Fish

Yellowmouth barracuda (Mediterranean barracuda)

Espetón (barracuda mediterránea)

Sphyraena viridensis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–6 lb.

Depth

Surface to 300 ft.

Best time

Dusk, night and dawn.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A long, silver barracuda with a big jutting lower jaw, fangs, a yellowish inside of the mouth and tail, and about 20 dark bars or saddles above the lateral line (more visible on live fish). The European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena) has no bars and is smaller.
Typical size: 2–6 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft and over 15 lb.
Diet: Sardines, bogue, horse mackerel, garfish and squid.
Behavior: Hunts in small packs around rocky points, harbors and drop-offs, especially at dusk and at night. It has become more common in the warming Mediterranean.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), France, Italy & Malta, Greece & the Adriatic, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean and Morocco & West Africa. Rocky coasts and harbors through the Mediterranean, and the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde.
Habitat: Rocky coasts and harbors through the Mediterranean, and the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde.
Depth: Surface to 300 ft.
Fishing depth: Surface to 30 ft at dusk and night.
Best season: Late summer through winter.
Best time: Dusk, night and dawn.
Best tides: Little tide in the Mediterranean.
Best weather / conditions: Calm nights, especially around the full moon.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live bogue, sardine or squid.
Best artificial lures: Slim minnows, long stickbaits, soft shads and squid jigs at night.
Tackle setup: 9–10 ft lure rod (10–40 g) with a 3000–4000 reel.
Hook size: Lure trebles or 1/0–3/0 single hooks.
Line: 15–20 lb braid.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (barracuda teeth cut light line).

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

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Lures Plugs Pliers

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky coasts and harbors through the Mediterranean, and the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde.
Rig up: 9–10 ft lure rod (10–40 g) with a 3000–4000 reel. 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (barracuda teeth cut light line).
Pick your bait: Live bogue, sardine or squid. Lures: Slim minnows, long stickbaits, soft shads and squid jigs at night.
Fish it: Cast slim minnows along rocky points and harbor entrances at dusk and into the night with a slow, steady retrieve.
Time it: Dusk, night and dawn. Little tide in the Mediterranean.

Fishing techniques: Cast slim minnows along rocky points and harbor entrances at dusk and into the night with a slow, steady retrieve.
BigJoe's tip: Barracuda often follow and nip at the tail of a lure. A short pause in the retrieve triggers the strike.
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: Good, firm white meat, grilled or baked; best very fresh.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Razor-sharp fangs; use pliers and a lip grip. Ciguatera is not a known problem in the Mediterranean.
Regulations: Few specific rules; national sea fishing rules and marine reserves apply. Sea fishing rules change by country: the UK, Ireland and France need no sea license, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece sell or require recreational sea licenses or permits, and Italy asks for a free online registration. All have minimum sizes, and marine reserves have no-fishing zones.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat.

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Sources & photo credits