Great Barracuda

Q: Can you eat Great Barracuda?

Firm, lean white flesh with a mild flavor when small; larger individuals risk ciguatera fish poisoning and are generally avoided. Smaller fish eaten grilled or fried in the Caribbean.

Q: How big does Great Barracuda get?

Great Barracuda can grow up to 200.0 cm long and weigh 50.0 kg.

Q: Where is Great Barracuda found?

Circumtropical in shallow coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Frequents coral reefs, seagrass beds, and estuaries from Florida and the Caribbean to the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific atolls. Pelagic, coral reefs, estuaries

Q: Is Great Barracuda endangered?

The conservation status of Great Barracuda is Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Great Barracuda belong to?

Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) belongs to the family Sphyraenidae (Barracudas) in the order Perciformes (Perch-like fishes).

Abstract

With a torpedo-shaped body, jutting underbite, and fang-like teeth, the great barracuda is a fearsome ambush predator of warm coastal seas. Steel-gray above and silvery below, it grows to two metres and strikes prey in short bursts exceeding 58 kilometres per hour. It ranges circumtropically across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific, patrolling coral reefs, seagrass beds, and estuaries from Florida and the Caribbean to the Red Sea. Small individuals are eaten grilled or fried in the Caribbean, but large fish frequently carry ciguatera toxin and are generally avoided at the table. A hard-fighting sport catch on tube lures and topwater plugs, the species is assessed as Least Concern.