Wahoo Fishing
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
One of the great things about big game fishing is you never really know what you're going to catch. You can target marlin or sailfish, but you just might end up with a nice wahoo on the deck. Use these tips for wahoo fishing to see if you can reel in this fast fish on Alabama's Beaches.
How to Catch Wahoo
What Do Wahoo Look Like?
What Do Wahoo Look Like?
Wahoo have long, cylindrical bodies designed for speed. They can look similar to very large king mackerel. Although their bodies are similar in shape, the wahoo has a dark blue back with vertical stripes. Kingfish are gray with a vertical line that starts high on the shoulder and moves down to the lateral line. The bottom jaw of a wahoo extends farther than the upper jaw. Both species have razor-sharp teeth, so steel leaders are a must.
What's the Best Gear to Catch Wahoo?
What's the Best Gear to Catch Wahoo?
For wahoo, most offshore anglers tend to go trolling for multiple big-game species with Ilanders and ballyhoo, while dropping down a few baits subsurface on planers or lead balls to see if a wahoo will take a bait. Anglers target bait schools, thermoclines, current lines and edges. Most anglers' success comes when sea temperatures are at least 68° F.
You'll need heavy tackle to handle a wahoo, which can sometimes exceed 100 pounds in the Gulf. The state record was set in 2006 at 123 pounds, 6 ounces. Typical catches are in the 30-60-pound range, but a really big one can hit when you least expect it.
If you're in your own boat that can safely fish offshore, you can spread four to five trolling baits behind the boat and do some slow trolling. Finding bait is the key, because wahoo are always on the move and have to eat constantly.
Can I Catch Wahoo on a Fishing Charter?
Can I Catch Wahoo on a Fishing Charter?
Several charter boats on Alabama's Beaches will accommodate overnight trips that can head well offshore to catch yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and, if you're lucky, you might encounter mahi mahi and wahoo while out in the Gulf.
What's the Migration Pattern for Wahoo?
What's the Migration Pattern for Wahoo?
Because it's hard to pattern wahoo because of their nomadic nature, very little information has been gathered by marine scientists. Only a handful of fish have been tagged, and not enough data has been collected to determine any migration patterns. The information available comes from diehard offshore anglers who report catches.
Where Can I See a Wahoo?
Where Can I See a Wahoo?
If you've never seen a wahoo, be sure to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast during an Orange Beach fishing tournament. Several tournaments are held out of The Wharf, and it's quite a mesmerizing spectacle when the boats arrive with their catches. In 2026, the season kicks off with the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, May 12-16.
Called the "Greatest Show in Sportfishing," the Blue Marlin Grand Championship is set for July 14-19 at The Wharf Marina. Expect to see blue marlin exceeding 500 pounds, yellowfin tuna pushing 200 pounds, 40-pound mahi and 75-pound wahoo.
What's the Best Way to Cook Wahoo?
What's the Best Way to Cook Wahoo?
When it comes to table fare, wahoo is delicious. You can sear it, blacken it, make fish tacos, or grill it with a lemon-butter baste. If you catch one while angling along Alabama's Beaches, bring it to a local Cook Your Catch restaurant to have it perfectly prepared.
David Rainer
David Rainer has written about the great outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. For 14 of those years, he covered the many fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast as outdoors editor at the Mobile Press-Register. He is past president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and currently serves on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Outreach and Education Advisory Panel and the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation board.
