Barracuda?

[AlanPortsmouth]

Thanks for the info - have taken onboard the suggestion of speed of retrieval of the plugs. That may well be where I've been going wrong...

[fishemirates]

Hey AlanPortsmouth,

I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and we have tons of Cuda's here If you want you can come and take some back with you as they are a pain in the backside as far as I am concerned

But if you really want to catch them then try any Blue(top)/Silver(bottom) or Red(top)/White or silver(bottom) lure either 5" or 7" and you shouldn't go far wrong. Rapala & Storm work well here. But I have caught them on a hook only as it took the hook because it was very shiney. One of our forum members took a 10lb one last week on the fly??? They usually swim about 1/3rd from the bottom so if 30m then they will swim at 20m etc etc as they like to dart up at their prey taking them by surprise.

They also are a crap fight except for the first run (if they can be bothered) and the sudden run when they see the boat. Most of the time all you get is a vibration on the line to know they are on?? The other thing about Cuda's is that if you live in an area where there are a lot of coral reefs they carry a disease called "Ciguatera" this is a toxin that builds up in a predators body after eating its prey that carry it, and they get it from eating corals or coral eating prey. Apparently its not nice to get ..... then there are the bones .... far too many me lol

Hope this is of help to you ...... oh yeah trolling at around 4-6 knots gets best results ..... but casting from the shore into any inlet is also very productive.

[AlanPortsmouth]

Thanks for all the advice Ian,

Someone had mentioned to me the red and white plugs recently. I´ll have to have a look and see if I can get them locally...

Alan

[cowie]

Another great lure for cuda is a tube lure,basically its a rubber tube, i made some up for cuba last year,just using earth cable 3/8" about 8-10" long,with a barrel lead at the head and a 6/0 treble at the back, they must be retrieved as quick as you can,they take them for needle fish.

[fishemirates]

Hey Alan,

Yeah red & white are good, but if your fishing over a wreck or rocky outcrop where cuda's like to lie up you might even get a nice grouper or two also as they are mad for them :) Just remember if you get a strong run slam that drag on full because if its a grouper your losing everything if he gets back to his home. The other beauty of using lures is that almost all predatory fish will take them so if you use one that looks like the prey fish then hopefully your in luck.

One more thing that cuda's like is a fresh bit of squid on the jig :)

[AlanPortsmouth]

Rocky outcrop pretty much describes where I fish - here's a PICTURE, you´ll get the idea...

[AlanPortsmouth]

I still haven't got my first Barracuda yet, but was rather pleased with myself recently when I caught this Sea Bream - the first edible (just about) catch I have had..

[fishemirates]

Hey Alan,

Nice catch on the sea bream

Just tell me one thing? Are you fishing from the shore?

If so you need to get a nice long cast going with those lures if you want the cudas as they will be right on the edge of the rock formation. I have looked at your picture and I would suggest going right to the tip and casting maybe 40 - 50 meters with a diving lure to say 6 meters. Make sure it is a floating type as you don't want to be in the rocks on retrieval. Retrieve quite fast at first to get it down then more slowly as you get closer to the rocks.

Let us know how it all goes

[AlanPortsmouth]

I know its not much, but its a milestone for me! :)

Yes, fishing from the rocks. I had a boat in the UK and kicking myself now I didn't bring it out when we moved.