The vicious wahoo puts up a tenacious fight and provides constant excitement to anglers. This photo was taken by Chris Hood. With the proper high speed wahoo rig, catching wahoo is fairly easy since they can be enticed with shiny, fast and erratic swimming lures such as Rapala diving plugs.
"When we're kite-fishing for sailfish, wahoo will swim right up to the back of the boat," McElveen says. Sometimes — though not often — they'll eat typical Keys sailfish fishing baits like goggle eyes, pilchards and threadfin herring, but "wahoo usually go for the chunks over anything," he says. Eating Wahoo RawIt has a nice texture, which lends itself to being chunked. Some parts of the fish are better cooked because they can be chewy when raw. However, most of the fish can be used in raw dishes. If you've never eaten sushi or sashimi, raw wahoo is a great introduction.
Are Wahoo high in Mercury Content? Unfortunately, one if not the only negatives to eating Wahoo is that they contain high levels of mercury. Wahoo are part of the mackerel family which tend to have a moderate to high level of mercury within these species of fish. Wahoo have a higher level because of their diet.
Wahoo (also called ono) can swim at least 60 mph, so trolling at 14, 16 and even 20 knots is now commonplace using techniques developed by Capt. Ron Schatman, winner of a dozen major Bahamas wahoo tournaments over five years.
Hawaii Wahoo is an excellent source of healthy, extra lean protein. It is also low in saturated fat and low in sodium. It is rich in niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, phosphorus and selenium. Hawaii Wahoo also provides about 375 mg of omega-3's (DHA and EPA) per 4 ounce serving of fresh fish.
Biology: The maximum size for the wahoo is 98 in.total length, with a maximum weight of 182 lb. Typically, individuals attain a size of 39 to 66 in.
According to the International Game Fish Association, the official record for the largest wahoo caught on hook and line is 158.5 lb (71.9 kg). However, uncertified reports indicate wahoo may grow as large as 200 lb (91 kg) or more.
Joey Beaver caught a Texas-sized snapper that weighed in at 38.75 pounds. Joey Beaver of Victoria, Texas caught a record-breaking 39-pound, 40 inch long red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico on June 1, 2014.
The world record bluefin tuna weighed 1,496 pounds and was caught off the shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1979, according to the International Game Fish Association.
On December 27, 2015, Isamu Kinoshita caught an impressive 10.57-kilogram (23-pound, 4-ounce) Japanese Spanish mackerel to set the IGFA All-Tackle World Record.
The largest tuna ever recorded was an Atlantic bluefin caught off Nova Scotia that weighed 1,496 pounds.
Catching WahooWith the wahoo, you will find that there is a daily recreational bag limit of two per harvester. However, there is no size limit to the fish caught.
Wahoo: Galveston affords access to some of North America's best wahoo fishing grounds. In the months of January, February and March, and sometimes as late as May, Wahoo aggregate around the numerous bottom features on a southeasterly heading out of Galveston at 100 plus miles out.
The best wahoo fishing in Miami generally occurs in the late spring and throughout the summer. Wahoo Locations: Wahoo can be found in the Gulf Stream or inshore of the Gulf Stream on the surface and below the surface. Most wahoo are caught in the dark indigo blue Gulf Stream water offshore of Miami and Miami Beach.
Wahoo facts
Many are hooked on heavy tackle. Best choices are light to medium ocean trolling outfits with lines up to 30-pound; 50-pound isn't too heavy for good sport with the larger fish. A few have been caught by ocean casting with spinning and bait casting tackle — even fly tackle on rare occasions.The four wahoo spent 45% of their time at depths less than 65 feet and 90% of their time at depths less than 650 feet. Three fish made regular and quick dives to waters deeper than 650 feet. All of the fish spent 90% of their time in water between 63.5˚F and 81.5˚F.
Wahoo lives in tropical and sub-tropical oceans. It has an average length of 1.2 meters and an average weight of 8 to 18 kilograms. It is also an aggressive runner with a top speed of up to 76 kph. Because of this, it is another favorite of anglers who would like to catch the best fighting fish.
Despite their similar appearances, barracudas and wahoo actually belong to two completely different fish families. The barracuda is the more fearsome-looking of the two and has big, fang-like teeth, while the wahoo only has small needle-like ones. The wahoo also has a much longer dorsal fin.
between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Wahoo and dolphin can catch a lure moving at 15 or so knots. Most charter boats will drag Black Bart San Sal Candy lures, Yo-Zuri Bonita's, Panhandler lures or most any lure designed to be dragged at high speed.
Many tournament fishermen will use wire line as the whole spool. Keep in mind, that you want a good 500+ yards of line on your reel because a wahoo can easily take out 300 yards of line on its initial run.
Also known as the Pacific kingfish, it is closely related to the king mackerel and is a highly prized recreational fish because of its speed and quality. Wahoo has a very firm texture and is excellent for grilling.
