The Mediterranean Barracuda.

Introduction 

The barracuda is a fish that is increasingly colonizing our seas. With the effect of global warming, many fish species have moved to habit naturally in warmer seas such as the Mediterranean or the Tyrrhenian Sea, in which years ago they were not present.

In this article we will observe the barracuda and discover the features and physiology, in order to help understand how we deal with the fish and adapt such information to sport fishing.

Types of barracuda

The Mediterranean barracuda is a fish belonging to the species Sphyraena Viridensis. The barracudas all belong to the same genus, but exist in different species (in all there are 26, and most live in tropical seas): for this reason we must avoid confusion between different types of barracuda.

The "classic" Barracuda, what we hear often to be responsible for attacks on man, is known as the Great Barracuda, and belongs to the species of the great barracuda as a tropical fish and is not found in our area.

Instead, the main species with which we must avoid confusing are the Sphyraena Sphyraena and the Sphyraena Viridensis. Both of these species can also be found in our seas.

The main differences between the Mediterranean Barracuda and the European Barracuda include the fact that the first is much larger than the second, and that on the adult sepcies of Mediterranean Barracuda, the black stripes are present on the entire surface of the body, unlike the other.

The Mediterranean barracuda can attack a human being, however the damage it will do are not so serious: in fact, the average size of this fish in our area are from 1 to 3 kg, which is the average weight, although in some cases can reach 5-7 kg in weight. Very rarely encounters with other larger specimens of up to 10 kg occur;  mostly can only be found in warmer climates such as the coastal areas of Africa.

This is due to the fact that the metabolism of the fish (or the use of nutrients as "bricks" to build the body) is all the faster the more the hot water in which he lives. The growth ends slows down at certain age when the fish becomes capable of reproduction. This results in slower growth for those specimen grown in colder waters when compared to those grown in warmer waters.

Habitat

Its habitat, to date, have virtually been note in all our shores, then across the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and of course the Adriatic Sea. Needless to even mention the seas around southern Italy and the islands of Malta are characterized by a higher, optimum temperature for the needs of the barracuda.

Features

The barracuda body is elongated and cylindrical, slightly tapered. The fish is characterized by having a very large mouth, which opens for the whole length of the head. The eye is particularly great ause , so he can see much better than others. On the other hand, it is not, however, able to recognize the colors in an optimal way, and tends to confuse between them. This information is useful in the choice of certain types of lures that are used to catch the barracuda.

The teeth of barracuda are numerous, covering all of the upper and lower dental arches and have the shape of a dagger. They are very sharp. Other sharp teeth are present in the palate, which explains why a barracuda can become very dangerous in case of attack on a human being

The fish is a predator and is strictly carnivore; as hunting behavior it prefers rather not move much and sit still in an area to wait for the passage of small fish on which it feeds, capturing them with rapid and unexpected movements. Also it is not able to swallow the prey at the first shot, but tends to repeat more than once further aggression in order to chew its prey.

The hunting takes place mostly at night, when it is easier to surprise the prey, and in the twilight hours, although it is not hard to find herds that are hunting in broad daylight. When they hunt they generally swim a few meters from the water surface, and when drop below twenty meters means that they are not trying for food but are shifting, so it will be very difficult to catch them.

The color varies with the age of the fish and is consistent in young and becomes varied in adults, where they appear black stripes we mentioned earlier.

The barracuda has two dorsal fins, far apart, one radial and one devoid of rays, two thoracic fins poorly developed, an anal fin with one ray and the tail fin, not very big but well-forked.

The barracuda is a gregarious animal, although the size of herds are reduced as the animals grow further: the bigger they are, the less numerous are the groups, up to the solitary life for specimens that exceed 10 kg. They prefer shallow waters and never move far from the coasts, as well as for fishing is easy enough to find them where there are rocky waters, dry or isolated rocky outcrops.

Reproduction occurs in the spring period to the early summer, always around the coasts and in ports.

Fishing

As for fishing, barracuda are caught trolling, by boat, or by using surface lures with spinning techniques from shore.

It tends to be more active when the sea is rough, although the eating behavior is quite unpredictable, so you can catch barracuda even when the sea is completely calm and in broad daylight.

As for the meat, this is of good quality, though not very rich in protein; nevertheless, the barracuda is wanted in the sport fishing for fun and the difficulty of fishing rather than for its culinary qualities.