Fish

Pacific barracuda

Barracuda del Pacífico

Sphyraena argentea

Guide by Captain Big Joe (Joe Arias)

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

Most catches are smaller than the top size of about 4.8 ft (145 cm).

Depth

From the surface down to 59 ft (18 m).

Best time

Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Long, thin, silvery fish with a pointed head, a jutting lower jaw full of sharp teeth and a yellowish forked tail. Much smaller than the great barracuda of the Caribbean.
Typical size: Most catches are smaller than the top size of about 4.8 ft (145 cm).
Maximum size: Up to about 4.8 ft (145 cm) long (fork length) and 26 lb (12 kg). Source: FishBase
Diet: It feeds mainly on other fishes.
Behavior: It usually stays near shore or near the surface, often in small schools, and moves south from California in autumn. It has large, sharp teeth and an aggressive nature.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Southern California.
Habitat: Open water along the kelp, beaches and islands in spring and summer.
Depth: From the surface down to 59 ft (18 m).
Fishing depth: Surface to 100 ft; deeper on the banks in the middle of the day.
Best season: Spring through fall, peaking in summer in warm-water years.
Best time: Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day.
Best tides: Current and moving water over the banks and around the islands.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, clear blue water and calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live anchovies and sardines.
Best artificial lures: Chrome or blue-and-white irons, spoons and small swimbaits.
Tackle setup: 7–8 ft conventional rod with a strong star-drag or lever-drag reel.
Hook size: 1/0–4/0 live-bait hooks; surface and yo-yo iron jigs.
Line: 25–50 lb mono or 50–65 lb braid with a topshot.
Leader: 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Open water along the kelp, beaches and islands in spring and summer.
Rig up: 7–8 ft conventional rod with a strong star-drag or lever-drag reel. 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live anchovies and sardines. Lures: Chrome or blue-and-white irons, spoons and small swimbaits.
Fish it: Cast and retrieve an iron fast through the schools, or fly-line a sardine. Use a long-shank hook or light wire because of the teeth.
Time it: Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day. Current and moving water over the banks and around the islands.

Fishing techniques: Cast and retrieve an iron fast through the schools, or fly-line a sardine. Use a long-shank hook or light wire because of the teeth.
BigJoe's tip: When the barracuda are thick, a fast-retrieved iron catches more than bait.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Soft, mild meat — best eaten fresh, grilled or smoked the same day.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Strong runs — keep fingers clear of the line and reel, and gaff carefully.
Regulations: California has a 28 in minimum size. Check CDFW for current limits. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

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Sources & photo credits