Toothy Critters, Saltwater Style

When we talk toothy critters, usually we're discussing Musky and Pike. Even though they have razor sharp teeth, the have nothing on the Barracuda. I consider the Barracuda the saltwater musky, and on our trip to Cuba recently, I took along a few musky rods to tackle them with. During an excursion on a catamaran we chartered for a day of snorkeling and fishing, we managed to catch Barracuda with three different presentations. One came trolling as we pulled baits behind the boat as we travelled from one spot to the next. Another came as we were anchored for lunch. Our Captain and first mate had thrown scraps of food overboard, creating a feeding frenzy of small fish. Obviously, this triggered the predator instinct in a nearby Barracuda who appeared in behind the boat. It didn't take long before it decided to snack on a jig that was tipped with a small piece of lobster. The fight that ensued was nothing short of spectacular. The multiple jumps and powerful runs put the spinning rod loaded with 15lb braided line it was hooked on to the test. Our third Barracuda came while casting a jerkbait in a shallow canal. While the boat was drifting with the current, we were throwing our baits up against the Mangroves when one of the baits was smashed just as it was coming out of the shadows. The teeth on these fish are absolutely nasty. Razor sharp and have a purpose. If you ever have the chance to go after these fish with either musky gear or Extra heavy bass gear, don't pass up the chance. You won't regret it.