My passion for stalking bonefish on shallow, tropical flats led to my introduction to the great barracuda. When hooked, barracuda run like a bonefish and jump like a tarpon. Their speed and power are awesome to witness, and even better when attached to the end of your fly line. When traditional flats fishing is slow, chances are there is a barracuda nearby waiting to turn that around.
While they don’t have the stamina like jacks or permit do, their readiness to eat a fly, ample sightfishing opportunities, and impressive acrobatics earn them the title of “The Unsung Hero of the Flats.” If you want to tangle with a barracuda of you’re own, follow along as we dive into how to catch these often overlooked fish.
Habitat and Biology:
Barracuda are predatory fish often found cruising flats looking for a meal. If you’ve ever bonefished, chances are you’ve stumbled across a barracuda or two doing the same thing as you—searching for bonefish in the shallows. In addition to bonefish, they feed on needlefish, pilchards, and other small fish found on the flats. Barracudas rely on their incredible eyesight to hunt. The shimmer of fish scales or the flash of a fly will often trigger a strike.
The great barracuda is one of the 27 subspecies of fish categorized as barracuda. This species is the largest of the barracudas and can grow over 5 feet and weigh over 100 pounds. They are found across the globe in tropical and sub-tropical oceans, often found cruising flats or patrolling reefs.
Great barracuda have a large mouth containing two sets of teeth. The outer row of small, razor-sharp teeth is for tearing, and the inner set of larger teeth is for piercing. These teeth work in tandem to rip into the flesh of their prey. The long, needle-like teeth fit into holes in the opposing jaw, which allows the barracuda to fully close its mouth. When hunting, they can swallow smaller prey whole and cut larger prey in half to be devoured in pieces. I have personally had a bonefish bitten in half by a large ‘cuda in one bite. Their razor-sharp teeth can do serious damage to fish, as well as the fingers of foolhardy anglers! (A story for another time!)
Tips and Strategies for Barracuda Fly Fishing:
I have fished with more than a few anglers who look down on barracuda, not wanting to even consider fishing for them. What a mistake! On slow bonefishing days when the bones live up to their nickname “the ghosts of the flats,” a 40-50” barracuda can make your day.
Presenting the fly to a barracuda is pretty straightforward. The longer the cast you can make, the less the likelihood the ‘cuda will see you while casting, or when it is following your fly. An important thing to remember is NEVER cast over the fish, so that on the retrieve, your fly is swimming toward the barracuda. Prey does not normally swim toward the predator, and will spook a ‘cuda almost every time. I have seen aggressive barracuda take a fly that is being retrieved straight at them, but that is the exception. Make your cast off to either side of the fish, with the fly landing about 10’ away. Barracuda have excellent eyesight, especially in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas or Mexico.
I prefer to strip as soon as my fly lands, using a fast retrieve with long, one-handed strips. Some anglers like to tuck the rod under their arm and strip with both hands. Whichever you choose, it is important to keep the fly moving quickly while maintaining control of the line. When a fish strikes, this is crucial to drive the hook home and clear extra fly line on the first run.
In most cases, the fish will either engage and follow the fly or swim off. If he follows but does not take, make another cast, trying to entice him. I’ve caught many barracuda after they refused the fly several times, only to change their mind and eat. If several fast retrieves don’t work, try casting the fly slightly closer to the fish and employing slower strips. I have also had success on reluctant fish by casting to the opposite side of that fish, so that the fly appears to be coming from a totally different location and angle.
When that ‘cuda is hooked, be prepared for a blistering run, often going well into your backing! Barracuda generally tire after several minutes, and when you are finally ready to land them, lead them into shallow water, generally 4-6” deep. As you lead the fish in, it will turn on its side, and you can generally get a great grip on their tail. Use a pair of long-nose pliers to remove the hook.
Gear:
Anglers targeting barracuda should use a 9- or 10-weight rod and a saltwater fly reel capable of stopping the initial run. These rods double as great permit rods, covering all your bases on the flats. The most important piece of gear when barracuda fishing is how you rig your rod.
There are several ways to rig for barracuda, and all involve a wire bite tippet. You should use at least 16” of 30 lb wire to protect against bite-offs from a fish that may completely engulf your fly.
When fishing for barracuda, I will either carry a 2nd rod rigged with wire or have two or three flies pre-rigged for them. I prefer shad or needlefish imitations tied on 30-40 lb knottable wire with a perfection loop on the end of the wire, so I can quickly cut my bonefish fly off and re-tie my tippet directly to this loop.
If you are wading and want to bring two rods, a rod holster is a great investment. There are several good rod holsters on the market that anglers can use to carry a spare rod, like the Fishpond offering.
In a pinch, you can also use the O-ring of a sturdy snap swivel to the end of your pre-rigged fly’s wire bite tippet. Then just snap the swivel to the eye of your bonefish fly and cast away. Of course, you are casting two flies, which will make casting slightly more difficult.
Flies:
Barracuda are predatory fish, so large flies are the name of the game. Most commercially tied barracuda flies resemble needlefish. These long, slender flies are meant to be fished with a two-handed retrieve imitating the fast swimming action of needlefish.
Personally, I prefer to fish larger baitfish flies and topwater patterns. Poppers are often very effective; their noise and surface commotion will draw a barracuda’s attention from afar. In terms of baitfish patterns, unweighted flies imitating shad are my go-to. Look for flies made with synthetic materials that shed water and can be cast further. It’s also worth noting that synthetic materials generally hold up better to ‘cuda teeth.
If you’re fishing baitfish patterns, I typically want my fly riding just under the surface or high in the water column. Unweighted flies are easier to cast, and they don’t run the risk of getting caught on the bottom before your strip begins.
Exercise Caution:
I have witnessed several close calls of wading anglers landing bonefish in knee to thigh deep water. Barracuda will pick up on the commotion and take advantage of an easy meal, rushing in to attack a bonefish seconds before they are about to grab it for a quick release. The anglers were very close to being in the emergency room with serious damage from a barracuda bite. Always pay attention to your surroundings when landing bonefish and other flats species.
If you are with a guide, they would normally handle the fish for you, and often love to bring ‘cuda home for dinner! If you plan to do DIY fishing and bring a cooler or a large garbage bag, keep the barracuda and bring it back for the lodge staff. You will quickly make friends, as most Bahamians love to eat ‘cuda, though I steer clear of it. Some barracuda can have the toxin ciguatera, which can be harmful to humans.
Final Thoughts:
I love catching barracuda, so much so, I named our dog Great Barracuda Tobia (Cuda for short). I even have a tattoo on my forearm of an airborne ‘cuda wearing a streamer, water spraying as he rockets out of the water. If you’ve flats fished enough, chances are you’ve come across more than a few barracudas. So rather than scoffing at what others may consider a nuisance, capitalize on the opportunity. You’ll quickly realize why barracudas are the unsung heroes of the flats.
