UTERWahoo fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, wahoo peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: A wahoo or two on the canyon troll in late summer.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Wahoo in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArriving
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeakA wahoo or two on the canyon troll in late summer.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish wahoo near Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light
A 130-mile barrier-island coast of surf beaches and rock jetties, cut by inlets (Cape May, Townsends, Absecon, Barnegat, Manasquan, Shark River) into shallow back bays — Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the Cape May wetlands — with Raritan Bay at the north end; offshore, a field of artificial reefs, ridges and wrecks out to the Hudson, Toms, Wilmington and Spencer canyons.
Fish Scouter charts 868 artificial reef, 470 wreck, 148 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Jersey Shore map area — the kinds wahoo hold on.
What to use for wahoo
- BallyhooRigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–86°F water, best at 74–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch wahoo in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is August–September. Wahoo are in New Jersey saltwater fishing July–October. September: A wahoo or two on the canyon troll in late summer.
Where do wahoo hold in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Look on ledge / hard bottom, wreck, artificial reef — around Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook.
What is the best bait for wahoo in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Live bait: ballyhoo, blue runners (hardtails), goggle-eyes, opelu (mackerel scad). Ballyhoo: Rigged on a wire or mono trolling rig, skipping or swimming, behind a skirt or naked. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for wahoo in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife) and change — read the current rule at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores wahoo for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about wahoo · The Jersey Shore, the whole year