Great Barracuda
These fearsome-looking saltwater predators are also fantastic game fish that will often take anglers deep into their backing and leap many times during the fight.
T
he great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) isn’t generally considered one of the premier saltwater fly rod species—it’s not part of the flats Grand Slam, for instance—and few fly fishers head to the tropics to specifically chase this toothy beast. But when you spot a silvery torpedo lying in ambush in a deep slot, or tucked into the mangroves, it’s time to pick up a rod rigged with a wire leader and a baitfish pattern. Great barracuda can be maddeningly sullen and wary and often won’t even react to your offering or just slowly swim away. But at other times they will attack a fly with reckless abandon and at great speed. And that’s when the fun really starts because barracuda fight like they mean it.
Defined lateral line
Blue-gray along the back, with silvery sides
Large eyes and mouth
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= Two rows of sharp teeth Lower jaw extends beyond upper jaw
White belly
Flies and Tactics
SANDY HAYES
The IGFA all-tackle record barracuda was caught at Christmas Island in 2012 and weighed in at 87 pounds, 3 ounces, but most fish targeted by fly fishers on the flats are considerably smaller. Rods from 9-weight through 12-weight will give you enough leverage to battle big fish, and of course you’ll need a wire leader. The key to a good retrieve is speed: the faster, the better. Barracuda feed almost exclusively on other fish, so long, slim baitfish patterns are your best choices. Because of their strong jaws and teeth, the fish will bend light hooks and shred poorly constructed flies. So make sure that your hooks are strong, the points are razor sharp, and use patterns that incorporate a stinger hook whenever possible. You don’t need to worry about matching the hatch, but carry a variety of colors, such as chartreuse, black, red-over-white, and pearl. 38 I AMERICAN ANGLER
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