Damn Good Barracuda Fishing Charters

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Top Cities for Barracuda Fishing

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and look forward to getting you out on the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Barracuda Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Naples

4 Hour Inshore/Nearshore

67% (3)
23 ft 1 - 4 People From $500
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Nearshore Fishing in Key Largo

Epic Biscayne Bay Trip

100% (11)
18 ft 1 - 3 People From $350
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Pompano Beach

Sportfishing Pompano Beach

100% (7)
47 ft 1 - 6 People From $750
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore, Jetty in Port Isabel

Bottom Fishing And Jigging SPI

NEW
33 ft 1 - 12 People From $650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Pensacola

Quick Trips! Kid Friendly

100% (2)
23 ft 1 - 6 People From $550
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key Largo

Offshore Half Day

100% (3)
22 ft 1 - 4 People From $650
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Everything to Know About Booking a barracuda fishing charter

What are the best barracuda fishing charters?

Why should I book a barracuda fishing charter with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 290 barracuda trips, and the most popular trips are #1 Offshore Charter guided by Brad, 4 hr Offshore Big Game Trip guided by Bryan, and Nearshore/Offshore Sportfishing guided by Mark.

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 3784 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly barracuda guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly barracuda guides.

What types of barracuda fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing for barracuda as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are bottom fishing, trolling, and live bait fishing but light tackle fishing and heavy tackle fishing are popular as well.

How much do barracuda fishing charters cost?

Prices for barracuda can range anywhere from about $700 to $5,000, but the average price for a half day trip for barracuda is $1,285. The average price for a full day trip for barracuda is $2,927.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

What month is best for barracuda fishing?

The most popular season for barracuda fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 10 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for barracuda and what are the bag limits for barracuda?

See here for more information on barracuda fishing licenses, barracuda bag limits, and fishing season regulations for barracuda. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right barracuda rules and regulations.

What is a Barracuda?

The barracuda is one of the more recognizable fish out there and one of those fish that immediately brings a sparkle to a kid’s eye. They are known as one of the gnarliest most fearsome looking predator fish out there and their general attitude and demeanor only serve to reinforce these opinions.

A barracuda is a predatory, saltwater fish with ray fins, a pointed snout, and huge fangs usually sticking out of their underbite. While their long, tubular body can sometimes be confused with a mackerel or wahoo, a barracuda has much larger teeth, a different tail, ray fins (fins that are webbed held together by bony spikes), and if you look closely much larger scales. Barracuda are also known to exude a unique slime from their bodies that supposedly helps them glide through the water, but in reality just mucks up your boat.

There are a number of species of barracuda but the two main types of barracuda you will find in the US depend on where you’re fishing. The Pacific barracuda is the smaller of the two and as the name suggests will be caught frequently in Southern California or Baja. The great barracuda is the larger, meaner cousin of the two and is found on the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and is a big ambush hunter. These Atlantic barracuda can actually be dangerous sometimes, as they will mistake any movement or shiny objects for prey and lunge at them teeth-first at 35 mph.

How big do Barracuda get?

Different barracuda species can vary greatly in size, but they have the potential to become quite large. The great barracuda can range up to 65 inches long and up to 100 pounds in extreme cases. Pacific barracuda meanwhile grow to a more reasonable 3 feet and 10 pounds. Males and females are generally around the same size and not easily distinguishable. Great barracuda can live up to 14 years in the wild, and because of their size and speed do not have many predators.

What's the biggest Barracuda ever caught?

The largest barracuda caught on record is a massive 102 pound and 4 ounce fish caught in Barra du Kwanza in Angola by Thomas Gibson. The fish was a Guinean barracuda. The current all-tackle record great barracuda is 87 pounds 3 oz, and the pacific barracuda record is 9 lb 8 oz.

Where is the best place to catch Barracuda?


Barracudas are primarily a pure saltwater fish, although they have been known to swim in brackish waters from time to time (including the great barracuda especially as juvenile fish). It is a warm-water and tropical fish found in oceans worldwide, although depending on the location you may catch one or another of a number of barracuda species.

Barracuda typically reside near the surface of the water near reefs or sea grasses, although they can be found in the open ocean as well. If you are working some other fish and there are barracuda nearby, they will often become the scourge of your day and trying to steal your catch.

Great barracuda can be found anywhere from Massachusetts to Brazil and everywhere in between. Pacific barracuda are most common off Southern California and Baja California. 


When should I catch Barracuda?

Spring and summer are best for catching pacific barracuda, although they can be caught year-round as the season is always open. There is a 28 inch minimum in the US and a bag limit of 10. Great barracuda can be fished year-round as well and their season is generally best from September to October. South Florida will have the biggest fish around, and there is no size limit although there are bag limits depending on where you are.

How do I catch Barracuda?

Great barracuda are generally solitary hunters while pacific barracuda are known to school. This means that obviously your strategy will vary quite a bit, but generally you just need to keep in mind their sharp teeth and willingness to feed throughout the water column and to jump on feeding opportunities quickly.

Pacific barracuda can be found in massive schools an acre large chasing bait as a group. Once you get on them, it’s hard not to get a bite. You can fish surface jigs or throw anchovies or sardines; generally you wouldn’t throw anything plastic because it will get torn up form their teeth. When they are feeding, they won’t be picky.

Great barracuda require a slightly heavier tackle just based on the size difference of the fish, but they don’t really take much specialized tackle other than a wire leader - similar to pacific barracuda they will eat most things presented to them. They will usually come explore anything that comes in their territory so they will often find you. The best thing is generally a shiny lure retrieved somewhat erratically. Great barracuda prefer a faster retrieve than pacific.

