How to Catch Wahoo in the Southeast Atlantic
The short answer
Wahoo in the Southeast Atlantic hold on bluewater. They peak Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct. Start with high-speed trolling lure: Heavy bullet-head lures on wire, trolled 12–15 kt to trigger reaction strikes. First light and the last hour; overcast can fire them up.
When Wahoo bite in the Southeast Atlantic
Gulf Stream year-round; spring & fall peaks
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
around | around | peak | peak | around | around | around | around | peak | peak | around | around |
What to throw for Wahoo
Best first. The retrieve matters more than the lure, so each one says how to work it.
- High-speed trolling lure — Heavy bullet-head lures on wire, trolled 12–15 kt to trigger reaction strikes.
- Sea Witch + ballyhoo — Skirted ballyhoo run deep behind a planer or trolling lead.
Where to find them
Look for bluewater.
Wahoo hold on the deep break and along temperature edges. High-speed trolling covers water to find them, and the strike is violent. Always run wire — their teeth are surgical.
Tide and timing
Tide isn't the driver for wahoo — first light and the last hour; overcast can fire them up.
Tackle
Heavy trolling 50–80 lb class · wire leader (they bite through anything else)
Check the regulations
Size and bag limits change by state and by season, and they change more often than any article gets updated. Check your state agency before you keep anything.
Sounder links the right state agency for wherever you drop a pin, and flags a fish that’s out of slot as you log it.