Wahoo
Wahoo run the full length of Brazil's coastline and rank among the top targets for offshore sport anglers in the northeast.
Around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago and along the open Atlantic coast, both artisanal and charter fleets chase them year-round.
The fish's speed and razor teeth make it a technical challenge; its white, mild flesh makes it one of the better eating fish in the ocean.
Scientific Name: Acanthocybium solandri
Also known as Cavala-da-lua, Cavala-branca, Atum-cavala
- Torpedo-shaped body, laterally compressed, with a long pointed snout and deeply forked tail — built for straight-line speed in open water.
- Back is iridescent blue-green; flanks show darker vertical bars or mottling against a pale silver background — distinctive and easy to ID at boatside.
- Mouth is packed with razor-edged, triangular teeth that can slice through monofilament leader cleanly — always use wire.
- Common catches in Brazilian waters run 10–30 kg; larger fish exceeding 40 kg are taken around offshore banks and archipelagos.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters; found along the entire Brazilian coast from the far north to the south.
- Concentrates around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago in the equatorial Atlantic, where both artisanal and sport fisheries have operated since at least the late 1990s.
- Offshore pelagic species — open blue water, seamounts, and current edges rather than inshore structure.
- Northeastern Brazil supports a well-documented recreational offshore fishery where wahoo is one of the primary target species.
Key Locations
- Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago — equatorial Atlantic; the subject of dedicated wahoo fishery research and a key sport and artisanal fishing ground.
- Northeastern Brazil coast — the offshore recreational fishery here lists wahoo as one of the primary target species alongside tuna and dolphinfish.
- Campos Basin offshore zone — deep Atlantic waters off Rio de Janeiro state where wahoo are regularly encountered on offshore runs.
Specific Spots
- Current edges and color changes in blue water concentrate baitfish, which pull wahoo up from depth — watch for the line where green water meets blue.
- Seamounts and underwater banks create upwellings that stack forage; wahoo hold just below the surface chop near these features.
- Floating debris and weedlines carry small baitfish offshore — wahoo patrol these lines the same way they work current breaks.
- Around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, the rocky structure and strong currents create reliable feeding zones close to the surface.
Wahoo FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Wahoo?
High-speed trolling lures, skirted jet heads, Moldcraft-style lures, and rigged ballyhoo trolled at 15–20 knots are the standard approach. Speed is the trigger; slow presentations rarely produce.
When is the best time to fish for Wahoo?
Wahoo are caught year-round along the Brazilian coast, with no hard off-season. The Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago fishery has operated continuously across all months, suggesting consistent availability in equatorial waters.
How do you catch Wahoo?
Most wahoo fishing in Brazil happens from offshore charter boats running high-speed trolling spreads in blue water, with jigging trips also available targeting the species vertically over seamounts and banks. Shore fishing is not a realistic option, this is an open-ocean fish that requires a capable offshore vessel.
What do Wahoo eat?
Primary forage is other pelagic fish, smaller tunas, mackerel, sardines, needlefish, and squid. High-speed trolling lures and skirted ballyhoo imitate this baitfish profile directly. Wahoo slash through bait schools at speed, often cutting prey in half before circling back.
Where do Wahoo live?
Native to tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters; found along the entire Brazilian coast from the far north to the south. Concentrates around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago in the equatorial Atlantic, where both artisanal and sport fisheries have operated since at least the late 1990s.
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