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Everything to Know About Booking a barracuda fishing charter
What are the best barracuda fishing charters?
Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 173 barracuda trips, and the most popular trips are Tavernier Backcountry Fishing guided by Ben, Tulum Trophy Hunt guided by Carlos, and Tampa Bay Fishing Classic guided by Christopher.
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What types of barracuda fishing charters are common?
Nearshore fishing is the most popular for barracuda as well as deep sea fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.
The most common fishing techniques are light tackle fishing, bottom fishing, and trolling but heavy tackle fishing and live bait fishing are popular as well.
How much do barracuda fishing charters cost?
for barracuda prices can range anywhere from $165 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day for barracuda is $808. The average price for a full day for barracuda is $1,577.
When is the best month to go barracuda fishing?
The most popular season for barracuda fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 15 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.
More Fishing Trips
Other Species to Target
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Alligator
- Alligator Gar
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Arctic Char
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Atlantic Salmon
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Duck
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
- Blackbelly Rosefish
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Catfish
- Blue Marlin
- Blue Shark
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Bluebill
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bluefish
- Bluegill
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Bowfin
- Bream
- Brook Trout
- Broomtail Grouper
- Brown Trout
- Bufflehead
- Bull Shark
- Bull Trout
- Bullhead Catfish
- Burbot
- Calico Bass
- California Corbina
- California Sheephead
- Canada Goose
- Canvasback
- Carp
- Cero Mackerel
- Channel Catfish
- Chinook Salmon
- Chum Salmon
- Cichlid
- Cinnamon Teal
- Clown Knifefish
- Cobia
- Cod
- Coho Salmon
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Merganser
- Crab
- Crappie
- Cubera Snapper
- Cutthroat Trout
- Dolly Varden
- Dove
- False Albacore
- Flathead Catfish
- Florida Pompano
- Flounder
- Fluke
- Freshwater Drum
- Gadwall
- Gag Grouper
- Garfish
- Giant Trevally
- Golden Dorado
- Golden Trout
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Green-Winged Teal
- Grunt
- Guadalupe Bass
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hardhead Catfish
- Hog
- Hogfish
- Hooded Merganser
- Horse-eye Jack
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Iguana
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lake Trout
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lemon Shark
- Leopard Shark
- Lingcod
- Lionfish
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mallard
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mexican Duck
- Mottled Duck
- Mullet Snapper
- Muskie
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Northern Pike
- Northern Pintail
- Northern Shoveler
- Nurse Shark
- Peacock Bass
- Perch
- Permit
- Pink Salmon
- Pink Snapper
- Pollock
- Porbeagle Shark
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Rainbow Trout
- Ray
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Red-Breasted Merganser
- Redfish
- Redhead
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
- Rockfish
- Roosterfish
- Sailfish
- Sauger
- Scallop
- Scamp Grouper
- Sculpin
- Scup
- Shad
- Sheepshead
- Shrimp
- Skate
- Skipjack Tuna
- Smallmouth Bass
- Smallmouth Buffalo
- Snook
- Snow Goose
- Snowy Grouper
- Sockeye Salmon
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Specklebelly Goose
- Speckled Trout
- Spotted Bass
- Steelhead
- Stingray
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Bass
- Striped Marlin
- Sturgeon
- Sunfish
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Tautog
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tigerfish
- Tilapia
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Walleye
- Warsaw Grouper
- Weakfish
- White Bass
- White Marlin
- White Seabass
- Whiting
- Wigeon
- Wood Duck
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Other Techniques to Try
- Artificial Lure Fishing
- Blind Hunting
- Bottom Fishing
- Bowfishing
- Calling
- Cut Bait Fishing
- Decoy Hunting
- Deep Dropping
- Drift Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Gigging
- Heavy Tackle Fishing
- Hunting With Dogs
- Ice Fishing
- Jigging
- Kayak Fishing
- Kite Fishing
- Light Tackle Fishing
- Live Bait Fishing
- Management Hunting
- Rifle Hunting
- Scalloping
- Shotgun Hunting
- Sight Casting
- Spearfishing
- Surf Fishing
- Topwater Fishing
- Trolling
- Wading
Other Types of Fishing
States
Cities
- Big Pine Key, Florida
- Biloxi, Mississippi
- Boca Raton, Florida
- Bokeelia, Florida
- Bradenton Beach, Florida
- Brunswick, Georgia
- Cancún, Mexico
- Cape Coral, Florida
- Caracas, Venezuela
- Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Clearwater, Florida
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Dauphin Island, Alabama
- Destin, Florida
- Duck Key, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Gulfport, Florida
- Hillsboro Beach, Florida
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Hollywood, Florida
- Holmes Beach, Florida
- Hudson, Florida
- Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
- Islamorada, Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Jupiter, Florida
- Key Largo, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Long Beach, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela
- Manteo, North Carolina
- Marathon, Florida
- Marco Island, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Morehead City, North Carolina
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Naples, Florida
- Nawiliwili, Hawaii
- Newport Beach, California
- Orange Beach, Alabama
- Oxnard, California
- Panama City, Florida
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Pompano Beach, Florida
- Port Orange, Florida
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Quepos, Costa Rica
- Riviera Beach, Florida
- San Diego, California
- Sandy Bay Sirpi, Nicaragua
- Sandys, Bermuda
- Somerset Village, Bermuda
- St. Augustine, Florida
- St. Marys, Georgia
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Stock Island, Florida
- Summerland Key, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Tavernier, Florida
- Tulum, Mexico
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- West End, Honduras
- Wilmington, North Carolina
Countries
Other Featured Cities
- Aransas Pass, TX
- Austin, TX
- Biloxi, MS
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Cancun, MX
- Cape Coral, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Clearwater, FL
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Crystal River, FL
- Dauphin Island, AL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- Destin, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers. FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Freeport, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Islamorada, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jupiter, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- Kona, HI
- Marathon, FL
- Marco Island, FL
- Miami, FL
- Naples, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Orange Beach, AL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port O'Connor, TX
- Rockport, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sarasota, FL
- South Padre Island, TX
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Tarpon Springs, FL
- Tulum, Mexico
- Venice, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wilmington, NC