Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Also known as Kingfish, Peto, Guarapucu, Ono, Thazard batard, Wahoo
Culinary Profile
Lean and mild.
Firm with a large, circular flake.
Wahoo is an excellent source of low-fat protein.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Wahoo are steel blue above and pale blue below. They’re covered with small scales and have a series of 25 to 30 irregular blackish-blue vertical bars on their sides. Wahoo have large mouths with strong, triangular, compressed, and finely serrated teeth. Their snouts are about as long as the rest of their heads.
Biology
Wahoo grow fast, up to 8 feet and 158 pounds, though they are commonly between 3.3 and 5.4 feet long. Males are able to reproduce when they reach 2.8 feet in length, and females when they reach 3.3 feet. They’re usually about 1 year old at this stage. Wahoo spawn year-round in tropical waters and during the summer in higher latitudes, including Hawaii.
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 in compact schools. They may also be found near banks, pinnacles, and natural debris drifting in the ocean.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round, with peaks during summer and fall.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Hawaii, U.S. Pacific Island territories, and on the high seas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: U.S. commercial fisheries in the western and central Pacific harvest the majority of U.S.-caught wahoo. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific wahoo from the Pacific Islands totaled 900,000 pounds and were valued at $2.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The majority of the catch comes from Hawaii. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: There is no directed fishery for Pacific wahoo, but they may be incidentally harvested in troll and longline fisheries. Troll and longlines do not contact the ocean floor, so there are no impacts to habitat. U.S.
Other Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Wahoo.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific Wahoo, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the stock status of Pacific Wahoo?
The stock has not been assessed. Although the population level is unknown, management measures are in place.
Where is Pacific Wahoo found?
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 in compact schools.
How should Pacific Wahoo be cooked?
Pacific Wahoo has Firm with a large, circular flake. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
Where in the water column does Pacific Wahoo 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 in compact schools.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific wahoo is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
The population status and fishing rate of Pacific wahoo are unknown because scientists do not formally assess wahoo populations. Scientists assume wahoo populations are stable because they are highly productive and widely distributed throughout the tropical/subtropical Pacific.
Population
The stock has not been assessed. Although the population level is unknown, management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch Pacific wahoo rarely contacts the ocean floor and has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
There is no directed fishery for Pacific wahoo. Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch in fisheries that incidentally catch this species.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific wahoo fishery in the Western Pacific. Managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pacific Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region : Commercial fishermen must have permits and maintain logbooks.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 7 values
Nutrient Facts (NOAA)
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.