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Wahoo
WAHOO
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Common Names
Wahoo, barracuda, kingfish, malata kingfish, Pacific king-fish, and queen fish are common names in the English language.
Geographical Distribution
The wahoo is distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. In the Atlantic Ocean, it is found from the north American coast to approximately 40°W longitude, and from about 35°N to 38°S latitude. In the north Atlantic off the Carolinas (US) and Bermuda, the abundance of this fish is highly seasonal, being more abundant during the warmer summer months. It is distributed in the Gulf of Mexico and off the west coast of Central America. Unlike other fish that school, the wahoo is basically a loner
Fishing Techniques
What is reputed to be the fastest gilled creature of the sea? It is the wahoo! No matter what name you call it, the wahoo is most impressive in both appearance and fighting challenge it provides.
To Florida anglers the name "wahoo" perhaps lends more to the audible reaction of the recipient upon a jolting hookup with one of these torpedo-like speedsters, than to a definitive scientific parallel. Here is a fish confused with its cousin the king mackerel, but they're easily distinguishable from the kings if the color hasn't faded, by the numerous dark vertical bands that extend to below the lateral line totally invisible.
One of the greatest differences is when it comes to taste. Wahoo have snow white meat lacking heavy blood lines as do others in its clan. Here’s a meat that is firm in texture and uniquely mild tasting.
Wahoo are subject to being caught throughout the seasons in blue water, but on the Florida east coast they begin breeding in May, reaching a peak in June and continue until October.
Going after these fish requires hefty equipment comparable to that used for catching tuna and marlin. You’ll need an 80 lb. test steel leader in 4 ft. length, either single strand or multi-strand, in order for the mono line to survive the vicious initial blow of its powerful jaws.
Wahoo like feeding in the upper layers of the Gulf Stream where they can find small mackerel, flying fish, butterfish, herrings, spiny boxfish and squid, along with anything else that strays to far away from its sargassum grass cover.
After taking the bait, they run fast, straight and hard, but don't rocket down deep as do yellowfin tuna that are more relentless. Without a doubt, their stamina far exceeds that of the king mackerel under battle. Their fight can be likened more to a fight with a billfish but without its leaping.
