Croix

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (21) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (34)

15Poor

Coastal Waters from Cabo San Juan to the waters between Anegada Island and Virgin Gorda and North 10 NM

Best window today 8-10 PM (15) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (34)

13Poor

Coastal Waters east of Puerto Rico, around Vieques, and around and just north of Culebra and Saint John

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (13) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (35)

Not scored in this forecast: Anegada Passage east of Virgin Gorda and Saint Croix south to 17N, Atlantic Waters of Puerto Rico AND USVI from 10 NM to 19.5N, Bayside and Gulfside from Craig Key to West End of Seven Mile Bridge, Biscayne Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida Bay including Barnes Sound, Blackwater Sound, and Buttonwood Sound, Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel, Lake Okeechobee, Mona Passage Southward to 17N, Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound, St. Andrews Bay Waterways, Tampa Bay waters and Western Choctawhatchee Bay.

How and where it feeds

Water temperature: Feeds from 68°F to 84°F, best between 72°F and 80°F.
Water depth: 60 to 3000 ft of water.
Structure: Ledge, rip, pinnacle, bluewater, wreck and canyon, in that order of preference.
Tide and current: Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Tide stage has little effect offshore. Current edges, temperature breaks and weed lines along drop-offs concentrate fish.
Light: Bites best around dawn and dusk.
Pressure: Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits: 20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Wahoo patrol drop-offs, seamounts, rigs and weed lines where current and temperature breaks meet, usually along the 100 to 600 foot contours. High-speed trolling at 12 to 18 knots with weighted lures covers ground, and slower trolling with ballyhoo or diving plugs works over known structure. Use wire leader, because their teeth cut monofilament.

Methods: high-speed trolling, trolling, slow trolling live bait, vertical jigging
Lures: weighted high-speed trolling lures, skirted ballyhoo, diving plugs, planer-rigged lures
Bait: rigged ballyhoo, live blue runners, live goggle-eyes, bonito strips

Regulations

FWC saltwater regulations Buy a Florida fishing license License types

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed wahoo rule for Florida is on file yet. Check with FWC before you keep one.

Season by month

Eastern Gulf

South Florida and the Keys

South Atlantic

Where it's scoring now · 17

How and where it feeds

Tackle and technique

Regulations

Other Florida species