Atlantic Wahoo
Atlantic Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Quick Facts
Atlantic wahoo. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Atlantic wahoo. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic wahoo is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Population
The stocks have not been assessed. Although the population levels are unknown, management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing for the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John stocks. Overfishing status is unknown for the South Atlantic/Gulf of America* stock, but catch is at recommended level.
Habitat Impact
Fishing gears used to harvest Atlantic wahoo have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because hook-and-line, cast net, and gillnet gear are selective.
Population Status
There are four stocks of wahoo: a South Atlantic/Gulf of America stock, a Puerto Rico stock, a St. Croix stock, and a St. Thomas/St. John stock. According to the most recent stock assessments:
- The South Atlantic/Gulf of America stock has not been assessed and the population status and fishing rate are unknown. However, catch limits are in place for this stock.
- The Puerto Rico stock has not been assessed so the population size is unknown, but the stock is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
- The St. Croix stock has not been assessed so the population size is unknown, but the stock is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
- The St. Thomas/St. John stock has not been assessed so the population size is unknown, but the stock is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
- Atlantic wahoo can handle relatively high fishing rates, but precautionary management seeks to maintain current harvest levels.
Appearance
- Atlantic wahoo are steel blue above and pale blue below.
- They are covered with small scales and have a series of 25 to 30 irregular blackish-blue vertical bars on their sides that fade rapidly after death.
- They have large mouths with strong, triangular, compressed, and finely serrated teeth.
- Their snouts are about as long as the rest of their heads.
Biology
- Atlantic wahoo grow fast, up to 8 feet and 158 pounds, though they are commonly between 3.3 and 5.4 feet long.
- They have a short life span, up to 5 or 6 years.
- They are able to reproduce at about 1 year old. For males, this is when they reach 2.8 feet in length, and for females, when they reach 3.3 feet.
- Atlantic wahoo spawn multiple times throughout the spawning season.
- They are very productive, releasing a half-million to 45 million eggs per year to compensate for eggs that might not survive to adulthood.
- They mainly feed on squid and fish, including frigate mackerel, butterfish, porcupine fish, and round herring. They generally compete with tuna, but can feed on larger prey by using their extremely sharp teeth to render prey into bite-size pieces.
- A number of predators that share their habitat feed on young wahoo.
Where They Live
Range
- Wahoo are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
- They are found in tropical waters year-round but are also found in higher latitudes during the summer.
Habitat
- Wahoo live near the surface and are frequently found alone or in small, loosely connected groups rather than compact schools.
- They may also be found near banks, pinnacles, and natural debris drifting in the ocean.
- Scientists do not know much about wahoo migrations, but one study revealed that a tagged and recaptured fish had traveled 1,700 miles in 6 ½ months.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries, the Caribbean Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils) manage the Atlantic wahoo fishery.
- Managed under the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial vessel, charter vessel/headboat, and dealer permits are required.
- Annual catch limits divided between the commercial and recreational fisheries, with the recreational fishery receiving a significant majority of the allocation.
- Commercial fishing trip, recreational bag, possession, and minimum size limits.
- Accountability measures are in place to ensure the overfishing limit is not exceeded, or to account for any overages.
- Management measures apply in the South Atlantic Council jurisdiction, but no management measures in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
- Compatible regulations in state waters, particularly Florida.
- In the U.S. Caribbean, managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial and recreational annual catch limits in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits in St. Croix and St. Thomas/S. John
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of Atlantic wahoo totaled 53,000 pounds and were valued at $210,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- The majority of commercial landings came from Florida and North Carolina.
- Most (more than 95 percent) of the U.S. harvest of wahoo comes from the Pacific, mainly Hawaii.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- The authorized gear types in the fisheries for wahoo in the Atlantic include the automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, pelagic longline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear (including powerheads).
- Hook-and-line gear has minimal impact on bottom habitat because it doesn’t contact the ocean floor.
- Longlines can incidentally catch sea turtles, marine mammals, and other species.
- Longline fishermen must use specific hooks and bait and must follow safe handling and release guidelines to prevent this bycatch.
- Fishing is prohibited in certain areas to protect species such as billfish.
- Recreational fishery:
- Atlantic wahoo is a popular fish for recreational fishermen.
- In 2023, recreational landings of Atlantic wahoo totaled 2.2 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- Daily bag limits.
- Prohibition on the sale of recreational catch without appropriate permits.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
- Wahoo are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
- They are found in tropical waters year-round but are also found in higher latitudes during the summer.
- Wahoo live near the surface and are frequently found alone or in small, loosely connected groups rather than compact schools.
- They may also be found near banks, pinnacles, and natural debris drifting in the ocean.
- Scientists do not know much about wahoo migrations, but one study revealed that a tagged and recaptured fish had traveled 1,700 miles in 6 ½ months.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries, the Caribbean Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils) manage the Atlantic wahoo fishery.
- Managed under the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial vessel, charter vessel/headboat, and dealer permits are required.
- Annual catch limits divided between the commercial and recreational fisheries, with the recreational fishery receiving a significant majority of the allocation.
- Commercial fishing trip, recreational bag, possession, and minimum size limits.
- Accountability measures are in place to ensure the overfishing limit is not exceeded, or to account for any overages.
- Management measures apply in the South Atlantic Council jurisdiction, but no management measures in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
- Compatible regulations in state waters, particularly Florida.
- In the U.S. Caribbean, managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial and recreational annual catch limits in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits in St. Croix and St. Thomas/S. John
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of Atlantic wahoo totaled 53,000 pounds and were valued at $210,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- The majority of commercial landings came from Florida and North Carolina.
- Most (more than 95 percent) of the U.S. harvest of wahoo comes from the Pacific, mainly Hawaii.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- The authorized gear types in the fisheries for wahoo in the Atlantic include the automatic reel, bandit gear, handline, pelagic longline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear (including powerheads).
- Hook-and-line gear has minimal impact on bottom habitat because it doesn’t contact the ocean floor.
- Longlines can incidentally catch sea turtles, marine mammals, and other species.
- Longline fishermen must use specific hooks and bait and must follow safe handling and release guidelines to prevent this bycatch.
- Fishing is prohibited in certain areas to protect species such as billfish.
- Recreational fishery:
- Atlantic wahoo is a popular fish for recreational fishermen.
- In 2023, recreational landings of Atlantic wahoo totaled 2.2 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- Daily bag limits.
- Prohibition on the sale of recreational catch without appropriate permits.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Actinopterygii | Order | Scombriformes | Family | Scombridae | Genus | Acanthocybium | Species | solandri |
|---|
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Seafood Facts
Is Atlantic Wahoo Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic wahoo is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to Texas.
Taste
Mild.
Texture
Firm with a large, circular flake.
Color
Raw meat is pale pink. It turns white when cooked.
Health Benefits
Atlantic wahoo is an excellent source of low-fat protein.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 167; Protein: 19.32 g; Total Fat: 9.36 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 2.444 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Selenium: 39 mcg; Sodium: 78 mgSeafood News
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