barracuda

Simon G · May 05, 2006, 17:14:49 CET

there are three main techniques in catching cuda
1 trolling at slow speed with live/dead bait
2 trolling at medium speed with lures
3 spinning from the shore

Fishmagician · May 06, 2006, 01:34:57 CET

Simon, I don't know if you fish for swordfish, but barracuda make a great bait for them....Very tempting trolled slow in the dark, or early light, of fished straight down under a float with a light above the cuda....LOOK OUT

Capt. Mike Fisher

fin · May 18, 2006, 21:41:26 CET

just wondering mike how far offshore would a cuda go?

YOURS FIN

Fishmagician · May 19, 2006, 17:36:26 CET

Cuda here are related more to the inshore waters and kelp beds here in southern California. But Swordies love 'em...they eat most anything...even bottom fish!!

placebo · May 25, 2006, 23:54:42 CET

how do you rig the fish wih float and lights?

?

sergio · May 30, 2006, 19:58:02 CET

hi guys im kinda new here i havent fished since i was 16 (im twenty now ) . well i recently re-kindled my passion for fishing last month or so . well , last saturday , me and my friends went shore fishing and this 3 or 4 foot cuda cane right underneath us !!!! the thing is , we didnt have anything to catch it with and it was really frustrating because it kept coming back for about an hour !!! what kind of lure should i buy to use on the shore for cuda ? and what can i use from the boat ? ( because we're repairing my friend's boat which will be ready soon) . i like to buy from mister fish. any tips about what kind of lure to use ? both for casting from the shore and for trolling along the boat? ( sorry for the long post ) thanks

skip · May 30, 2006, 20:51:44 CET

Hi Sergio,

Welcome to the forum. Placebo will def be able to help you out with this one, as will SimonG, fraid I know virtually nothing about shore fishing. Indeed very frustrating to see a fish you weren't equipped to get, but high spirits and great motivation to get the right kit so next time you'll be posting a picture for us all to see here online!

Skip

Simon G · May 31, 2006, 10:28:47 CET

Hi Sergio
The best way to catch cuda's is by spinning is the cuda was so close in it was probably not feeding
the lures to use are fish like 4-6 inches long eg halco, rapala,etc etc.
you do not need a wire trace when spinning cos they attack the lure sideways
but check your line after every 10 casts to make sure there is no damage on the knot or swivel.
(ps dont give up it might take a while before they bite...... Good luck)

Simon G

placebo · May 31, 2006, 10:37:28 CET

Sergio, I would choose Yo-Zuri or oWNER lures. There are other succesful lures but it does depend on your choice.

I prefer 9mm lures for inports while I would choose bigger lure 12mm for places like Zurrieq, Mellieha etc....Colours.....red heads are great, even firetigers (green with blach stripes) are also good.

The most important thing is the time of the day. Dawn and dusk are both succesful. During daytime you can try using live bait (maybe vopa or sawrella) on a hook and fished on running float method using 25/30gms float.

As for boat fishing I would choose yozuri/ rapala/ halco lures 12mm or 9mm on 0.25mm line with no steel.

Use steel only if you're fishing with live bait.

sergio · May 31, 2006, 14:16:12 CET

thanks a lot guys i really appresciate the help !! so from a boat i should just troll along at medium speed ? ( our motor is a yamaha 9.9 which we recently modified into a 15hp so i dont think it can go too fast)

placebo · May 31, 2006, 15:11:45 CET

sergio, half gas is okay.

approx 4-5 knots....

by the way, if you intent lure fishing from boat for barracuda I prefer using floating lures.
Actually these type of lures sink from 1 - 3mtrs above sea surface. It is the ideal depth to catch barracudas.

This is my thinking. Trying out different lure colours and depth may give better results .... you are never quite sure in fishing.

Fishing is fishing

sergio · May 31, 2006, 17:39:57 CET

thanks a lot placebo

im hoping to catch my first cuda this summer so i hope i'll be posting soon to tell you that i cought one

hehe. i have never actually been lure fishing before as i always fish for bottom fish , usually using paternoster rig, so fishing for cuda is a new challenge . anyways , thanks a lot and have a good season

sergio · June 01, 2006, 14:13:57 CET

guys , i've been checking out the internet , you think a Yo-Zuri Hydro Magnum would be good for cudas ? ( although on the site it actually says it's a sinking lure ).

placebo · June 01, 2006, 15:18:41 CET

I prefer hydro magnums for albacore (Alungi) although the small hydros (12mm) might be a good try for barracuda.

sergio · June 01, 2006, 19:58:50 CET

ok i just bought a Rapala Husky Jerk lure ( firetiger). it's 14cm long , i hope it's not too big. i'll gove it a go in the past couple of weeks and see