Species

Wahoo

Wahoo, called ono in Hawaii: a slender, very fast relative of the mackerels with razor-sharp teeth and blue bars, one of the most prized catches among sport anglers.

Acanthocybium solandri

Photo: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: Spawning seems to extend over a long period, and fish at different stages of maturity are often caught together (FishBase). Eggs and larvae drift in open water; mean length at maturity 99.3 cm, range 85 to 105 cm (FishBase).
Typical method: Trolling, the main method of fishermen in Hawaii, Bermuda and the Caribbean (Wikipedia)
Top bait: Live baitfish

Plan a day fishing for Wahoo

How to recognise it

Slender, torpedo-shaped body like a barracuda, but with finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins (German Wikipedia)
Silvery sides with 24 to 30 cobalt blue vertical bars, iridescent blue-green back (FishBase)
Long jaws, as long as the rest of the head, with triangular, finely serrated teeth (FishBase, German Wikipedia)

Easily confused with: King and Spanish mackerel: the wahoo's jaws look more pointed (Wikipedia); king mackerel are olive on the back and silver with a rosy sheen on the sides, without blue bars (Wikipedia, King mackerel). Barracuda: similar shape, but no finlets (German Wikipedia). Colours fade quickly after death (Wikipedia).

How to catch it

Methods: Trolling, the main method of fishermen in Hawaii, Bermuda and the Caribbean (Wikipedia), Live bait around deep-water oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, especially in winter (Wikipedia), High-speed trolling with diving plugs and lead-head lures (rule of thumb), Short wire leader because of the sharp teeth (rule of thumb)

Baits: Live baitfish, Rigged ballyhoo, Diving trolling plug, Lead-head trolling lure, Squid

In the Gulf of Mexico winter at the deep-water platforms is considered the best time (Wikipedia). Wahoo usually live alone or in loose groups of two or three, but in suitable conditions form schools of 100 or more (Wikipedia); after a catch, keep fishing the same spot (rule of thumb).

Habitat and food

Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the Caribbean and the Mediterranean (FishBase). Oceanic near the surface, 0 to 20 m, usually 0 to 12 m (FishBase). Genomic studies show two weakly separated stocks in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific with a lot of exchange (Wikipedia).

Fish and squid (FishBase). In the western and central Pacific stomach contents were 84.64 percent fish, 14.26 percent cephalopods and 1.1 percent crustaceans (Wikipedia). Recorded prey includes herring, flying fish, lanternfish, small jacks and porcupinefish (German Wikipedia).

Size and age

FishBase: max. 250 cm, commonly around 170 cm fork length, maximum published weight 83 kg. Wikipedia gives up to 2.77 m and 83 kg, German Wikipedia a maximum of about 210 cm at 83 kg; the length figures contradict each other. Grows fast (Wikipedia).

Protection and rules

Conservation status: IUCN: Least Concern (assessed 1 March 2022; FishBase). USA: licence, minimum size and bag limits are set by the states and, for federal waters, by NOAA Fisheries; every angler needs a state saltwater licence or registration, except in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (NOAA Fisheries). Atlantic federal waters: two wahoo per person per day (50 CFR 622.277, retrieved 21 Oct 2026); 50 CFR 622.275 sets no federal minimum size. We found no federal rule for the Gulf of Mexico, so check state rules there; for Florida check myfwc.com.

Rules in the USA

In the USA, each state sets its own size limits, bag limits and seasons. Pescaday does not list these rules yet: check them with the fish and wildlife agency of the state you fish in. Fishing licence USA: agency by state

In Germany we found no minimum size or closed season for this species in any state fisheries regulation.

In the kitchen

White to grey, delicate to firm flesh that tastes similar to mackerel and is highly regarded (Wikipedia); sold fresh, salted, spice-cured or frozen (FishBase). FishBase reports cases of ciguatera poisoning, so ask locally before eating fish from tropical reef areas.

Sources (7)

Last checked 2026-10-22. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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