What fish has large sharp teeth, a long streamlined body, and a tubular snout? It is one of the fastest fish in the sea. Vertical wavy stripes along the body blend in with the small fins giving it a rakish appearance. 
A most voracious feeder, attacking aquatic life with the speed of a rocket. The wahoo is a ferocious fish, not caught by many fisherman. Their first hit and run, can spool off several hundred yards of line before you are able to say 
The wahoo roam the reef areas well off shore and are a rarity in American waters. The best locations to experience the thrill of catching a wahoo are off the east coast of Florida up to Cape Hatteras. They have been caught in the gulf of Mexico, but not as numerously. The wahoo is normally a loner and frequents the reefs, sunken ships, or open areas in most tropic and subtropical seas around the world. Not much is known about their early life and unusual habit of spawning over an extended period of time and depositing several million eggs. Be prepared for hard hits and directional changes, guaranteed to happen many times by this fish, and you will yell out Wahoo! Wahoo! in pure delight. A hint or two: use wire leaders and natural fish such as rigged mullet, ballyhoo, Spanish mackerel, or squid for best results when trolling. Heavy tackle, including rods and reels, are a must. They will hit artificial bait for those who prefer to tempt them with a manufactured rigging. Usually seen before the strike is a flashy blur of color; then the hit and your line becomes slack. This puzzles you for a few seconds and you realize the wahoo took your bait and raced toward the boat, changed direction and began its run to deeper waters. You finally feel the powerful pull as the fish races in and out, back and forth, until you are able to bring that magnificent specimen to the boat. They will fight until are almost dead so don't gaff them unless you intend on mounting or eating them. Many sportsmen do not keep this fish, but release it for another day. A sure fire method of identification is to lift the gill cover and if the gill rakers are absent you have a wahoo. They will top weights around 150 pounds and lengths over 6 feet. Here's a reminder, if pictures are to be taken, take them immediately as the color of the fish will fade rapidly as they die. |
