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Barracuda
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Description: A Florida Deep Sea Fishing favorite. The great barracuda is brownish or bluish gray on the dorsum and upper side, with a greenish cast shading to silvery on the sides and a white belly. The upper side may have 18-23 dark bars most often observable when the fish is resting or over a variegated substrate. The black spots on the lower sides of the great barracuda distinguish it from other species of barracuda. The second dorsal fin, anal, and caudal fins are violet to black with whitish tips. Food Value: Excellent. Large Barracuda from tropical waters possibly carry the dangerous toxin ciguatera. Advisable to eat only the small ones - up to 5 pounds. Where found: The entire Gulf of Mexico. Moving South to warmer waters during the winter. Size: Common 5 - 15 pounds. Florida Barracuda Record: 67 lbs. Barracuda Fishing Techniques: Casting, Drifting, Still Fishing and Trolling. Remarks: Great Barracuda feed on an array of prey including fish such as jacks, grunts, groupers, snappers, small tunas, mullets. Barracudas have a large gape and very sharp teeth, enabling them to feed on large fish by chopping them in half. An opportunistic predator, great barracuda feed throughout the water column. Generally a diurnal fish, great barracuda locate their prey largely by sight. The body plan of the great barracuda is designed for speed and it is estimated that top speed for the species may be as fast as 36 mph (58 kph). Let's go Florida Deep Sea Fishing! |