How to catch Barracuda

Good news the barracuda are bitting from Santa Monica to San Diego so things are looking up. Here's a few tips for catching barracuda. The most fun way is to throw the irons. Use a surface iron cast out and wind the jig in slow enough to give it a good kicking action. Blue and white colors are the most popular color but any jugs with contrasting colors will work. We use the MM7 Magic Metal lites in blue sardine, anchovy and squid colors and sometimes the fish want the smaller MM5 jigs. Use a 7 or 8 foot 20 to 25lb. rod with 20 to 25lb. test line and your in business. Then there is the live bait fishing. Some people like to use wire leader with a 2/0 to 3/0 hook and a sardine but I like to use 25lb or 30lb test fluorocarbon leader this gives the bait a chance to swim more freely and the strength of the fluorocarbon leader will resist the bite from the barracudas sharp teeth. But be sure to check the line for any teeth nicks after each fish and retie the hook if any are found. If you don't have wire or fluorocarbon you can go to a long shank hook or even a circle hook. Once the barracuda bites your offering don't pull on the rod to set the hook just point the rod at the fish and start cranking on the reel all the way to the boat. Just as you see the fish close to the boat call for a gaff. Never lift the barracuda out of the water keep it just below the surface. If the barracuda gets above the water surface it will go wild and you'll probably loose the fish.