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Gotta Love Barracudas
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November 23, 2009
Gotta Love Barracudas
By Kirk Deeter
Greetings from the southern coast of Belize, and the "Geez, why hadn't I thought of this before?" department...
I've stumbled onto a fairly remarkable game of hooking barracudas on green tube flies from the beach, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why anyone would trade this in for catching little bonefish on the flats. Frankly, I can't understand why you'd trade this for the guaranteed frustration of chasing permit on the flats. I'm telling you this... I'm not going to do either of those things. I'm going to play with cudas as long as I can.
Why don't people organize barracuda-specific fly fishing trips? They do pike on the fly trips. But the northern pike is like the cuda's wimpy country cousin. These things pull. And jump. And attack other fish (flies). This might just be the neatest sight fishing game there is.
I'm working on video of this and might not get something on Fly Talk until I get back. The new twist on the barracuda game is trolling a needlefish fly about 20 yards off the beach. I paddle the kayak... my nine-year-old son is the "tailgunner"... we drag the fly with a 10-weight... pow!
I am officially voting for the barracuda as the most underrated fish in the entire fly fishing world. Your nominations? Anyone have any interesting cuda stories to share?
Deeter
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Comments (12)
Cant wait to see the video! never been cuda fishing
when i went to the Bahamas, we loved to cuda fish. i have caught a few, but only with my pa holding on to my arm so he didn't have to go get the pole and me. enjoy the fishing as long as you can if you are going cuda fishing, a lifetime experience.
Deeter,
I have very little experience with salt water fishing but while snorkeling near San Diego last week I was surprised by the amount of fish, some very large and scary, that swim in the surf. Just another reason I like dipping my toes in freshwater.
Underrated fish on a fly...the fish you call the "country cousin" would get my vote. The teeth in a pikes mouth will cut my fingers just fine and I don't have to fly half way across the world to bleed.
Also.
I am extremely happy to hear that your boy is able to attend one of your adventures. As glamorous as your job appears I would hate to be away from home as much as you are.
I hope you and "Tailgunner" enjoy your time chasing cuda. It would be nice to see a video of Paul fighting a nice cuda from the beach.
Thanks for the inspiration,I'll be in California all week,slammin' cudas.HOORAH!
Deeter,
Cudas are probably my favorite saltwater fish to catch, I go to the Keys normally every February to chase them. Last year I was hooking nice ones out in front of the Key West airport on the Atlantic side, and people we walking by and riding their bikes by and cheering for me. These fish were into my backing and jumping everywhere, pretty funny. Cudas are Awesome Fish!
Deeter,
What kind of tube fly were you using, do you have a photo of it?
Sounds like a blast.
There is some great cuda fishing out at Turneffe Atoll in Belize. Turneffe Flats can accommodate a group of anglers targeting them fore sure!
would love to try cuda fishing just because i never have. just can't see it beating out the king salmon in alaska though. JMHO
-Carpman- Spey make good tube flies.
I used to catch them in the Keys back in the early '80s and yes they are very agressive and put on a great fight- don't eat 'em though- the big ones are notorious for cigerella (sp.?) poisoning.
The west coast 'cudas I think are an entirely different fish and would take a different strategy to catch.
one more comment- if you really want to have some fun, take a small speargun or hawaian sling skin diving in the flats and shoot a little grunt and then it let it go wounded- if there's any big 'cudas around (and they are usually watching divers out of curiosity) they'll torpedo in and blast that grunt right in front of your mask- I had a few that learned what I was doing real quick and loved to see me in their territory- it would NOT be cool to shoot a 'cuda since you won't be eating them. Plus it would not be very sporting since they don't seem to have any fear of divers. Watching cleaner fish work on the big ones teeth is a thrill any SCUBA diver will never forget.
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Deeter,
I have very little experience with salt water fishing but while snorkeling near San Diego last week I was surprised by the amount of fish, some very large and scary, that swim in the surf. Just another reason I like dipping my toes in freshwater.
Underrated fish on a fly...the fish you call the "country cousin" would get my vote. The teeth in a pikes mouth will cut my fingers just fine and I don't have to fly half way across the world to bleed.
Also.
I am extremely happy to hear that your boy is able to attend one of your adventures. As glamorous as your job appears I would hate to be away from home as much as you are.
I hope you and "Tailgunner" enjoy your time chasing cuda. It would be nice to see a video of Paul fighting a nice cuda from the beach.
would love to try cuda fishing just because i never have. just can't see it beating out the king salmon in alaska though. JMHO
Cant wait to see the video! never been cuda fishing
when i went to the Bahamas, we loved to cuda fish. i have caught a few, but only with my pa holding on to my arm so he didn't have to go get the pole and me. enjoy the fishing as long as you can if you are going cuda fishing, a lifetime experience.
Thanks for the inspiration,I'll be in California all week,slammin' cudas.HOORAH!
Deeter,
Cudas are probably my favorite saltwater fish to catch, I go to the Keys normally every February to chase them. Last year I was hooking nice ones out in front of the Key West airport on the Atlantic side, and people we walking by and riding their bikes by and cheering for me. These fish were into my backing and jumping everywhere, pretty funny. Cudas are Awesome Fish!
Deeter,
What kind of tube fly were you using, do you have a photo of it?
Sounds like a blast.
There is some great cuda fishing out at Turneffe Atoll in Belize. Turneffe Flats can accommodate a group of anglers targeting them fore sure!
-Carpman- Spey make good tube flies.
I used to catch them in the Keys back in the early '80s and yes they are very agressive and put on a great fight- don't eat 'em though- the big ones are notorious for cigerella (sp.?) poisoning.
The west coast 'cudas I think are an entirely different fish and would take a different strategy to catch.
one more comment- if you really want to have some fun, take a small speargun or hawaian sling skin diving in the flats and shoot a little grunt and then it let it go wounded- if there's any big 'cudas around (and they are usually watching divers out of curiosity) they'll torpedo in and blast that grunt right in front of your mask- I had a few that learned what I was doing real quick and loved to see me in their territory- it would NOT be cool to shoot a 'cuda since you won't be eating them. Plus it would not be very sporting since they don't seem to have any fear of divers. Watching cleaner fish work on the big ones teeth is a thrill any SCUBA diver will never forget.
Post a Comment