The Wahoo Fish
Originally thought to be a type of mackerel, the wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) was commercially fished for a short period due to their savory taste. After being categorized as related to mackerel but not a species of mackerel, the commercial demand for them began to diminish. However, they gained a reputation of being a challenging but rewarding fish to pursue recreationally.
Found in many saltwater tropic areas across the world, they are known to be an excellent trophy fish to many fisherman for their taste and challenge to catch. Unlike most preying fish, they prefer solitary environments and are rarely seen traveling in schools, making it difficult to target them. Their razor-sharp teeth and strength make them an aggressive fish to reel in, adding to the thrill of the catch. The highest catch rate in North America is off Louisiana’s coast. Wahoo can be found up to 15-30 miles offshore near oil rigs and weed lines and in depths ranging from 2 to 500 feet. While fishing for wahoo, you can also expect to see other large game fish such as tuna, dolphin and marlin. The best time to pursue wahoo is during the cooler months of January through March, and during the spawning season in June by trolling lures.
Wahoo, also called kingfish, ocean barracuda and ono (meaning “delicious” in Hawaiian), have stunning cobalt blue stripes lining their bodies. They are often confused with Spanish mackerel, but a key way difference is wahoo have a patch of skin that covers their mouths when closed. Both juveniles and adults have bladelike fins which help them propel through the waters at up to 60 mph and aid them at making very sharp turns while chasing prey. The wahoo’s diet mainly consists of squid, but they will eat any other type of small fish that they can fit into their mouths. Wahoo have long, slender body reaching lengths of five feet, but can reach eight feet and weigh up to 90 pounds. The average life span for this fish is three years, but they can live up to 10. Wahoo are a short-lived but fast growing species. Females have a high fertility rate with over six million eggs per batch when they reach maturity at 2-3 year olds. Larger and older females can have up to 100 million eggs per batch. Although local wahoo populations can be affected by heavy prized sport fishing, the species as a whole is not considered overfished.
Skylar Bueche