Great Barracuda fishing in Florida

Great barracuda are the long, toothy ambush predators of South Florida and the Keys, found on shallow flats, along bridges and channel edges, around jetties and inlet rocks, and near docks and seawalls. Big fish move onto Keys flats in the cooler months, when sunny days warm the shallows, while bridges and inlets hold them year-round. They like clear water and a rising tide and strike with blinding speed. A fast-moving lure is the classic approach: a long tube-style lure, silver spoon, twitchbait or walking topwater retrieved as fast as you can reel, or a live pilchard, finger mullet or pinfish freelined past them. Use 15 to 30 lb line and always a wire leader, since their teeth shear through mono. Handle barracuda very carefully with a lip grip or long pliers, keep your hands away from the mouth, and support the body. Larger barracuda can carry ciguatera, a toxin that makes people ill, so many anglers release them. Check current FWC rules before keeping one.