Tube Lures

[KenChir]

Yesterday night we were at Valletta fishing for a 3 foot Cuda which was swimming and jumping around. It would chase but not bite our Rapala 'Magnun', Yo Zuri and Dip 'Minnow'. It was most interested in the Dip Minnow which is minute (barely 7cm long!! ) but no strikes. We were 3 fishing at the same time with the 3 said lures. This morning i read this re. Tube lures for barracuda fishing:

"The average tube lure for barracuda is about ten to twelve inches long, but John finds he has better success with tubes that are fifteen to eighteen inches long. Chartreuse is the number-one color, followed by fluorescent red. Tubing should always be kept coiled so that it retains some natural bends. When you rig it, use number 6, 7, or 8 stainless steel wire. You have the option of single hooks or trebles. One thing I learned is that the middle hook should be slightly forward of the center of the tubing. Said another way, if you are using sixteen inches of tubing, the center hook should be slightly less than eight inches from the head. Otherwise, you'll miss a greater percentage of fish."

from http://inshore.com/tips-cuda.html

Photo of one here : http://www.eangler.com/graphics/boatersworld/products/478630403.jpg

Anyone ever tried one? Any stories?

Ken

[Simon G]

hi kenneth
it is quite pissing off when that happens
what i normally do which works is bring the lure in as fast as you can to simulate a fish running for his life .
if you reel in slow it just looks at it and can tell it is not real.
if you see it chase while reeling in slow pull the lure using the rod as if the fish is trying to escape that way you may trigger an impulse strike from the cuda

good luck

[Fishmagician]

Hi Kenneth, The tube lures that are made for the barracuda are usually sold in the Florida water, they have the tropical type of barracuda and that tube lure was designed for fishing them. I'm not how they would or if they would work for the smaller variety....

Best of luck
Capt. Mike Fisher

[Kayak Mike]

Hi

I was reading your post about lures for barracuda and wondered if you had made/obtained or tried the tube lures you were talking about. I was trying to obtain some coloured surgical tubing here in Malta to make some but have not been successful.  If you made some I would be interested in finding out where you got your tubing. People tell me that barracuda are on the increase here in Malta, I guess that these are smaller than the tropical species, and that they are an excellent fighting fish.

Also, in Australia (Queensland) where I initially come from, now living at Birkirkara, barracuda are not eaten due to the likelyhood of getting ciguatera poisoning from them. ("Most fish are released to fight another day, the larger specimens are suspected to carry the debilitating disease ciguatera which causes severe problems like vomiting, headaches, loss of sensation and fever. Eating this species should be avoided." Fishing Cairns.com)   
Is this a problem in Malta with barracuda? 

[ciappinu]

Hi Mike,

No problem with eating Mediterranean Barracuda. I've eaten quite a few and never any problems, still alive and well. I did some research before actually eating my first one, and it seems that Mediterranean Barracuda are clean. I would still avoid the bigger ones anyway though (Bigger than 3 feet).

In my opinion yes, for some reason Barracuda are becoming extremely plentiful in Malta. When I was young, they where practically unheard of. Never saw one before, except for the last 10 years. And I did spend ages on the jetties fishing. However my Grandfather used to tell me about Barracuda, so it seems that one time in the past they where a common sight, then they vanished for a while.

With regards to Lures, my favouite is a red Rubber Squid Lure about 4 inches long.  Similar to the traditional Lampuki ones, but in bright red and much larger. I use a large hook on that. I was quite successful this year on Barracuda from the boat.