Barracuda Bonanza

[drbill]

A few weekends ago buddy Scott and I encountered a MASSIVE school of Pacific barracuda just at the harbor end of Catalina's Casino Point Dive Park. At first I thought it was a large school of baitfish. As I approached with camera running, I realized it was a large school of barracuda. At first I estimated about 200, but after reviewing the video footage there may have been 300-500 of them!

Was wondering if other divers in SoCal have seen such large schools of barracuda on their dives. I know of only one, and his sighting was decades ago.

Here is an image collage of part of that school:

http://www.starthrower.org/images/DDDB 15x barracuda school sm.jpg

Dr. Bill

 

[RonFrank]

That is one big mess of Barracuda.... Diving among that many may make me a bit nervous....

 

[drbill]

No need to be nervous, Ron... these are Pacific barracuda which are 2-4' long and harmless (unless you are a baitfish). Of course I've never had any problem with great barracuda either.

 

[kelpmermaid]

I did see this once, Dr. Bill, near the isthmus at Bird Rock. I think it was the year before last...I know it was in September, the only time I've been out on the King Neptune. I didn't know if I should be worried or not, so I hid behind the reef and watched them go by.

 

[hermosadive]

Malaga Cove when the water is warm. I've sat in the center of huge 100+ schools

 

[scottfiji]

Malaga Cove when the water is warm. I've sat in the center of huge 100+ schools

I saw large schools at marineland a couple times last fall, in warm water.

 

[hermosadive]

I saw large schools at marineland a couple times last fall, in warm water.

I've seen them at Marineland also, but not "hanging out" as much as I've seen at Malaga. Usually, it was a large school blazing by as I came around the reef. Pretty cool fish.

 

[Davee]

2 weeks ago i saw a school at front side santa cruz, must have been over 400 of them

 

[drbill]

Good to hear these reports from everyone. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[scottfiji]

I've seen them at Marineland also, but not "hanging out" as much as I've seen at Malaga. Usually, it was a large school blazing by as I came around the reef. Pretty cool fish.

that is true, the 2 times I saw them at Marineland they were blazing.