🌊 Saltwater

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

The wahoo is one of the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of bursts exceeding 60 mph. Related to mackerel and tuna, it is a sleek, torpedo-shaped predator of tropical and subtropical oceans. The wahoo is highly prized by sport fishers for its speed, fight, and exceptional table quality — its firm, white flesh is considered among the finest of any ocean fish.

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Typical Size
3–5 feet (0.9–1.5m)
⚖️
Weight
10–50 lbs (4.5–23 kg) typical; record over 158 lbs (71.7 kg)
⏳
Lifespan
6–9 years
💧
Water Type
Saltwater

🗺️ Habitat

Tropical and subtropical ocean waters worldwide. Primarily an offshore pelagic fish found near the surface, around FADs, offshore reefs, and temperature breaks.

🔍 How to Identify Wahoo

  • 1Very slender, torpedo-shaped body
  • 2Blue-green back with silver sides and a distinctive pattern of cobalt-blue vertical bars or stripes
  • 3Long, slender snout with razor-sharp teeth
  • 4Dorsal fin has up to 27 spines — nearly the length of the body
  • 5Small finlets between second dorsal and tail

🍽️ Diet

Flying fish, mackerel, squid, and other fast-moving pelagic prey

💡 Fun Facts About Wahoo

  • ★Wahoo can accelerate to 60+ mph, making them one of the fastest ocean fish
  • ★Their razor-sharp teeth can cut 50-lb monofilament line in a single strike
  • ★The name "wahoo" may come from Oahu (Hawaii) or an exclamation by anglers
  • ★Wahoo are solitary fish compared to most pelagic species that school
  • ★"Ono" is the Hawaiian name for wahoo, meaning "delicious"

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern — fast-growing and wide-ranging, not heavily fished commercially

🔗 Related Species

King MackerelYellowfin TunaMahi-Mahi (Dorado)

Identify Wahoo Instantly with AI

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Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species