Barracuda Flies and Barracuda Fly Fishing

Barracuda
Giant Barracuda or Atlantic/Carribean Barracuda is in the family of Sphyraena. Often called "Cuda" and feared because of their razor sharp teeth. Cudas like to stalk

their prey and then ambush from short range. They are amazingly quick and can literally move faster than the eye can see. They eat any kind of fish that they can catch. They love to eat bonefish or jacks that have been hooked by fishermen. Big Cudas are smart and learn to use wading people or people in boats to flush their prey to them. Often when you are wading for Bonefish or Permit

Derrick Muschamp & Mark Bachmann with a Belize Barracuda.

Derrick Muschamp & Patty Barnes with a 49" & 52" Barracuda she caught with a #10 fly rod.

you will see a big Cuda pacing you, waiting for you to flush fish to him. This is often their undoing as a large fly cast ten or twenty feet ahead of the Cuda and stripped fast can produce a vicious strike. Never retrieve the fly toward a Cuda as it will spook him. Big Cudas over four feet in length have proven to be nearly impossible to land while wading. The best fishing is from a boat positioned in deep water off the edge of a shallow reef or flat. Throw the fly into the shallow water and retrieve over the edge. Large Cudas are usually in dispersed populations. Often a lot of water has to be fished. Trolling flies

along the edges has proven to be easiest. However once a big Cuda is spotted, expect it to remain around that location. They seem to have established territories. Points have proven to be better cover than coves. Deep mouths of tidal creeks are great holding and ambush places for Cudas. Large flies over 12" are needed to attract larger specimens. Make your fly look wounded or disoriented. Jerky retrieves have been most effective. You can not retrieve the fly too fast. Use 12" of light piano wire for bite tippet. Cudas can easily bite through any monofilament. Average Cudas caught on big flies are 30" to 50" long. The world record is 6' and 106 pounds.

			Barracuda Eel An easy to cast Balyhoo or Needlfish imitation.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99800-2/0	Barracuda Eel	2/0	3 for $7.95

			Cuda Needlefish The standard Caribbean Cuda fly.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99821-2/0	Cuda Needlefish	2/0	3 for $7.95

			Mark's Needlefish This 12" monstrosity isn't easy to cast, but is sure juices up the biggest Cudas. Casts best with a 12 wt. rod & 400 grain head.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
63250-4/0	Mark's Needlefish	4/0	3 for $11.50

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