Key West Catch of the Week - November 19

Fishing in the waters of Key West this past week has proved to be as eventful as ever, with a myriad of astounding catches that really highlight just how amazing fishing still is even though we're in the "cooler" months of the year. While there have been plenty of catches that have stood out this week, the best of these has to be the fantastic haul of a massive 45-pound Wahoo that was reeled in by Ernie, who was visiting from Miami, Florida. Any catch that weighs in at 45 pounds is bound to be tricky for the angler that was able to reel it in, but the Wahoo, in particular, is one of the fastest species of fish in the sea, able to dart all over the place, making them one of the trickier species of fish to catch. This is yet another reason why the catch by Ernie was more than enough to land atop as the Key West Catch of the Week.

The Wahoo is a species of fish that is most commonly found in waters along the Caribbean and Key West. They are highly sought after by anglers for a number of reasons. For one, their great speed makes them an enviable target by sports fishermen that are looking to record the best catch. In fact, Wahoo can swim all the way up to 60 MPH, a startlingly high speed for a fish of any kind. Secondly, they are also prized as a particularly appealing food fish, as they often make appearances in some of the more gourmet restaurants around the world. This is due to the fact that their flesh is one of the tastier options among the species of fish in Key West waters, as it is often compared to the Mackerel in that regard.

Wahoo are identified by anglers due to their long bodies and exceedingly sharp teeth, as well as the silver and blue hues that line their bodies. In fact, they can grow to be as long as 8 ft. in length, while their weight can fluctuate anywhere from less than 10 pounds to well over 175. Although the Wahoo typically swim in groups of two to three fish, there are times when anglers on our Key West specialty charters can spot a school of more than 100 swimming together. It is known that their diet is typically comprised of smaller fish, as well as squid.

Fishing conditions were rather amazing this past week, as there has been an abundance of sun and the water temperatures have been pretty warm for the most part. While Wahoo can be difficult to catch because of their sharp teeth and aggressive behaviors once hooked, it's clear that Ernie was more than prepared for this eventuality. If you would like to see how you would fair on one of our Key West fishing charters, don't hesitate to drop by Key West and see if you can become our next Key West Catch of the Week.