I spear in NC all the time and have never had a problem with Barracuda. They are a sight fish, so if you are concerned put your kill in a game bag to keep it out of sight. HJust the same, I've never had a problem with them.
I am usually much more concerned about the Sandtigers than Cudas, and have lost a couple of catches to big sharks (one of them got the stringer too!). They don't care if its in a bag or on a stringer, they seem to smell it. Anymore, if I see a big shark on the wreck/ledge, I just don't hunt. Not worth the potential fight which I am bound to lose.
I haven't ever eaten, or shot, Barracuda mostly because I like Grouper and Flounder too much. In the tropics Ciguaterra is a problem, and I don't think there is any good way to get rid of it since it is a toxin (kind of like build up of mercury). In NC there aren't any coral reefs, so the Barracuda is OK to eat. Of course, in the tropics, I won't eat Grouper either for the same reason, and I have a a freezer full of grouper filets and haven't gotten sick at all.
I am usually much more concerned about the Sandtigers than Cudas, and have lost a couple of catches to big sharks (one of them got the stringer too!). They don't care if its in a bag or on a stringer, they seem to smell it. Anymore, if I see a big shark on the wreck/ledge, I just don't hunt. Not worth the potential fight which I am bound to lose.
I haven't ever eaten, or shot, Barracuda mostly because I like Grouper and Flounder too much. In the tropics Ciguaterra is a problem, and I don't think there is any good way to get rid of it since it is a toxin (kind of like build up of mercury). In NC there aren't any coral reefs, so the Barracuda is OK to eat. Of course, in the tropics, I won't eat Grouper either for the same reason, and I have a a freezer full of grouper filets and haven't gotten sick at all.