Wahoo

Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) is a scombrid fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. It is best known to sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh make it a prize game fish. In Hawaii, the wahoo is known as ono. Many Hispanic areas of the Caribbean and Central America refer to this fish as peto.

Description[edit | edit source]

The body of the wahoo is elongated and covered with small, scarcely visible scales; the back is an iridescent blue, while the sides are silvery, with a pattern of vertical blue bars. These colors fade rapidly at death. The mouth is large, and both the upper and lower jaws have a somewhat sharper appearance than those of king or Spanish mackerel. Specimens have been recorded at up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length, and weighing up to 83 kg (183 lb).

Habitat[edit | edit source]

Wahoo can be found in tropical and subtropical seas in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific region. They are found around wrecks and reefs where smaller fish that they feed upon are abundant, but they may also be found well offshore.

Fishing[edit | edit source]

Wahoo are among the fastest fish, but speeds are often wildly exaggerated in popular media, such as reports of 60 mph (97 km/h). Recent tagging data support a maximum speed of 31 kilometres per hour (19 mph) with bursts of up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph).

Culinary use[edit | edit source]

The flesh of the wahoo is white to grey, delicate to dense, and highly regarded by many gourmets. The taste has been said to be similar to mackerel. This has created some demand for the wahoo as a premium-priced commercial food fish.

See also[edit | edit source]

Wahoo Resources
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