The record-sized specimen caught on rod-and-reel weighed 46.72kg (103.0lb) and measured 1.7m (5.6ft), while an even longer example measured 2m (6.6ft). All of a sudden I pulled it up, and Cam said, Jesus! Although this is why fishermen enjoy a barracuda hunt, it can lead to broken tackle. Three different times in the last two months, Ive been back there fishing and hes stalked me. A dead one recently washed ashore in Cape Corals Jaycee Park along the Caloosahatchee River, which runs from Lake Okeechobee west to the Gulf of Mexico. The largest barracuda ever caught in Florida was a great barracuda (Sphyraena barracudapronounced ss-ferry-ena). Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. and he caught it at Cape Lookout. Tackle Village is reader supported. Experts say great barracuda are the species swimming around Floridas waters, but this is a massive fish when fully grown, so serious tackle is required to reel in the largest. Given the biggest barracuda ever caught weighed 102 pounds, theres still everything to play for if youre fishing for Barracuda in Florida! To replace a record for a fish weighing less than 25 pounds (11.33 kg), the replacement must weigh at least 2 ounces (56.69 gm) more than the existing record. In fact, of the nine records he has earned in a lifetime of fishing, only the Louisiana state-record tarpon and the world-record barracuda are current. They are clever fish, so youll spot barracuda taking hooked fish from a line. The barracuda is a saltwater fish of the genus Sphyraena, the only genus in the family Sphyraenidae, which was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815. If youre looking to snag a prize winner, heres what youll need to beat. Gibson, a devoted tarpon fisherman who holds several state records as has been described as the Texas Tarpon Guru, had found the trip to Angola slow going with only a single tarpon landed. So me and him, something was going to give between the two of us, he said. The largest official barracuda ever caught in the world was snagged in the Kwanza River, Angola, southern Africa by United States angler Thomas Gibson in 2013. An ugly mug. Black blotches on lower sides. In 1947 a barracuda caused a fatality in Floridas Key West. His fish weighed 52 lbs. His fish was 52 lb. 8 oz. Young have dark stripe on side that breaks These spots regularly turn up barracuda from one to three feet, with up to five feet barracuda spotted on occasion too. The Keys hosts an annual all-release Cuda Bowl each year, scheduled around the same time as the Super Bowl. Anglers should handle their catch with wet hands only (do not use a towel), be careful not to poke fingers into eyes or gills and fully support the body weight of the fish by cradling it horizontally. Your submissions to this program, including photos and other data provided to the Florida Saltwater Angler Recognition Program, constitute a release for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to use them without compensation or further notice for research, information and other public purposes, such as being posted on the FWC website or being used in FWC publications and promotional materials. If you buy a product through links on the site we may make a small commission. The large barracuda ever caught in Florida was a 67-pound great barracuda, but this species can reach five to six feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds, so theres everything to fish for! Field & Stream profiled Thomas Gibson Jr. of Houston as Texas tarpon guru, in 1991. But none surprised him nearly as much as his most recent catch, a 102-pound Guinean barracuda that is the pending IGFA all-tackle world record. Size, Age, and Growth. These teeth can cause deep lacerating wounds. The Guinean barracuda weighed a whopping 102.8 pounds (46.4 kilograms) and was just over six feet 10 inches long. The second dorsal fin equals the anal fin in size and is situated more or less above it. WebLargest exclusively freshwater fish found in North America, measuring 8 to 10 feet. Young have dark stripe on side that breaks Exceptionally large specimens can exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weigh over 23 kg (51 lb). He pulled out all kinds of line, Gibson says. A Bonnier LLC Company. The angler is responsible for submitting a complete application form. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reserves the right to deny any application to the Catch a Florida Memory - Saltwater Angler Recognition Programs and can change these rules at any time without notice. 7 oz. When he would sightcast a fish and start working the lure, theyd explode on it. Barracuda can live up to 14 years in the wild given they have barely any predators once fully grown. WebFlorida Sportfishing Species Barracuda Family Sphyraenidae. Exceptionally large specimens can exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weigh over 23 kg (51 lb). If youre ready to pack your rod and discover the largest barracuda ever caught in Florida, youll break a record held since 1949. