General Description and habitat:
The greater barracuda is a long silvery fish with two widely separate dorsal fins. The characteristic large mouth and long knife-like teeth make this species very easily recognizable. This species often have dark ink-like spots that are arranged in no pattern on their flanks. The young have dark crossbars on their backs and blotches on their sides. This game fish can attain a very large size, and specimens of over 2 meters long have been recorded. Juvenile Greater Barracuda can form enormous shoals, although the really large specimens of this species are almost entirely solitary.

Barracuda tend to enjoy areas of the flats that allow them to lie and wait, to ambush prey species as they come close enough for a surprise attack. These tend to be area on the flats, such as the margins along Turtle Grass, and areas around coral bommies that attract a larger flow of juvenile fish.

Angling Tackle and Tactics:

Fly:

Fast action 9 ft 12 wht, matched with a large arbor direct drive reel is the standard set up. A matched floating line completes this set-up.

When targeting barracuda, due to their ambush tactics a motionless barracuda will often be mistaken for a log. Once a barracuda has been sighted, one has to be able to make very accurate casts and be prepared for the bite within the first couple of strips. The cuda will often refuse a fly if it has too much time to scrutinize it, and hence most the take with this species will be within the first two or three strips of the fly line.

Due to the Barracudas diet of mainly juvenile fish, flies that tend to produce the best results larger bait fish patterns, flashy profiles and deceivers. These flies dressed in a little more flash than usual, tend to trigger an aggressive response from the ambush predator. Surface flippers and poppers also produce results.

Leader set up is a simple 5 -7 ft leader, of 20 – 25lb fluorocarbon. Due to the toothy nature of the barracuda, a short section of #5 to #7 piano wire is vital. Even with a short section of wire, many barracuda still manage to cut off the line with their aggressive takes reaching past the length of piano wire.

Comprehensive tackle lists, compiled for each unique Salt water fishing area, will be sent out on request, rob@tourettefishing.com, or on booking.

For details on the areas Tourette Fishing targets Giant Barracuda, go to the following pages:

• St Josephs, Seychelles
• Inhaca Island Kayak Safari