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| I will be heading down to the Keys during the first couple weeks of December, and want to know how barracuda compare to the muskie as far as the fight goes. I would think they would be a good fight since the fish are so similar....and barracuda can be bigger!! |
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| Actually, they're not bigger. The average cuda you'll find in the keys is about 6 to 12 pounds. They can grow very large and 30 to forty pounders are fairly common--maybe a slight edge in the top end but generally smaller.
Cudas like snaky lures and speedy baits with bright colors and lots of flash; topwater and twitch lures are effective. They are very fast fish and fight with speed and jumps much of the time. Larger specimens are formidable fighters but they aren't regarded very well for stamina. For pure fight tarpon, bones, permit, and snook are excellent but jacks are prime. They're common, willing to hit artificials, they gang up on lures and blitz; they're big--crevalles to twenty pounds are common and they'll whip you out. All keys fish like to eat flies, too.
When are you going? Guided trips, or freelancing? Which area will you focus on? I'm envious.
dave
former saltwater guy |
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| davem,
I have been doing some research, and going off pictures and what some Keys guides have said, there are quite a few 50"+ cuda's to be caught down there. I also saw the record Great Barracuda was 80 lbs.
That is probably the only thing I will be fishing for with limited time. The wife is not a big fisherperson, so I will not be hitting the water too hard...for fish that is.
Just wanted to catch a barracuda since it is so similar to the muskie. |
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| Scott,
I lived down in South Florida for 7 months last year. I went out fishing for cudas a few times. There are many great places to go..my favorites would be Key West and Islamorada. From shore check out the Piers around Fort Lauderdale. IF you are in Key west check out www.captainronsfishingcharters.com went out with them twice on a 4 hour trip and caught a few cudas up to 51" and some sharks. Let me know if you need some more info. If you are casting a very fast retrieve is the ticket...I caught my 51" on a figure 8.... |
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| also if you want a good salt water site with lots of guides and fishing reports check out cyberangler.com
Cudas do smell exactly the same as a ski..... |
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| attempt at posting a pic...not sure which one this is.. |
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| Thanks for the info Jamie. I will definitely check into the guide and the website. I'm sure I will be in touch with you before I go down there. |
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| Scott: I've used a guide service on Marathon Key that operates out of a marina that's designed like a lighthouse (you won't miss it...on your left heading south). They were fantastic, and I later saw my guide on TV taking Roland Martin out for a show. I did the "half day" trip: we started with barracuda 'til our arms fell off (myself and my two older sons), then half-fileted one and hung it out while we ate sandwiches and waited for the sharks. Each of us landed a 100 lb. plus black tip. Lastly, we headed to a sandy area where I missed a permit, but landed a nice 110 lb tarpon. And we were done at 1 PM. It was a blast. Have fun and good luck. Fish for whatever the guide tells you is going. |
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| I take my muskie tackle down to Florida with me whenever I get to go. St. Croix 7'MH and Thorne Brothers 7'2"MH, with Spidercast SPC900 reels spooled with 60# Berkley Ultramax line works great. A 45" barricuda tied to the back end of a 45" muskie would pull the muskie backwards all day long
without breaking a sweat! Have fun![:sun:] |
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| I like to wade and cast something like a wounded spook or a very big skitter pop. They hit at unbelievable speed and the first run is 50 to 100 yards. Great fun![:sun:] [:bigsmile:] |
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| You're all right about them salties. You'll find out what that drag is all about. I used to catch wahoo,cobia,and kings off Hatteras NC. these fish have no lactic acid buildup, I think salt may be a natural L.a. buffer. I did use my 7000c for kings until one unloaded my spool in about 30 seconds. I don't consider Muskies the best fighters, but then again, its all about the hunt. [:bigsmile:] |
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| I got a big 'cuda this Spring from a jetty. Couldn't actually land oit because of the rock and rip rap. The fish fought very hard, and was tons of fun to catch. |
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| Scott,
when are you heading down? I will be fishing down there for a week in late December or early January... |
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| Jamie,
I'll be down there during the first two weeks of December.
All,
Thanks for the input. Keep it coming....you can never be over-educated.
If anyone has pictures, I would like to see them. |
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| Funny you should ask. I was just going to post about my friend Dons Cuda from last week. He got a 51" ski in LOTW two weeks ago, then goes to the Bahamas last week and cracks a 52" Cuda with an 18" girth. He said it fought(using spinning gear with 17lb mono) like no musky he's ever caught. Unbelievable runs and stamina. He just took the film in, and I'll post when he gets em' back.
They were bottom fishing for whatever, when the cuda grabbed the fish he had on, lost it, then put a mackeral or something on for bait and caught it.
Cool story anyways! |
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