Barracudas

[SOBX]

I have recently taken up spearfishing off the NC coast, and was wondering if I should have any concerns with barracudas. I was looking for groupers and noticed about 3 to 4 barracudas circling the area. Will they attack your kill?

Thanks

 

[Wayward Son]

Sometimes. They're fast, too, so when they do you don't have time to do much about it except shoot one to get even.

Cuda smell bad but taste good. I like to hunt them when they're in during the warm months.

 

[SOBX]

Thanks for the info.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

I have recently taken up spearfishing off the NC coast, and was wondering if I should have any concerns with barracudas. I was looking for groupers and noticed about 3 to 4 barracudas circling the area. Will they attack your kill?

Thanks

But you won't see it. Just the head of your catch falling to the bottom. Those are some swift critters!

 

[IceIce]

Cuda smell bad but taste good. I like to hunt them when they're in during the warm months.

I thought most of the barracudas are poisonous? :11:
Check this out.
http://ks.essortment.com/barracudas_rzbi.htm

 

[H2Andy]

I thought most of the barracudas are poisonous?

they can carry ciguatera

in cuba, we used to feed the entrails of the barracuda to a cat. if the
cat got really sick in a day or two, you knew not to eat the barracuda

the cats didn't die, just wish they did

and no, i would never do this today. the choice came down to
eating the barracuda or not having meat for a few days, so...
the cat suffered

also, there are ways to prepare it to minimize ciguatera... not sure
how effective this really is, but people swore by cutting the fish
into steaks, then frying the steaks, then marinating them in
vinager (fully covered) for a few days.

apparently, this took care of the problem. not sure if true, but
i ate a lot of barracuda growing up, and i never got ciguatera.

 

[Tanked Monkey]

Off the NC coast, I think the real thing you'll have to watch out for is Sand Tiger sharks trying to steal your catch. When I was there a few weeks ago, the 1st mate of my dive boat had a gnarly scar on his hand from a run-in with a hungry sand tiger who wanted his dinner. I'm not a spear-o, but I would think that if one comes for your catch, just let him have it.

Mike

 

[Wayward Son]

Unless you have coral, ciguatera is not a problem. Small fish get it from the coral, larger fish get it by eating the smaller fish.

Including grouper.

In the FL panhandle, no coral. Cuda are safe to eat.

 

[flounderer]

I wouldn't worry about the barracuda off the NC coast too much. Once you bring you kill close to you to string it up they will keep their distance. If they get a little too close for comfort I make an aggressive move toward them and they stay away.

Like Mike said off our coast the main problem are the sharks. There are plenty of sand tigers and sand bars on the wrecks and sand bars and bulls on the ledges and live bottom. When they want you're fish it's best just to give it to them because they don't give up easily.

Pat

 

[fishoutawater]

Fascinating thread! Ida never even thunk you could eat barracuda.
So which species is that that stares at me during my deco stops down in the keys?
Really biguns sometimes. Big as me.
I've tried to get close to them for a closeup, but that ain't happenin'.