Species › Mediterranean › European Barracuda

Saltwater

European Barracuda

Sphyraena sphyraena · Barracuda, Mediterranean barracuda, Espetón

Water temp
63–75°F
Peak season
May–Sep
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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European Barracuda (Banco de gran barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda), parque nacional Ras Muhammad, Egipto, 2022-03-27, DD 115.jpg)

Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

The European barracuda is a long, cylindrical fish with a pointed head, a protruding lower jaw full of knife-like teeth, a silver body with faint dark bars and two widely separated dorsal fins. It is native to the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic from the Bay of Biscay to Angola, hunting over reefs, drop-offs and harbor entrances in daylight. Barracuda feed on sardines, anchovies, bogue and other small schooling fish, striking with a short burst of speed from ambush. They rarely exceed 10 lb (4.5 kg), but their visible, violent strikes on stickbaits and jigs have made them a staple of the growing Mediterranean lure-fishing scene.

Typical size2–6 lb (1–3 kg); 24–36 in
Trophy10 lb+ (4.5 kg+)
Table fareGood — lean white flesh, though many anglers release them

Where & when

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Best from May to October when fish are inshore around harbors, headlands and bait schools; summer dawns and dusks are peak, and fish move deeper and feed less in winter.

Costa Brava, SpainRocky headlands and harbors; shore and boat lure fishingGulf of Naples, ItalyReefs and drop-offs around Ischia and CapriBodrum Peninsula, TurkeyAegean points and bays with summer barracuda

How to catch

Fast stickbaits and minnowsCast 4–6 in slim sinking stickbaits or minnows along drop-offs, harbor walls and current lines, and retrieve fast with twitches and short pauses. Barracuda follow and strike on the acceleration, so speed up when you see a shadow behind the lure.
Light trollingTroll small diving minnows or metal spoons at 4–6 knots along rocky shorelines and over reefs in 15–60 ft (5–20 m) of water at dawn. Use a short fluorocarbon or light wire leader against the teeth.

Gear

Rod7–8' medium spinning, fast action
Reel3000–4000 spinning
Line15–20 lb braid; 30–40 lb fluorocarbon or light wire leader

Lures

Sinking stickbaitSlim minnow plugMetal casting jig

Baits

Live sardine or bogueSardine strips

Regulations

Mediterranean countries require a recreational sea-fishing licence and set daily catch limits, often by total weight, with minimum sizes for many species; barracuda are rarely singled out but general limits apply and vary by country.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Are European barracuda dangerous?

No. The European barracuda is a small species rarely over 3 ft (1 m) and is not known to attack swimmers, unlike its larger tropical relative the great barracuda. Its teeth are razor sharp, though, so unhook it with pliers or a lip grip and keep fingers clear of the jaws.

Bite forecast — European Barracuda

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to European Barracuda.

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