In the first photo, the wahoo’s long, pointed jaws are barely open. In the close-up, you can see a row of small teeth lining the jaw, with a fishing hook sitting right beside them. If you’ve ever felt a hard strike and reeled in only the cut end of your leader, this is the part of the fish you wanted to see.
What do wahoo teeth look like?
Wahoo teeth are small, flat and triangular, with finely serrated edges. The close-up shows how tightly they line the jaw. The serrations themselves are easier to see under magnification.
The wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) belongs to the mackerel family. Its long, streamlined body, silvery sides and blue vertical bars make it easy to recognize alongside the boat. It feeds on fish and squid, and its sharp teeth help it cut into prey. Florida Museum species profile · ICCAT species manual
Why anglers use wire when wahoo show up
A wahoo can cut monofilament or fluorocarbon when the leader crosses its mouth. A short wire bite leader between the lure and the main leader adds protection where the line is most likely to contact the teeth. Wire adds stiffness, so watch how the lure swims alongside the boat before sending it out. Trolled plugs and rigged baits both catch wahoo. After a strike, inspect the leader and lure before putting them back in the spread. Salt Water Sportsman wire-trace rig
The hook in the close-up shows how little room there is between the hardware and the teeth. Keep your fingers clear of the jaws and let the crew handle the fish and remove the hook with a long-handled tool.
Where wahoo fit into Baja California Sur’s fishery
Los Cabos and San José del Cabo. The Gordo Banks off San José del Cabo are worth asking local captains about when planning a wahoo trip. The bite can also show up closer to shore. One late-August report documented wahoo strikes off Cerro Colorado while crews were trolling for marlin. Some boats landed two or three, with most of the reported fish weighing over 30 pounds. Baja Bytes regional fishing report
Magdalena Bay. On Baja California Sur’s Pacific side, wahoo are part of the fall offshore fishery alongside striped marlin, tuna and dorado. If you’re planning a trip around wahoo, ask where the last few fish were hooked and whether crews are finding them on the same grounds as the tuna. A bite in a different area can change how you spend your day offshore. Magdalena Bay offshore fishery
The 184-pound wahoo caught off Cabo
On July 29, 2005, Sara Hayward was trolling aboard Pez Espada II out of Cabo San Lucas when a wahoo struck a Mean Joe Green lure. The fight lasted about 35 minutes, according to the Los Angeles Times report from Aug. 9, 2005. The fish weighed 184 pounds and set the International Game Fish Association’s all-tackle world record. IGFA record story
More recently, Encantada brought a 53.55-pound wahoo to the scale on Day 1 of the 2026 Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot. The fish topped both wahoo jackpot categories in the live standings reported that day. English tournament coverage
The next time a wahoo comes alongside, take a look at the jaw once the crew has the fish under control. Those teeth look surprisingly small for a fish that can end a fight before you’ve even taken the rod out of the holder.
