San Diego anglers are celebrating the arrival of wahoo – one of the fastest fish on the planet – in area waters.
One recent catch occurred Monday, prompting Capt. Mike Sorr to boast via Instagram: "I moved to San Diego 10 years ago. This fish hasn’t been in our waters here for 11 years. Today was a monumental moment for me catching our first San Diego WAHOOOOOO!"
Wahoo, which are found off southern Baja California and elsewhere in tropical and warm-temperate seas, are among several fish species to have advanced far north of their typical range as a powerful El Niño develops at the equator.
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Wahoo catches off Southern California are extremely rare but several catches have been
logged in recent weeks, mostly aboard San Diego-based boats.
These slender members of the mackerel family are prized for their speed and power – and for the delectability of their flesh. (Wahoo are called ono in Hawaii and in restaurants.)
From the International Game Fish Assn.: "It is reputed to be one of the fastest fish in the sea, attaining speeds of 50 mph and more. The first scorching run may peel off several hundred yards of line in seconds. Occasionally this fish jumps on the strike and often shakes its head violently when hooked in an effort to free itself."
Wahoo travel alone or in small schools so catches have been sporadic, but there appears to be a significant number of wahoo within range of the San Diego fishing fleet.
The IGFA world record for wahoo (184 pounds) was set off Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2005.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Wahoo, among the world's fastest game fish, zoom into SoCal spotlight
