Wahoo
Wahoo in South East Queensland: minimum 75 cm, 2 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: December to April.
Updated
Scientific name: Acanthocybium solandri. Also called hoo and jack mackerel.
| Scientific name | Acanthocybium solandri |
|---|---|
| Other names | hoo, jack mackerel |
| Minimum size | 75 cm |
| Bag (possession) limit | 2 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Dec–Apr |
| Also in season | May and Oct–Nov |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Dawn and dusk |
| Habitats | Bluewater (FADs and the shelf); offshore reefs |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Wahoo size and bag limit in QLD
Min 75 cm. 2 per person. No closed season.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch wahoo in South East Queensland
October 2026: Wahoo is in season across South East Queensland, though not at its peak.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: peak season | February: peak season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: in season | June: off season | July: off season | August: off season | September: off season | October: in season | November: in season | December: peak season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Tide: Not tide-driven.
Time of day: Early morning is usually best; also through the day on current lines.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Main area | Dec–Apr | May and Oct–Nov |
| Offshore Moreton | Also caught | Dec–Apr | May and Oct–Nov |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Main area | Dec–Apr | May and Oct–Nov |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Western Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Straddie & Jumpinpin and Gold Coast.
Where to catch wahoo in SEQ
Wide reefs, pinnacles and current lines: the Barwon Banks and the 18-mile mark off Mooloolaba, the Mooloolaba FADs, Hutchinson Shoal and Cape Moreton, Point Lookout, Gold Coast 36s-50s.
Wahoo is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate wahoo: Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra, Offshore: Cape Moreton & Point Lookout, Offshore: Gold Coast.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| Narrowneck Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Hutchison Shoal | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| Gneering Shoals | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| South Stradbroke Artificial Reef | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| Smith Rock | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| Arkwright Shoal | Offshore: Mooloolaba to Caloundra | Mooloolaba |
| FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits wahoo (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch wahoo: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Skip-rigged garfish or bonito
Lures
- High-speed trolled bibless minnows and bullet-head skirts (12-16 knots)
- Bright skirts (orange reported) on the 50-fathom line
Wahoo rig
Single-strand wire trace (they bite through mono), heavy trolling gear.
Good to know about wahoo
Coastwatch mentions peak Dec-Apr on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
Open in the forecast
See wahoo in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Queensland Government fish species guide (entries updated Mar-May 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.