Pacific barracuda
📖 Overview
Usually near shore or near the surface . Often in small schools . Young enter bays . Feed mainly on other fishes . Pelagic spawners . Migrate south from the California coast during autumn, but may remain in front of the Mexican coast throughout the year . Utilized fresh, dried or salted and frozen; eaten broiled and baked . Considered as potentially dangerous due to its large, sharp teeth and aggressive disposition, though there are no reports of attacks .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Color bluish or brownish dorsally, silvery ventrally .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pacific barracuda is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Pelagic spawner .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 18 m . Temperate; 58°N - 24°N, 155°W - 111°W north of Point Conception (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
other fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Pacific barracuda is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Pacific barracuda is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Pacific barracuda has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Barracuda · California Barracuda · Pacific barracuda |
| 🇫🇷French | barracuda argenté · Bécune Argentée |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Barracuda-do-Pacífico |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Калифорнийская барракуда · Серебристая барракуда |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | barracuda plateada · Picuda Plateada |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 23 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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