Wahoo
NICKNAME: | Hoo, Ono |
COMMON LENGTH: | 4 – 6 ft |
COMMON WEIGHT: | 30 – 70 lbs |
MAX LENGTH: | 7 – 8ft |
MAX WEIGHT: | 170+ lbs |
WORLD RECORD: | 188 lbs, Mexico |
GENERAL
Wahoo 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 makes it a prized and valued game fish. In Hawaii, the wahoo is known as ono. The flesh of the wahoo is white and/or grey, delicate to dense, and highly regarded by many cuisines. 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. In many areas of its range, such as Hawaii, Bermuda, and many parts of the Caribbean, local demand for the wahoo is met by artisanal commercial fishermen who take them primarily by trolling. Recreational sports fishermen also sell their catch in some areas. The wahoo, which is sometimes called hoo in the US, is successfully fished with live bait around deep-water oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter months.