278 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



genus, Euthynnus, which, in turn, is much confused with Sarda sarda and 

 sometimes with Auxis t hazard. 



WAHOO 



Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier & Valenciennes) 



This highly rated sports fish does not occur in large numbers anywhere. 

 Its known 'range is from British Guiana north to Cape Hatteras. It also 

 occurs in the Pacific where it has been taken by anglers off the Hawaiian 

 and the Philippine Islands. During the Cuban winter, trolling for wahoo 

 along the hundred fathom curve is a popular sport, and it is also reported 

 off Cuba in deep cool waters in summer. The fish occurs both in open ocean 

 and in bays and inlets, frequenting wrecks and pilings. It spawns off Cuba 

 and is also said to spawn off Bermuda. Like the swordfish, the male and 

 female swim together at the spawning season but not otherwise. It does 

 not school. 



The wahoo is fished off the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas from 

 January through May. Off North Carolina, it has been taken off Hatteras 

 from June to October and, but very rarely, off Southport in the fall. 



The fish averages between 15 and 20 pounds, but many larger ones have 

 been taken by anglers. The rod and reel record, caught in the Bahamas in 

 April 1943, weighed i33>4 pounds. 



INCIDENTAL GAME FISHES 



North Carolina offers a number of fishes, which, while not among the most 

 popular or famous, are good enough fishing to provide pleasant recreation 

 during vacations. Most of them are also taken commercially. Flounder, 

 spot, pigfish, sheepshead, scup, and the common mullet fall into this cate- 

 gory. The common mullet, although sometimes taken on rod and line, is 

 not usually considered a game fish, but is very frequently used as bait. 

 There are usually quantities of mullet in the Beaufort section in September ; 

 the season of most abundance is April to November. The flounder, of great 

 commercial importance, is present all year although not always accessible 

 to anglers. The sheepshead is usually taken by accident while angling for 

 sea trout; the larger ones are found off the northern part of the coast., 

 The spot is not usually considered a sports fish although a prize was given 

 for a 14^ ounce spot in the 1946 tournament. It occurs in quantity in the 

 Ocracoke section. The scup and the pigfish are usually only accidentally 

 taken by anglers. This January (1947) we have had reports of rod and reel 

 fishing for pigfish off Morehead City. 



American anglers differ on whether or not to place any sharks in the 

 game fish category. In other parts of the world, however, there is no doubt. 

 The hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus) is known to occur 