Are Barracuda good to eat? What are the best Barracuda recipes?

Barracuda are not known as a species that is great to eat and they are caught for sport rather than dinner in many parts of the world. If you do plan to eat them, its advised to eat smaller fish and to eat them fairly fresh, as barracuda are known to sometimes have ciguatera.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Was in town for Thanksgiving with the fam and had an awesome time out with Capt. Ricky. The boat is super spacious, dry, comfortable, and fast and Capt uses nothing but top of the line tackle. We caught some nice wahoo on the troll that made for awesome sashimi, ceviche, and fish tacos back home. We also came across some floating debris and pitched baits at some Tripletail. They were super picky but Richard and Elliott knew how to make em eat! Thanks guys, will be back soon. – Jonathan with Captain Experiences

    Jonathan N. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Reel Rush Lauderdale Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time fishing w Chandler under tough windy and tide conditions. Worked his butt off to put us into fish. Would love to fish w him again.

    Gary R. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: Marquesas Atoll Light Tackle

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Jim was fantastic. From the start, our communication was quick and easy. He prepared us with what to expect and what the game plan would be for the day. Upon arrival, Captain Jim immediately welcomed us and briefed us on the safety protocols. Once we were out in the ocean trolling, he monitored and prepared all of the lines while entertaining us and feeding us with endless information. Once the fish was on, he coached us through the reel-in process and expertly removed the fish from the line, and encouraged all of us to take a photo with the fish. We would certainly recommend Captain Jim and we will be re-booking with him in the near future!

    Lauren V. | December 9, 2024

    Trip: 4 Hours Offshore Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    A fantastic day out on the water. Chilly but comfortable. Captain Edwin is a real pro. We didn’t really catch much, but he went out of his way to try and find us some good spots. Very patient and very jovial captain great conversations Looking forward to having us guide us again in the near future

    Marc L. | December 3, 2024

    Trip: Hook 'em for Lunch

  • ★★★★★
    If you’re looking for the real Florida deal, Mark’s the man. He’s got more years of experience than anyone out there, an incredible the likes of which no other charter is using, and the know how to make sure that if there’s something in the water, you’ll catch it. GetEmOn!

    Anton R. | December 3, 2024

    Trip: Nearshore/Offshore Sportfishing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Brad and Eddie were fantastic. Very knowledgeable and was a great day.

    Brian C. | December 1, 2024

    Trip: #1 Offshore Charter

  • ★★★★★
    The captain did his best to help us catch fish. As a result, the two of us were able to catch more than 15 fish.

    Koji S. | November 30, 2024

    Trip: Sportfishing Miami

  • ★★★★★
    Great time for some first timers! Tyler and Allen were awesome with their instruction and knowledge about the sport. We will be back!!

    Stephanie R. | November 28, 2024

    Trip: Fishing with Capt Tyler 4-12hrs!

  • ★★★★★
    I thought he did a great job. We caught a lot of fish and he was kind to my family. My 8 yr old daughter had a blast.

    Keith L. | November 28, 2024

    Trip: Key West Backcountry Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Dingo was a great guide. He was responsive and detailed answering questions before the trip. He had top end boat, fishing equipment and technology. He was safe, knowledgeable, helpful and put us on the fish. We will request his guide services in the future.

    Don F. | November 28, 2024

    Trip: Jupiter Fly Fishing with Dingo

  • ★★★★★
    My son and I had a wonderful time!! We will definitely be back again!! Thank you Charlie!

    Mae W. | November 26, 2024

    Trip: Fort Myers Inshore Angling

  • ★★★★★
    We had a group of 10 for a bachelor party and the experience was great. Everything was as imagined and the staff were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We would highly recommend this trip for either a small or big group.

    Jason Y. | November 25, 2024

    Trip: Daily Reef Fishing (Shared Trip)

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Mark suited our group greatly. He and Tyler worked extremely hard to try and catch some fish and succeeded. We caught some fish and had a great time. Would use them again.

    Mike L. | November 15, 2024

    Trip: Nearshore/Offshore Sportfishing

  • ★★★★★
    Amazing day. Friendly, helpful captain who also found some great fishing. I learned about the yellow brick road today. If not sure what that is, ask Captain Frank to show you. Have fun,

    Overman J. | November 12, 2024

    Trip: Reefs and Wreck Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Bryan took my sons and I out on a beautiful day through the Haulover Inlet, which was so much fun. we trolled we bought fished we kite fished… We caught sharks, mahi, mahi, and blackfin tuna! Captain Bryan brought his cool little dog along, and we all had a great day!

    John H. | November 11, 2024

    Trip: 4 hr Offshore Big Game Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time on the water today, would highly recommend for fun and fishing.

    John R. | October 29, 2024

    Trip: Offshore Discovery: Fishing Intro

  • ★★★★★
    We had a blast with Joe and Captain Chuck. Will definitely return!

    Yohannes H. | October 28, 2024

    Trip: Legendary Fishing in Key West

  • ★★★★★
    Eric was great we were catching fish the entire time. I wanted to catch a tarpon and in 10 minutes we had landed one. Exceptional trip tarpon snook and grouper. I would recommend to anyone who wants to catch fish

    Walter L. | October 21, 2024

    Trip: Back Country Bonanza

  • ★★★★★
    Harry and Alec were amazing and put us on the fish. Both were extremely knowledgeable and very entertaining during the day. I cannot recommend them highly enough and am so grateful for their expertise and efforts to make the trip so much fun. Thank you guys!

    Don O. | October 21, 2024

    Trip: 6 Hour Local Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Great experience. Sympatic guys. I can only recommend

    Vejvar M. | October 17, 2024

    Trip: 4 hr Offshore Big Game Trip

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