# Wahoo in Costa Rica: Speed, Teeth and Great Eating > Wahoo are long, fast, razor-toothed relatives of the mackerels, caught offshore and around rocky islands and seamounts on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. They're never caught in big numbers, but the best months are roughly May to August, and a wahoo is one of the best fish you can take home. Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/wahoo-in-costa-rica-a-faboulous-catch/ Last checked: 2026-11-14 Scientific name: Acanthocybium solandri Size: Up to 250 cm and 83 kg (FishBase) Where: Pacific coast, offshore, around islands, seamounts and drop-offs Best months: About May to August; present all year in small numbers Eating: Excellent; up to 5 fish per trip may be landed for your own use Licence: INCOPESCA sport fishing licence ## What a wahoo is The wahoo (*Acanthocybium solandri*) belongs to the same family as tunas and mackerels, but it's built like a missile: long, slim and round in cross-section, with a pointed snout and a mouth full of sharp, flat-edged teeth. Its back is an iridescent blue that fades to silver below, with a row of dark blue vertical bars down the sides that are brightest when the fish is alive. Unlike king mackerel, which it resembles, the wahoo has no fold of skin covering the back of its jaw. FishBase lists a maximum of 250 cm and 83 kg. Most charter wahoo are much smaller, but even a medium fish pulls hard. Wahoo are famous for their first run, a blistering burst that can strip a lot of line in a few seconds. ## Wahoo or sierra? Inshore boats in Costa Rica often catch Pacific sierra (*Scomberomorus sierra*, called macarela locally), a spotted mackerel that's much smaller than a wahoo. A sierra has rows of orange-brown spots rather than blue bars, and it lives close to the coast, while wahoo are usually in deeper, clearer water. Both have sharp teeth, and both are good to eat. ## Where to find them in Costa Rica Wahoo live in warm, clear ocean water worldwide. On Costa Rica's Pacific coast, they tend to hang around structure in deep water: offshore islands, rocky pinnacles, seamounts, steep drop-offs and floating debris. They're usually alone or in small groups, which is why they're more of a bonus fish than a numbers fish. Boats from all the Pacific ports catch them, from [Guanacaste](/guanacaste/) through the [central Pacific](/central-pacific/) to the [southern Pacific](/southern-pacific/). Remember that fishing is banned inside national parks and biological reserves, including Isla del Coco and Isla del Caño, however good the water around them looks. ## Best months Wahoo turn up all year in Costa Rica in modest numbers, and the calendars point to the green season as the best time: - Adventure Tours Costa Rica, on the central Pacific, reports the most wahoo from May to August. - FishingBooker's month-by-month guide rates June and July among the best months, along with December to February, and September and October as the weakest. - Crocodile Bay, in the south, finds them year-round in small numbers, with more inshore bites in September. That gives about May to August as the best window. See the [season chart](/species/) for every fish. ## How crews fish for them Wahoo hit fast-moving lures, so many crews troll high-speed lures or diving plugs at speeds well above normal billfish trolling when they're targeting them, often around drop-offs and pinnacles. Rigged ballyhoo and live bait catch wahoo too, often by accident on sailfish or tuna trips. Those teeth cut through monofilament easily, so crews use a short wire leader when wahoo are the target. Many hooked wahoo bite through normal leaders and are gone, which is part of their reputation. Medium tackle in the 30 to 50 lb class is enough for most fish. ## The rules Wahoo aren't a catch-and-release species in Costa Rica. The fisheries regulation (Decreto 36782, article 68) lets you land 5 fish per trip for your own use or taxidermy, and selling sport catches is banned. Everyone fishing from a boat needs an INCOPESCA sport fishing licence (Ley 8436, article 75), which comes in 8-day, 30-day and 1-year versions; many operators can arrange it. ## Eating quality Wahoo is one of the best-eating fish in the sea, with firm, white, mild flesh that's excellent raw, seared or grilled. It's lean, so cook it quickly to keep it moist. Bleed and ice the fish soon after landing it, and watch the teeth when unhooking: crews use pliers and keep hands well clear. ## Frequently asked questions ### When is the best time to catch wahoo in Costa Rica? They're around all year in small numbers. About May to August is usually best, according to central Pacific charter calendars. ### Where are wahoo caught in Costa Rica? Offshore on the Pacific coast, especially near islands, pinnacles, seamounts, drop-offs and floating debris. ### Can I keep a wahoo? Yes. Wahoo aren't catch-and-release, and up to 5 fish per trip may be landed for your own use. They can't be sold. ### Why do wahoo cut so many lines? Their teeth are sharp enough to slice through monofilament. Crews use wire leaders when they're targeting wahoo for that reason.