Trolling Speed Chart: Optimal Speeds by Species and Lure Type
Ask ten offshore anglers what trolling speed they run, and you'll get ten different answers - most of them a shrug followed by "whatever feels right." Here's the thing: trolling speed is the single biggest variable that determines whether your spread looks like a buffet or a mess of tangled lines and dead lures.
The difference between 6 knots and 8 knots doesn't sound like much, but it can be the difference between a lit-up wahoo and a quiet ride home. This chart is your cheat sheet. Bookmark it, screenshot it, tape it to your helm - whatever works.
If you're still dialing in your spread, check out our complete guide to trolling lures and setting a spread for the full rundown on lure types, positions, and rigging.
Trolling Speed Chart by Species
This is the master chart. Speeds are in knots (nautical miles per hour) and represent the sweet spot for each species based on lure type. Water speed matters more than GPS speed - more on that below.
| Species | Speed (knots) | Lure Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wahoo | 12 - 18 | High-speed jets, bullet lures | High-speed trolling is king. Wahoo Bullet Jets are built for this. |
| Wahoo | 6 - 9 | Skirted lures, diving plugs | Standard speed when mixed trolling for wahoo and tuna. |
| Yellowfin Tuna | 6 - 9 | Skirted lures, cedar plugs, feathers | The bread-and-butter offshore speed. Match it with a trolling lure six pack. |
| Blackfin Tuna | 5 - 8 | Feathers, cedar plugs, small skirted lures | Slightly slower than yellowfin. Small feathers and sea witches shine here. |
| Bluefin Tuna | 5 - 8 | Skirted lures, spreader bars, daisy chains | Chunky profile lures at moderate speed. Squid daisy chains are deadly. |
| Mahi Mahi | 5 - 9 | Skirted lures, feathers, small plugs | Mahi aren't picky about speed - they'll chase almost anything. See our mahi fishing guide. |
| Sailfish | 6 - 9 | Skirted lures, daisy chains | Trolling speed for locating fish. |
| Sailfish | 1 - 3 | Live bait (kite fishing) | Slow trolling or kite fishing with live bait is the go-to in South Florida. |
| Blue Marlin | 7 - 10 | Large skirted lures, cup heads | Bigger lures, slightly faster speed. Push the spread to 9 - 10 kts in clean water. |
| White Marlin | 5 - 8 | Small skirted lures, daisy chains, dredges | Pair with a dredge for added attraction. |
| King Mackerel | 4 - 7 | Live bait, slow-trolled dead bait | Slow trolling with live bait is the classic approach. |
| King Mackerel | 6 - 9 | Spoons, diving plugs, feathers | Fast trolling with hardware works on aggressive kings. |
| Striped Bass | 3 - 5 | Umbrella rigs, plugs, tube lures | Low and slow. Bunker spoons and parachute jigs trolled deep. |
| Cobia | 3 - 5 | Large jigs, diving plugs, live bait | Sight casting is preferred, but slow trolling covers water. |
Trolling Speed by Lure Type
Different lures are designed to run at different speeds. Push a lure too fast and it blows out. Too slow and it just drags. Here's what each type needs:
| Lure Type | Speed Range (knots) | Why This Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Skirted Trolling Lures | 6 - 9 | Head shape creates the right smoke trail and action. Slant heads and flat heads each have a sweet spot within this range. |
| Cedar Plugs | 5 - 8 | These simple lures wobble at moderate speed. Too fast and they spin out. |
| Diving Plugs | 4 - 7 | Need enough speed to reach depth, but too much and they lose their wobble or surface. |
| Feathers & Sea Witches | 5 - 9 | Versatile range. Joe Shute sea witches paired with ballyhoo are a classic combo at 6 - 7 kts. |
| Daisy Chains | 5 - 8 | Multiple teasers need consistent speed to track straight. The squid daisy chain is built for this range. |
| Dredges | 4 - 7 | Heavy drag in the water - slower speeds keep them at the right depth without overloading outriggers. Learn more in our guide to fish dredges. |
| Live Bait (Trolled) | 2 - 4 | Any faster and you'll kill the bait. Bump the throttle just enough to keep tension and bait swimming. |
| High-Speed Wahoo Lures | 12 - 18 | Purpose-built jets and bullets. Easy Wahoo lures and Wahoo Bullet Jets are designed to track true at these speeds. |
How to Dial In Your Trolling Speed
GPS Speed vs. Water Speed
Your GPS shows speed over ground. Your lures don't care about that - they care about speed through the water. A 2-knot current changes everything:
- Trolling with the current: Your GPS says 8 knots, but your lures are only seeing 6 knots of water flow. You might need to bump the throttle.
