Wahoo is notorious for its speed and agility. This sportfish might be hard to catch, but every catch is rewarding. It is a close relative of the kingfish. The kingfish is a more popular addition to dishes and recipes, but wahoo doesn’t disappoint the culinary department.
Wahoo is more abundant in the ocean than other fish like swordfish and grouper. It is sustainable because it has faster growth and reproduces quickly.
At first glance, this fish looks like mackerel because it comes from the same family as mackerel and tuna. Sport anglers hold wahoo in high regard because of their speed in the water. In subtropical regions like Hawaii and the Caribbean, they are not famous for their speed. They are famous as a local delicacy. This fish is called ono in Hawaiian, which means “good to eat.”
What does wahoo taste like? While most fish from the mackerel family are oily and have a gamey taste, wahoo tastes sweet with a mild flavor; its texture is firm but delicate and flaky. Many people compared the flavor of wahoo to being close to veal or chicken. Its flavor is so mild that you almost can’t tell the difference between smoked wahoo and smoked turkey.
Many people who do not enjoy the taste and flavor of seafood have found themselves enjoying this sportfish. Wahoo tastes great; it has nutritional benefits, but it contains high levels of mercury.
Nutritional Benefits of Wahoo
The amount of vitamins and minerals in wahoo is enormous. A 3-ounce serving of wahoo can supply the body with 200 percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for vitamin B12 and 270 percent of the RDI for vitamin D. The same serving offers 20 percent of the RDI for vitamin B6, 28 percent for riboflavin, and 58 percent for niacin.
You can also find trace amounts of vitamins C, A, K, and E. You also have folate and thiamine. All these vitamins are essential in the body. Vitamin A helps promote eye health; vitamin C helps with immunity and increases the body’s resistance to everyday illnesses.
Wahoo is a good source of dietary protein, but it lacks dietary fiber. In a 3-ounce serving of wahoo, you get almost 20 grams of protein and over 14 grams of fat. In that same serving of wahoo, you can get minerals like selenium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It also contains trace amounts of zinc, calcium, potassium, and iron.
It is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids provide the body with several health benefits. It helps promote heart health by keeping the blood vessels free from blockages and regulating blood clotting. It is also great for pregnant women because it helps with prenatal and postnatal neurological development. However, pregnant women or infants shouldn’t eat wahoo because of the high levels of mercury.
The omega-3 fatty acids also help with an irregular heartbeat. It reduces tissue inflammation and might alleviate the symptoms associated with arthritis.
Culinary Uses of Wahoo
Wahoo can be enjoyed raw; it is especially appreciated in sashimi and sushi. It is better enjoyed raw because some parts of the fish can be chewy when still raw. If you are going to eat wahoo raw, it is better to eat it when it is still fresh. If you haven’t tried sushi or sashimi before, it is advisable to start with wahoo because of its mild flavor.
There are several ways to cook wahoo; the key to making wahoo taste as good as possible is not to overcook it. The meaty texture of wahoo makes it the perfect fish for grilling. Wahoo can also be baked or broiled. You have to keep a close eye on it when cooking it to avoid overcooking. Wahoo flesh is lean meat, so it can quickly get overcooked.
What is the Origin of Wahoo? How to Procure it?
Wahoo comes from the family Scombridae; it is native to subtropical regions like Hawaii and the Caribbean. Wahoo looks a lot like mackerel. The top half of its body is a bluish-green color that fades to silver on the sides and bottom. It has a long body that is covered in tiny scales.
Wahoo fish can weigh as much as 180 pounds and grow to eight feet. The biggest specimen caught weighed just 158 pounds. If you want to try game fish, Wahoo is an excellent choice because of its high reproductive rate. It gets replenished in the oceans as fast as it is caught.
If you want to fish for wahoo, you would be better off fishing for them in subtropical waters. As the water gets warm, the wahoo will swim to the northern regions where the water is still cold.
The best spot for locating wahoo is about 90 to 350 feet below the surface. They are more abundant in places where ocean wedges, wrecks, or bottom foundations are present. If you cannot catch one by yourself, you can ask around in the local fisheries located in the coastal areas inhabited by wahoo.
What is the Best Tasting Fish?
Cod will probably be at the top of the list if you make one. It has a mild, milky flavor that serves as a benchmark for other fish. Sole, halibut, sea bass, salmon, trout, mahi-mahi, and wahoo also make the list of best-tasting fish. It primarily depends on how they are prepared.
Fact You Don’t Know About Wahoo
- Wahoo can be caught with a light tackle. Sport anglers enjoy fishing for it because of this reason. It is rare to catch a game fish with a light tackle.