Waterwolf - video - (Barracuda)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

https://c1films.com/waterwolf/

[Tony Buzolich]

This is a great film that should turn everyone on to another wonderful fish that hasn't gotten a lot of credit for it's sporting ability.

When I started fishing the keys tarpon and bones were first on my list but not always available or easy to catch. Sometimes though. while killing time on a beach a blind cast would come up with any number of surprise catches. Barracuda were often one of these and they proved to be great fun. My wife even got into catching them with a spinning rod and a Kastmater cranked as fast as she could which almost guaranteed a hook-up.

They seem to like long skinny flies which imitate needle fish but any fly with a lot of flash and stripped as fast as possible will get a grab. When layed up around mangroves or other structure they can also be teased into striking with poppers. Hovering almost still like a black bass, they will grab anything that creates a splash and plop near them.

Here's one my wife and I took near Islamorada a few years ago. Tony

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Barracuda2email.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/Barracuda2email.jpg.html)

[mems]

Cuda, kaku are good fun on the fly. They are like cats and sit there and wiggle their tails and then explode on the fly. They try to cut the fish in half and then come back for whatever is left. Sometimes they can be very finicky, and other times will hit almost anything. I keep a fly with wire in my hat ready with a loop. If a regular bonefish or trevally fly gets cut off, I put on a loop and the fly with wire and try an get back my first fly.
The big ones are good fun because they run and jump. The small ones give up like pike. I have friends who like to eat them, but I worry about cig toxins, so I let them go. They do stink like no other fish. Watch the teeth and use pliers. I have caught them with out wire, just keep them on one side and don't let them turn their heads or they will cut you off. I don't think you have to two hand strip. You can single hand strip and use the rod tip to accelerate the fly enough to piss them off to strike. They are easy to spot with the black tail. Cuda can save the day when nothing else is around. Mems.