wahoo

(wä-hū', wä'hū)
n., pl., -hoos.
A deciduous shrub or small tree (Euonymus atropurpurea) of eastern North America, having small purplish flowers, pink fruit, and scarlet arillate seeds.

[Dakota wãhu.]

wa·hoo² (wä-hū', wä'hū)
n., pl., -hoos.

1. An elm tree (Ulmus alata) of the southeast United States, having twigs with winged, corky edges.
2. Any of several similar trees.

[Origin unknown.]

wa·hoo³ (wä-hū', wä'hū)
n., pl., wahoo, or -hoos.
A tropical marine food and game fish (Acanthocybium solanderi) of the mackerel family, having a pointed snout, narrow body, and long dorsal fin.

[Perhaps of West Indian origin.]

wa·hoo⁴ (wä'hū') Chiefly Western U.S.
interj.
Used to express exuberance.

n., pl., -hoos.
An exuberant cry: He let out a wahoo. Also called rebel yell.

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Acanthocybium solandri

FAMILY

Scombridae

TAXONOMY

Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1832), type locality unknown.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Thazard-bâtard; Spanish: Peto.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Maximum size 83 in (210 cm) fork length weighing 183 lb (83 kg) or more. Body very elongate, fusiform, and only slightly compressed. Mouth large with strong, triangular, compressed, and finely serrate teeth closely set in a single series. Snout approximately as long as rest of head. Gill rakers absent. Two dorsal fins, the first consisting of 23–27 spines, the second with 12–16 rays followed by eight or nine finlets. Anal fin of 12–14 rays followed by nine finlets. Body covered with small scales. Swim bladder present. Vertebrae, 62–64. Back iridescent bluish green, sides silvery with 24–30 cobalt-blue vertical bars.

DISTRIBUTION

Tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans including the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas.

HABITAT

Epipelagic zone ocean.

BEHAVIOR

Frequently solitary or forming small, loose aggregations rather than compact schools.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Piscivorous, preying on pelagic fishes such as scombrids, porcupinefishes, flyingfishes, herrings, scads, and lanternfishes and on squids.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Spawning seems to extend over a long period. Fish in different maturity stages are frequently caught at the same time. Fecundity is believed to be quite high; 6 million eggs were estimated for a 52-in (131-cm) female.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

There do not appear to be any organized fisheries for wahoo, but it is greatly appreciated when caught. FAO catch statistics for 1991–2000 show catches of 2,121–3,460 tons (1,924–3,139 metric tons) per year by 30 countries. In many areas (Caribbean, Hawaii, Great Barrier Reef), wahoo is more important as a gamefish taken on light to heavy tackle through surface trolling with spoons, feather lures, or strip bait. The all-tackle gamefish record is a 159-lb (71.9-kg) fish taken off Baja California.

[wah-HOO; WAH-hoo] With a flavor often compared to that of albacore, the wahoo's moderate- to high-fat flesh is fine, white (with a little red) and slightly sweet. In fact, Hawaiians call this fish ono, which means "sweet." Wahoo are normally caught in the 20- to 40-pound range although they can get much larger. Those that reach the market are usually in the form of chunks or in fillet pieces. Wahoo may be baked, broiled or grilled. See also fish.

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Gary Fisher Wahoo (2000)