Wahoo and King Mackerel Gallery
Family Scombridae, KING MACKERELS and TUNAS
Description: vibrant, iridescent, blue bands.
Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; Spanish mackerel, S. maculatus.
Where found: NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE, occasionally taken from piers running into deep water.
Size: common to 20 pounds.
Florida Record: 90 lbs.
Remarks: schooling fish that migrates fom south Florida waters in winter to more northerly
waters in spring; Gulf population thought to be separate from Atlantic population, with considerable
mixing in winter from Cape Canaveral past Key West; spawns in midsummer OFFSHORE;
feeds on small fish and squid. * The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental
Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones.
The records are provided as only as a benchmark.
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Wahoo
Wahoo Family Scombridae
Description: color of back iridescent bluish green; sides silvery,
streamlined body with tapered head; no black pigment on front of dorsal fin;
lateral line starts high and drops sharply below the second dorsal fin; young
fish often have yellow spots like those of the Spanish mackerel.
Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; Spanish mackerel, S. maculatus.
Where found: Wahoo live in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
During the summer, they may migrate into temperate waters.
Size: common to 20 pounds.
Florida Record: According to the International Game Fish Association, the official record (http://www.igfa.org)
for the largest wahoo caught on hook and line is 158.5 lb (71.9 kg).
However, uncertified reports indicate wahoo may grow as large as 200 lb (91 kg) or more.
Remarks: Wahoo tend to be solitary, but they are occasionally found in small, loose schools.
Wahoo is a prized game fish due to its speed, fighting qualities, and excellent flavor.
Wahoo are among the fastest pelagic species (reaching speeds up to 60 mph) and are capable of capturing a
wide range of prey, including various fishes and squid.
Wahoo are thought to be relatively fast growing. In one study, a wahoo that was tagged, released, and
recovered ten months later had grown around 22 pounds in less than a year—from 11 lb (5 kg) to 33 lb (15 kg).
The giant stomach worm (Hirudinella ventricosa) is commonly found in wahoo stomachs, but the worm does not affect
the portion of the fish eaten by humans.
Wahoo have been included in the FWC-FWRI Mercury Program, which investigates total mercury levels in the muscle
tissue of various Florida fishes. The Florida Department of Health (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/) has issued a health
advisory for wahoo in the Florida Keys and Florida Bay regions.
You can help! Wahoo Carcass Donation Information
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