Wahoo fishing in Islamorada, on the boat named for them.
The collective carries the wahoo's name for a reason: nothing in the Keys hits harder or runs faster. When conditions line up, this is the fleet's favorite hunt.
Wahoo are the fastest thing you will hook in the Keys, hitting lures at speeds that make reels scream and grown anglers giggle. Around Islamorada the bite runs strongest through the cooler months, and the days around fall and winter full moons are the ones regulars circle on the calendar.
We hunt them the way the old Islamorada captains taught: high-speed trolling along color changes and dropoffs, heavy heads and wire rigs out, covering water until the strike comes. The 55 foot Hatteras runs a 22 knot cruise and holds it in a chop, so the spread stays in the water on days a smaller boat would be pounding. A full day gives the best odds of putting a hoo in the box alongside mahi and tuna.
Why book wahoo with this fleet
Bob Epstein wrote about these fish for the Miami Herald for decades, and his sons run the boats now. If a wahoo bite develops anywhere from the reef edge to the humps, this dock hears about it first.
More wahoo from our decks
Every frame below came off one of our boats. Tap a trip together and add your own.
Quick answers
When is the best time to catch wahoo in Islamorada?
The cooler months are prime, with the strongest windows around fall and winter full moons. That said, wahoo show up year-round as bycatch on deep sea trips, especially on high-speed baits.
What trip should I book for wahoo?
A deep sea trip on the 55 foot Hatteras. A half day ($1,475) can absolutely produce, but a three-quarter or full day gives more time to run the edges where wahoo hunt.
Is the gear included?
Everything is included: rods, wire rigs, lures, licenses, bait, water, snacks, and catch cleaning at the dock. Show up, step aboard, fish.