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The adult great Barracuda is usually a loaner but juveniles can sometimes be seen in schools. This fish ate a Rapala X-Rap Long Cast Shallow, size 12 (4 inches). WebFlorida Sportfishing Species Barracuda Family Sphyraenidae. Gibson was fishing for tarpon near the mouth of the Kwanza River in the African nation of Angola when he hooked the huge Guinean barracuda. Exceptionally large specimens can exceed 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weigh over 23 kg (51 lb). Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. They have a distinct taste that not everybody likes, but those who do find them a great eating fish. The record-sized specimen caught on rod-and-reel weighed 46.72 kg (103.0 lb) and measured 1.7 m (5.6 ft), while an even longer example measured 2 m (6.6 ft). The head is quite large and is pointed and pike-like in appearance. Contact AnglerRecognition@MyFWC.com or 850-487-0554 for questions regarding these programs. Mature specimens are usually around 60100cm (2439in) in length and weigh 2.59.0kg (5.519.8lb). When humans eat this, it can cause ciguatera poisoning (CFP). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the record for the heaviest gator caught in the state is a 1,043-pound male from Orange Lake in Alachua County. Florida is a hot spot for enormous freshwater and saltwater fish. But a fearsome new invasive predator has emerged in the state: the arapaima, a monster fish that can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh hundreds of pounds. Barracudas get a bad rap, but in winter, they aggressively hit plugs over shallow Florida Keys flats. Published Doug Olander. He suggested to his fishing partner, Cam Nicolson, that they troll to locate the tarpon when the huge barracuda struck. Kim Calzada caught the Texas State Record barracuda on September 4, 1993 in the Gulf of Mexico. When the cudas are shallow, theyre acrobatic.. They are in most shallow or deep water environments around Miami, Miami Beach, Biscayne Bay, Everglades National Park, and the Florida Keys. It never jumped.. Sport Fishing Magazine may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. The lure is heavy, casts a mile and sinks fast, Quinn says. Killer barracudas are not a frequent issue, and most attacks happen if they mistake humans for prey. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Although specialized tackle isnt required to catch Floridas barracuda, a sturdy rod is essential because barracudas fight and leap. They are predatory fish with a jutting bottom jaw and sharp pointed teeth of different sizes. Great barracudas are plentiful around Florida. Thats why you need a range of different lures. Do not place fish on hot, dry boat surfaces. At the time hed caught 973 tarponincluding the Texas state record and two International Game Fish Association line-class records. They were so hard on baits with their teeth.. It was long, too: 13 feet, 10-1/2 inches. Were looking back, waiting for this thing to jump. Barracudas appear in open seas. Juvenile predatory barracuda hunt small baitfish such as snapper, grunts, mullets and bream in shallow water flats near seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, but larger adults also hunt in the open ocean down to 135 feet (100 meters). But once they hauled it over the gunwales, Gibson says, It never wiggled again., Nicolson and his family, who live in Angola, hold several barracuda records themselves. They are voracious predators and hunt by ambush. Species include yellowtail barracuda, pick handle barracuda, and great barracuda. It looks like a crocodile with no legs!. Barracudas get a bad rap, but in winter, they aggressively hit plugs over shallow Florida Keys flats. Big teeth make barracudas scary to novices and an ugly nuisance to many saltwater anglers. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The biggest one ever caught on rod and reel (hook/line) was a massive 102 lb. For more catch-and-release techniques, see the following: It is preferred that anglers on vessels are photographed wearing personal floatation devices. After hooking up just outside of some mangrove areas in ultra-shallow waters, Rapalas Dan Quinn released a fierce-looking cuda. (46.4kg) and took Thomas Gibson Jr. only about 10 minutes of fighting to land it. WebGreat barracudas are large fish, and one of the largest of the Barracudas. Barracuda are curious fish and because they have few predators, they will investigate most flashing lures or meat baits. The rest are, as they say, retired,' Gibson says. They usually hunt alone, but when prey is plentiful, they congregate, snatch, and cause a commotion. In fact, catching these ugly buggers has become quite popular. Mature specimens are usually around 60100 cm (2439 in) in length and weigh 2.59.0 kg (5.519.8 lb). Habits Barracuda are a fast predatory fish often found in shallow tropical water near coral reefs and sand flats. He worked it just about as fast as he could, popping and chugging as quickly as possible. 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