Pickhandle barracuda
📖 Overview
Found near prominent current-swept lagoon or seaward reefs ; also in bays, estuaries and turbid inner lagoons . Diurnal and solitary, although the young form schools. Feeds mainly on fishes but also takes squid. Sold fresh, frozen or dried salted. Reports of ciguatera poisoning need confirmation.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. Body with dark bars crossing lateral line, each bar oblique in upper half, but nearly vertical in lower half; caudal fin largely yellowish. : elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Pickhandle barracuda is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 20 - 200 m , usually ? - 60 m . Tropical; 27°N - 37°S, 29°E - 152°E West Pacific: Red Sea (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
fishes but also takes squid
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 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
"Pickhandle 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
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20.4 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 93 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Pickhandle 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 | Dingo-fish · Giant Sea-pike · Giant Seapike · Indo-Malaysian barracuda · Pick-handle Barracuda · Pickhandle barracuda · Sea Pike · Slender Seapike · Slender barracuda |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Aqam · Edwailmy · Qadad · باراكودا مقبض الريشة · باراكودا نحيلة |
| 🌍CES | soltýn tmavopruhý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Indisk barracuda |
| 🇩🇪German | Jello-Barrakuda |
| 🇫🇷French | Brochet de mer · Bécune jello |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Torakamasu · トラカマス |
| 🌍MSA | Kacang merah · Kucul · Lambana · Pengaluan · Tenak · Tenok |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Barracuda-do-Mar-Vermelho |
| 🌍RON | Botog |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Полосатая барракуда |
| 🌍SOM | Zub-saalim |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Baracuda |
| 🌍SWA | Msusa |
| 🌍TGL | Asugon · Balyos · Batig · Bikuda · Kitil · Rompe kanado · Siga-sigaro · Ti-ig · Tigao · Tursilyo · Ugoy |
| 🌍THA | ปลาน้ำดอกไม้ · ปลาสากดำ |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 巴拉庫答 · 斑條金梭魚 · 斑條魣 · 竹梭 · 竹針魚 · 針梭 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphyraena jelio | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Sphyraena permisca | Smith | 1956 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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