Barricuda Fishing - Florida

[RickV1955]

All right....Needed to start a new thread....lol.

Sam and Rick, I'm sure you both will chime in on this one.

I've never caught a barricuda......
Just wondering if anyone "targets" these fish......
Do realize that they are no good to eat.....but are they good sport fish?

I think I heard that a lot of people catch them while fishing for something else??

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

lol...rick and I should get our own forum.

Yes, I target barracuda, yes you can eat some of the smaller ones, they are my favorite saltwater eating fish, yes my favorite.

There's a few things that you have to have when fishing them, one is steel leader, get some #7 or #8 steel leader and learn how to tie haywires, they're basically six inch or so steel leaders with twists at the ends. hook goes on one end, swivel on the other. You can buy premade cuda tubes, my son makes ours, the key is to reel fast, they usually won't hit unless something is really moving, I've tried dead sticking bait to them but they never bite. My kid's favorite past time is to hook a spanish mackeral with a spoon or kast master lure on a steel leader and let it go, cudas will hunt them down everytime. I know SM are gamefish but we do it anyways so no whining. Barracuda are a great fight, short spurts of big speed, kinda like bonefish but not as much distance.

Cigutara is what scares everyone, any reef fish can get it, kings, grouper, snapper. Big cudas tend to have it alot, small ones not so much, they do make test kits for it to see if the filet is clean. I don't advise anyone to do this but I use the cat method. I give our cat a small piece of filet, if she eats it, it's ok, if not well I don't, oldtimers in the Keys laid it on the dock to see if flies would land on it or not, same principle.

The pic is my kid a few summers ago....

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

I agree Sam.......we do need our own forum....lol.

Really interesting about Barracuda.....
In most of the fish books I've looked at, they say that Barracuda is not a good fish to eat...most citing the potential of Cigutara....(which, by the way, I'd never even heard of before....lol)

I would think they would be a really sporting fish.....fun to catch.....

Definately want to try that out too......

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

I have served lightly fried barracuda to people without telling them what it was, they went nuts for it, couldn't believe it was cuda when I told them. I grew up eating it, alot of people won't eat it now have never tried it or are petrified to. I'd rather eat it then snapper, pompano or flounder.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Sam.....
Sounds good....would like to try it if it's that good....both my wife and I love fish!!

Do have to say that I'd probably feel a little more comfortable if there was some kind of positive test for cigutara.....
don't know that much about it, but from what I've read, can be pretty nasty stuff...lo.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

there's a test kit, try googling it.....and watch them chompers when you're handling the fish.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hey Sam.......

Well, I did "google" ciguatera (this is the correct spelling by the way....lol)
and came up with a ton of information on this subject.

Found that pretty much any of the ocean "reef fish" can contain ciguatera, and they specifically cited:
Grouper, Snaper, Jacks, Sea Bass, Coral Trout, Dolphin, Mullet, Reef Shark, some species of Tuna, etc...They did state that Barracuda and Spanish Mackerel were the riskiest......

Also, check on Ciguatera "test kits".....did find them for same for around $30.00....have to do some additonal research on how effective they are.....how to use them....etc....

Hey, might make another interesting separate "thread".....lol.

Rick

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Off of Sarasota is the M7 (Johnson) reef. During the spring and summer the reef is full of bonita. A lousy fish to eat but great to catch on lightweight gear. One day while fishing alone, I was catching a boatload of them. Big cudas came thru and I was pulling half a bonita over the boat. Still kicking and spraying blood everywhere, but missing his lower half!
Down about 20' three to four BIG cudas were prowling and eatin up these bonita. I rigged a big 50wt standup rod and with a heavy leader and chunks of bonita tried to catch the cuda. No luck. Smart fish.
Two stories follow that series of events. I let the chunk of bonita settle down a ways, picked up one of my lightweight Penn 5500 spooled with 12# Ande and pulled a crockodile spoon really fast across the surface. Just like Sam says, has to be moving fast. One of the big cudas got it and promptly unspooled me!
About the time I got over that the big rig with the chunk on it started spoolin off my big 6/0. I thought I got him now! Wrong....after setting the hook, that big rig took a bow and off to Mexico goes my big fish. A fast series of events followed. I knew it was big enough to unspool me. I WAS NOT going to have that happen twice in one day. Jammed the rod in a holder, tied a buoy to my anchor line and threw it over ( I was hooked up on the rocks). Signaled to another guys boat what I was doing, and sat down and let the fish start towing my boat. Two hours later those guys came looking for me. I had caught and raised a 9' hammerhead. But by myself I couldn't do anything with it. Big female about 400 lbs. I wanted to dehook her but didn't want to risk losing my gear. One of their guys jumped aboard, and we cut the shark loose.
This is some of the fishing you will need to get ready for when you get down here!! Those reefs off Sarasota have all kinds of surprises!!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Off of Sarasota is the M7 (Johnson) reef. During the spring and summer the reef is full of bonita. A lousy fish to eat but great to catch on lightweight gear. One day while fishing alone, I was catching a boatload of them. Big cudas came thru and I was pulling half a bonita over the boat. Still kicking and spraying blood everywhere, but missing his lower half!
Down about 20' three to four BIG cudas were prowling and eatin up these bonita. I rigged a big 50wt standup rod and with a heavy leader and chunks of bonita tried to catch the cuda. No luck. Smart fish.
Two stories follow that series of events. I let the chunk of bonita settle down a ways, picked up one of my lightweight Penn 5500 spooled with 12# Ande and pulled a crockodile spoon really fast across the surface. Just like Sam says, has to be moving fast. One of the big cudas got it and promptly unspooled me!
About the time I got over that the big rig with the chunk on it started spoolin off my big 6/0. I thought I got him now! Wrong....after setting the hook, that big rig took a bow and off to Mexico goes my big fish. A fast series of events followed. I knew it was big enough to unspool me. I WAS NOT going to have that happen twice in one day. Jammed the rod in a holder, tied a buoy to my anchor line and threw it over ( I was hooked up on the rocks). Signaled to another guys boat what I was doing, and sat down and let the fish start towing my boat. Two hours later those guys came looking for me. I had caught and raised a 9' hammerhead. But by myself I couldn't do anything with it. Big female about 400 lbs. I wanted to dehook her but didn't want to risk losing my gear. One of their guys jumped aboard, and we cut the shark loose.
This is some of the fishing you will need to get ready for when you get down here!! Those reefs off Sarasota have all kinds of surprises!!

