Great barracuda

US fish and state coverage

Sphyraena barracuda

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Up to 106 pounds Consuming larger barracuda may cause ciguatera poisoning.
Catch minimum
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Range inshore to offshore. Young found inshore in seagrass beds.
Aliases
Barracuda
Water type
saltwater

When to fish

Good months
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Bite time of day
daytime sight-casting and reef patrols

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Range inshore to offshore. Young found inshore in seagrass beds.
Habitat zone
both
Fishing zone
both

How to catch

Techniques
wire leader; cast tube lures on flats; live bait or stinger over reefs

Bait & lures

Preferred bait
live baitfish; rigged ballyhoo
Preferred lures
tube lures on wire; tube flies

Size

Typical size
Up to 106 pounds Consuming larger barracuda may cause ciguatera poisoning.

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

state record evidence

Source context: Florida

Record type
florida state
Record weight lb
67.0
Record location
Islamorada
Record date
01/29/1949
Record angler
Harold K. Goodstone
Record catch text
67.0 lb; by Harold K. Goodstone; on 01/29/1949; at Islamorada

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 1020 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 621 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 7 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

Legacy Florida source profiles

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.