|
|
 |
 |
| Paul Sweeney, FishingVideos.com |
Common name: Wahoo (also known as: skinny, ono, Pacific kingfish, peto, tiger)
Scientific name: Acanthocybium solandri
California record: N/A
Description: The wahoo is an extremely fast fish and has a streamlined, elongated body built for strength and speed. It is typically dark blue with a “metallic” sheen and bright bluish bars running along it’s sides, similar to tiger stripes. Large adults may not always have stripes.
Wahoo have very large and extremely sharp teeth. They can grow to 180 lbs. or more and a length of 8 ft., though most caught are 4 to 6 ft. They can attain speeds of up to 50 mph.
Habitat: Wahoo can be found along deep reefs, wrecks and other structure. They can also be found quite a ways offshore as well. They tend to travel alone, in pairs or in small groups of four to six fish, and are normally found in the very top of the water column. They are not found in California waters, but are fairly common off Baja California from Magdalena Bay to Loreto in the Sea of Cortez.
Reproduction: Wahoo are sexually mature at 1 to 2 years of age and they usually live to about 6 years of age, but can live longer. Females can produce up to 60 million eggs during spawning and the larvae are pelagic and prefer shallower water less than 300 ft. or so.
Eating habit: Using there speed, wahoo dine on other finfish, flying fish, puffer fish and squid. Wahoo also typically have a parasite called Hirudinella ventricosa that live in their stomachs, but do not oppose a threat to the fish or consumption of the fish.
Fishing methods, tips, and best lures and baits: Most wahoo are taken with artificial lures aboard San Diego long range boats or with live bait aboard cruisers and pangas from resorts off southern Baja. Diving “marauder” type lures and other jigs are trolled at high speed. Anglers also cast and retrieve “wahoo” bombs, iron and other jigs. They also be caught on kite rigs, live bait and trolled rigged baits. Good live baits include chihuil, bolito and mackerel.
Wahoo have very sharp teeth and a steel leader provides a better chance at landing the fish once hooked. High-speed reels are almost a must as wahoo usually prefer to strike a fast moving bait. They make blistering fast runs and will sometimes jump and shake their heads violently to try and shake the hook.
A word of caution: wahoo have been known to go air born while chasing a lure or bait, sometimes hitting the side of the boat or actually landing on deck. Anglers have been hit by flying wahoo and suffered substantial cuts and lacerations. Care should be taken when bring a jig out of the water at the end of a cast.
Wahoo are excellent eating fish with a sweet, white flesh that is considered a delicacy. Hawaiians call wahoo “ono,” which translates to “delicious.”
Best times of the year for targeting this species: Though they can be caught year-round, Fall is usually the best time of year to target wahoo off southern Baja, with October through November usually the best.
|