lol....which is why I love fishing in may/june, it seems like there's so much going on at once. I once threw a big white bait out on a balloon and stuck the rod in the holder then started casting a jig from the other end of the boat. I hooked a 80lb tarpon on the jig and as I was fighting him another even bigger one hit the white bait, two tarpon on and I was by myself.....I was laughing so hard trying to figure out what to do. I ended up losing the bigger one and the first one broke off at the boat, I went home after that because there was no way I'd top that.

 

[twkjr 1250]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

ciguatera , i have caught and eaten a variety of fish when i lived in st. croix and had first hand expariance with it several times over your skin gets tingly and starts to itch but there is a bush that you can use the leaves and make atea from to drink wich wou;ld releive the sympthoms its not really that bad after you recover that is , thats why i had it several times like most people in st. croix you can wash the fish with fresh lemon before cooking the cruzians say this will ease it up a bit

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hey Triumphrick....
Sounds like it will be a ball......can't wait!!!

Does seem like there is just such a variety of fish to catch....in shore...off shore.....
Still taking in all this info and learnin'.....lol

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hey Rick.....Sam.......

Don't know if they are worth catching, but are there any Flounder around our area??

Am looking forward to the Trout, snook, and redfish in shore.......

Some Grouper and Snaper off shore........

Where's the best area for Pompano and Permit fishing??

I love all the vairety!!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

You can get flounder here but they're not as big as the panhandle or the other coast, I usually catch them by accident almost always on shrimp or a DOA shrimp. Pompano are inshore right now, usually in channels or larger bays, water has to be clean and moving, also any bridges or piers will be holding them. I use a jig called a pink banana just for them, it's a pompano killer. Permit fishing really picks up in the summer, the bigger ones are on the wrecks offshore, sometimes you'll get one near the beach by some structure. They are a blast to catch.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Just can't believe the variety of fish that can be caught in and around Sarasota bay...gulf...Anna Maria Island.....

Can't wait to get back there!!

You guys are sure making me jealous.....

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Lets see how our trip goes on Saturday. Just north of Anna Maria is an island, Egmont Key. Sits at the mouth of the Tampa Bay shipping channel. We will be fishing for trout and lady fish, kingfish, grouper and maybe shark if we get a few ladyfish. They bleed really good and along with a good chum slick usually brings the shark in. I will be taking fourteen rods with me for that trip! From my Penn 9/0 to ultralights for the ladyfish and trout. Needless to say the boat will be loaded. We are just trying to cover all our bases. I will take some pics and post them afterwards. Hope I have some fish!

 

[bustersowell]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hi Guys! I would have to agree. I catch a lot of Cuda and it is the tastiest fish I have ever eaten. My wife use to only eat flounder until she taisted Cuda. My 14 year old daughter loves baked cuda. It is not fishy oily or tough. It is very tender. If you go to the Florida health department web site it gives you detailed information on what types of fish and the locations of where you can eat any kinds of fish and how many of each in each area. Yes these fish can carry the toxin, but only in the tropic regions where the posionous coral survise. Small fish eat this oral and the cudas eat the small fish and get the toxins, but it is very, very rare unless you are in the keys or bahamas. (Tropical Regions). To catch this fish use a 200# mono leader min. 4 foot long with a #5 or 6 circle hook with no weight. Catch a small croaker or the best is a small sailors choice (Choafer) and hook below the upper fin and let it swim down and you will hook a cuda every time if they are around at the time. Normally sit in one location for about 30 to 45 minutes and they will show up and you will see them on the top under your boat and you better hang on.
Good luck fishing!!!

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hey Rick......

Just wondered how the fishing trip went last Saturday, to Egmont Key??

Catch anything good.........??

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Buster,

Barracuda sounds like a blast to catch.....

I did check out several websites on Ciguatera Toxin and on every site, barracuda is on the top of the list for fish potentially carrying it......
As there are so many good eating fishing in the Gulf waters, don't think it would be worth the risk.......

I guess I just don't have that spirit of adventure.....lol

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

Hey Rick......

Just wondered how the fishing trip went last Saturday, to Egmont Key??

Catch anything good.........??

Hey Rick, wish I could post a bunch of pics of all the fish...6 mackerel!
The seas were supposed to lay down for the day, but like many many days this year the 2 - 4's were present and all we could do was stay inside. Also, not much bait to be had. But that's all ok, cause any day on the water is better than no day on the water!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Barricuda Fishing - Florida

I expect it to be windy this time of year but it's been windy ALL year, not good in a flats boat.