species specifics

BY CHUGEY SEPULVEDA, PhD, AND SCOTT AALBERS, M.S. WAHOO A wahoo’s toothy grin prior to being tagged and (ACANTHOCYBIUM SOLANDRI) released with an electronic archival device. Photo by Tom Bass Tom Photo by

ust the mention of wahoo inspires tremendous excitement, wahoo have very strong jaws lined with even among anglers who have never had the opportunity razor-sharp teeth capable of slicing prey to witness the unique coloration or incredible speeds dis- in half without hesitation. Several characteristics of the wahoo played by these pelagic predators. From those fortunate J make it an incredible ambush predator. enough to have experienced wahoo fish- Archipelago. Although wahoo are rarely Its long, slender body has relatively small ing, you will often hear accounts of encountered off California, they area pectoral fins that compress into grooves drag-burning runs, anchor lines being common target of the San Diego-based along the body. The wahoo is powered sliced in half, and, of course, a few sto- long-range fleet that fishes the produc- by an efficient lunate caudal fin and a ries related to their razor-sharp teeth. tive waters of Baja California and main- muscle mass largely composed of fast- The wahoo is a member of the tuna land Mexico. twitch white muscle fibers. This pro- and mackerel family (Scombridae) with vides the wahoo with amazing burst a circum-global distribution through- Fisheries speeds but also makes it such that the out the tropical and subtropical ocean Wahoo are a very important target spec- fish tires relatively quickly. Muscle com- basins. There is only one recognized ies for recreational, commercial, and art- position is also responsible for its repu- species of wahoo worldwide, although isanal fisheries of coastal and island na- tation as a very sought-after, mild-tast- members of the Spanish and king mack- tions around the world, and are also a ing fish. Ono, as wahoo is known in erels (Scomberomorus) share many of the valuable bycatch species for purse seine Hawaiian, is a favored dish of gourmet wahoo characteristics. fisheries, particularly when sets are chefs and makes for excellent table fare, Typically found in water temperatures made around floating objects or near regardless of how it is prepared. above 74 degrees Fahrenheit, in the US offshore banks. Hook-and-line fisheries wahoo are common to the Gulf of Mex- target wahoo, using several methods Biology ico, along the Atlantic coast following (i.e., trolling, live-bait), with strikes As an ambush predator the wahoo feeds the Gulf Stream, and in the Pacific they typically enticed by fast-moving prey. high on the food chain, often slicing can be found around the Hawaiian Contributing to their difficulty to land, larger prey items into bite-sized pieces

62 | PCSportfishing.com | THINK CONSERVATION | MARCH 2009 prior to ingestion. Diet consists of a wide Movements Although this species is not currently variety of prey, ranging from flying fish Like many pelagic species, wahoo are listed as endangered or vulnerable, to juvenile tunas as well as mesopelagic structure-oriented predators that typi- additional biological and movement (deep-water) fishes and squid that move cally aggregate under floating objects or data would be useful towards effec- towards the surface at night. around reef edges, ridges, and seamounts. tive international management of As with most pelagic fish, wahoo Because little is known regarding their the wahoo. Of specific concern is the have a high natural mortality rate, espe- movement or migration patterns, PIER reduced wahoo landings today com- cially at small sizes. Relatively fast grow- has a wahoo movement study that in- pared to the early years of the San Diego ing, they reach sexual maturity at ar- vestigates the vertical distribution and long-range fleet. Questions that come ound three feet in length, between one temperature preferences of this species to mind include: Have we as recreational and two years of age. Larger females in the Eastern Pacific. PIER’s research fishers reduced this once abundant resource? are capable of releasing more than 1.5 team has deployed over 100 archival Or have changes to commercial purse seining million eggs per spawn and may spawn tags in wahoo from 10 to 60 pounds. practices, such as the increased use of FADs every five days during the spawning Tagged fish have been recaptured by (fish aggregating devices) and sets made on season. In the Atlantic, the majority of both Mexican purse seiners as well as debris, affected wahoo abundance in the East- spawning activity has been shown to anglers aboard the San Diego long- ern Pacific? Or is it a combination of the two? occur during the summer months, al- range fleet. To date we have received over though spawning periods vary by loca- 20 recaptures, confirming that wahoo PIER is a non-profit 501(c)3 research tion, with possible year ’round spawn- primarily inhabit the epipelagic zone institute dedicated to scientific research, ing in some of the more tropical regions. with only brief and infrequent dives education and the sustainable manage- Over a potential lifespan of approxi- below the thermocline. The greatest ment of the marine environment. Special mately 10 years, these fish can grow to depth achieved by any of the tagged thanks are offered to Mr. Thomas Pfleger a large size. Several fish in excess of 200 wahoo was over 800 feet, but, again, and Family, the George T. Pfleger Founda- pounds have been reported, while a 184- most of the records show these fish tion, the Harris Foundation, Tommy Ful- pound wahoo, an IGFA record candidate, principally reside in the upper 100 feet, lam, Lorraine Bohnet, and Vicki Wintrode. was landed by a junior angler while in water temperatures from 74 to 80 To read more about PIER research projects trolling off Cabo San Lucas in 2005. degrees Fahrenheit. please visit us at www.pier.org. I

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