Wahoo Fishing in Fort Lauderdale
Wahoo fishing offers one of the fastest fights you can have offshore in South Florida. A strike can come without warning, followed by a hard run that puts both the angler and tackle to work. Wahoo are also prized for their firm, mild-tasting meat.
Fort Lauderdale provides access to reef edges, deep Atlantic water, and the Gulf Stream, where wahoo may be hunting baitfish. They can be caught throughout the year, but their location and feeding activity change with current, water conditions, weather, and bait movement.
Second Wynnd plans each trip around what is happening offshore. If catching a wahoo is your priority, speak with Captain Preston before booking. He can discuss recent fishing activity and the trip length that makes sense for your group.
Private Fishing Trips With Second Wynnd
Every Second Wynnd charter is private and can accommodate up to six guests. Your group will have the boat, captain, crew, and fishing equipment to itself.
Wahoo fishing typically involves covering offshore water rather than staying in one spot. Captain Preston may look for current edges, water color changes, floating debris, and other signs that baitfish are present. The crew adjusts the fishing plan as conditions change.
Your charter includes:
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Captain and crew
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Rods, reels, and tackle
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Fuel
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Water and ice
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Fishing licenses
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Safety equipment
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Instruction from the crew
Our Premium Charters
Pricing includes up to 6 guests.
1/2 Day
4 HOURS
Trips typically run from 8am-12pm, or 1pm-5pm. Want to fish but don't want to commit the entire day, the half day is the smart choice.
Full Day
8 HOURS
Full-day trips provide enough time to try numerous styles of fishing, allowing us to catch a multitude of species.
3/4 Day
6 HOURS
Our most popular option, and typically run from 8am-2pm. These trips allow us to be a bit more flexible with our fishing style.
Swordfish
9 HOURS
Swordfish can be found year-round in our area. Fishing for these “gladiators of the sea” is a passion and specialty of ours.
How We Target Wahoo
Wahoo are fast-moving predators, so finding active fish is a major part of the trip. The crew chooses its fishing gear, and approach based on current, the waters clarity, baitfish activity, and where fish have been caught recently.
Slow Trolling Offshore Water
Wahoo are fished mainly by trolling - keeping a consistent boat speed. Using downriggers, we pull bait or an artificial lure behind the trolling boat while searching areas where wahoo fish may be feeding.
This slow trolling approach lets us cover water and make changes as we go. If one area is quiet, Captain Preston can move to another edge or adjust the presentation. Wahoo trolling may also produce strikes from tuna, mahi-mahi, kingfish, and other offshore fish.
Fishing Current Edges and Bait
Wahoo diet is mainly schooling fish and squid. Mackerel, pufferfish, and skipjacks are all prime forage. Changes in current or water color can create areas where bait gathers. Floating debris and other offshore features may also be worth a closer look.
These signs help guide the search, but they do not guarantee fish. The crew watches wahoo behavior in the water and decides whether to keep working an area or move on.
Fighting a Wahoo
A hooked wahoo can take line quickly, especially during its first run. The crew will help you get positioned, maintain the other lines, and guide you through the fight.
Wahoo have sharp teeth, so let the crew handle the fish and tackle when it reaches the boat. If you plan to keep a legal catch, the crew can clean and process it after the trip.
When Is Wahoo Season in Fort Lauderdale?
Wahoo can be caught in Florida year-round, and Florida’s recreational fishing season to catch wahoo is open year-round. That does not mean every month or every day offers the same opportunity. Offshore conditions, wahoo migration, and fish movements affect the bite.
The best way to plan a wahoo fishing trip is to ask what has been happening recently. Captain Preston can give you a realistic assessment before you book. Catching a particular species is never guaranteed, even when conditions look promising.
Florida fishing rules can change. The crew will follow the regulations in effect on the day of your charter. You can review current wahoo rules through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Fish Wahoo With a Fort Lauderdale Captain
Captain Preston Courtney was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and has spent much of his life fishing and diving in South Florida, from Ft. Lauderdale to the Florida Keys. His professional experience began on charter boats while he was in high school, followed by fishing throughout Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba.
That local experience helps when the offshore bite shifts. Rather than committing your group to one location or method, Captain Preston plans around the fishing reports conditions and adjusts as the trip unfolds.
Book a Fort Lauderdale Wahoo Fishing Charter
If wahoo is the fish you want to catch, let us know before your trip. Captain Preston can discuss recent activity, answer your questions, and help you choose a charter with enough time to pursue your goal.
Call Second Wynnd Fishing Charters at 954-770-2832 or book your private Fort Lauderdale fishing charter online.