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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
August 31, 2002
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Ballistic Barracudas are much more fun than scud missiles. The lowly Great Barracuda never gets much ink in the fishing reports and articles, but this angler/writer will venture a few favorable words in this self-guided missiles defense. No, we don't eat them or even consider them a primary target species, but for the sheer joy of fish-fighting, big cudas have few equals.
These wolves of the water attain sizes in excess of 100 pounds and over 6 foot. In my part of the worlds' waters, barracudas hang out on offshore wrecks during the summer months. They are aggressive carnivores that frequently attack flashy objects live dive watches. Once while diving in the BVI's, I acccidently bumped into a cuda that looked to be bigger than me. Suddenly, this curious fella was nose to nose and eyeballing my dive watch. Since discretiion is always the better part of valor, I asked his permission to swim away and he graciously agreed.
Attacks on humans are extremely rare, but one has to respect the cuda's mouth full of canine incisors that occlude like our teeth. The bite is straight and clean, not jagged like a shark. When a cuda bites one of your snappers in half on the way to the boat, it looks like it was run through a table saw. Makes a pretty convincing case for not putting these big boys in the boat with loved ones. Unloved ones?
Generally, barracudas should not be eaten, due to the possible risk of Ciguatera poisoning. Cudas eat puffers and other reef dwellers that are toxic. This is particulary true in Southern latitudes where many reef fish contain Ciguatera. We have many better choices.
Targeting big cudas is fun and easy. They hang around the 5 alphabet towers of the Northern Gulf of Mexico and most of the publically known wrecks. A big blue runner or a chunk of Bonita will do the trick. On your 30 pound class outfit, tie on heavy wire and a stout hook and hold on. The first run of a big cuda will smoke your drag system. It is common for them to do several greyhound jumps, hopefully none lands them onboard your vessel. Whatever you do, never stick a gaff into a green cuda, unless your will is up-to-date. It is all about the pure adrenalin rush of being directly connected to a hot fish. FISH ON!!!
Until next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,
Captain Alex Crawford
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
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