- Trolling against the current: GPS says 6, but your lures are working through 8 knots of water. Slow down or your spread blows out.
If you don't have a paddlewheel or water speed sensor, watch your lures. They'll tell you everything. A properly running skirted lure should be smoking, popping, and tracking straight - not washing out or dragging lifelessly.
Sea State Adjustments
Rough water means your lures are constantly accelerating and decelerating as the boat rides swells. In heavy seas:
- Drop your base speed by 0.5 - 1 knot
- Let out more line to dampen surging
- Use lures with bigger heads that handle speed variation better (cup heads and bullet heads are more forgiving)
The Turn Test
When you turn, your inside lines slow down and your outside lines speed up. Sharp turns are where tangles happen and where lures blow out. Use gradual, sweeping turns and watch your outside flat lines - they'll be the first to wash out if you're already at the top of your speed range.
Pro Tips for Dialing In Speed
- Start in the middle of the range and adjust. If you're targeting yellowfin with skirted lures, start at 7 knots and work up or down based on what your lures are doing.
- Match your whole spread to one speed range. Don't run a dredge (4 - 7 kts) and high-speed wahoo lures (12 - 18 kts) at the same time. Pick a speed and choose lures that work together.
- Speed changes are a tactic. If you're not getting bit, bump the speed up a knot for 15 minutes, then drop it a knot. Sometimes the change itself triggers strikes.
- Morning vs. afternoon: Fish are often more aggressive early. You can push speed slightly higher in the morning and dial back as the sun gets high.
- Keep a log. Note your speed, lure positions, and what produced bites. After a season, you'll have your own personalized speed chart worth more than any guide.
- Check your prop. Fouled props, barnacles, or line wrapped around the shaft all affect your actual water speed without showing on GPS.
For more on building your trolling spread, our trolling lures for beginners guide walks through lure positions, rigging, and spread strategy. And if you're heading offshore for specific species, check out our wahoo fishing guide and tuna fishing guide for species-specific tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best trolling speed for tuna?
Most tuna species - yellowfin, blackfin, and bluefin - respond best to trolling speeds between 5 and 9 knots. Yellowfin tend to prefer the higher end (6 - 9 kts) with skirted lures and cedar plugs, while blackfin and bluefin often hit better at 5 - 8 kts. Adjust based on what your lures are doing in the water.
How fast should I troll for wahoo?
High-speed wahoo trolling typically runs between 12 and 18 knots using specialized jet heads and bullet lures. If you're running a mixed spread with skirted lures for tuna and wahoo together, 6 - 9 knots is effective. Wahoo are one of the fastest fish in the ocean and aren't intimidated by speed.
Should I use GPS speed or water speed for trolling?
Water speed is more accurate for lure performance since your lures respond to water flow, not ground speed. A strong current can make your GPS reading misleading. If you don't have a water speed sensor, watch your lure action - the lures will tell you if you're going too fast or too slow.
Can I troll different lure types at the same time?
Yes, but only if their speed ranges overlap. For example, skirted lures (6 - 9 kts), cedar plugs (5 - 8 kts), and daisy chains (5 - 8 kts) all work well together around 6 - 7 knots. Don't try to mix live bait (2 - 4 kts) with high-speed wahoo lures (12 - 18 kts) - it's one or the other.
Why are my trolling lures washing out?
Lures wash out when you're trolling too fast for their design. Skirted lures that smoke and pop at 7 knots may blow out at 10. The fix: slow down by half a knot at a time until the lure tracks properly, or switch to a lure with a heavier head (cup heads and bullet heads handle higher speeds better than flat heads).
Tight lines out there. Save this chart and let us know what speeds are working for you this season.
Know Before You Go: Regulations change frequently. Always check current size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear restrictions with your state fisheries agency before heading out. For Atlantic species, visit ASMFC.org for interstate management updates.
Questions about tackle? Call us at 888.453.3742 or email help@thetackleroom.com.