Barracuda? To Eat, or Not to Eat?

[FrankfromNM]

I am going down to the Keys in a couple of weeks, and saw that folks tend to catch 'cudas on trips. I have fished for, caught, and eaten Cudas off the coast of San Diego, CA. They are quite good, particularly smoked. However - someone told me that, for some reason, the barracudas off of the Florida coast should not be eaten. Is this correct? And, if so - can anyone tell me why? Thanks!

[Backwoods123]

ive never eaten one, but ive been told dont eat the big ones, but the small ones are good.... like anywhere from 1-6 pounds are good... ive fillet tons of them for people when i wored on the charter boats... clean lookin meat

[Chevy Juan]

Its due to ciguatera poisoning. You will get mixed opinions on this from everyone but my family has eaten tons of cudas as I was growing up, cut them into rolls or chunks deep fried with lemon and a cold beer was always at the table in the backyard.

If you do plan on eating them, Typically the rule of thumb is not to go anywhere near the big ones and only eat the smaller sized cudas, and make sure to properly care for them as you would any other fish you plan on bringing to the dinner table.

[gruntking]

good for eats meng very gud 4 huar on head

[Username28]

good for eats meng very gud 4 huar on head

[fishnfool73]

I'd release any over 5 lbs. Why would you take the chance ? If a fish dinner is your goal spend 30 minutes searching this forum and I have no doubt you can catch legal mangroves to eat. All the information you need to fish the Keys bridges is posted on this site. It's up to you to take the time to find it. Good luck

[Username28]

I'd release any over 5 lbs. Why would you take the chance ? If a fish dinner is your goal spend 30 minutes searching this forum and I have no doubt you can catch legal mangroves to eat. All the information you need to fish the Keys bridges is posted on this site. It's up to you to take the time to find it. Good luck

[striper2]

Small ones up to 20" are delicious. I used to filet them and broil them with garlic and parsley. Really delicious. But the ciguarata poison is true, so stay away from anything over 20" to be safe. i used to crush them in the canals east of U.S. 1 in Pompano Beach.

[N1ck]

If your that desperate for eating fish go ahead and eat it, chances are slim but i still would not take them. I would prefer eating grunts caught on a sabiki all that than eating a cuda, and i never eat grunts Cuda is good shark bait whole onshore and good cut bait on the bottom for grouper.

[Cubanaso1602]

You can do the old Cuban Fishermen trick to spot Ciguatera on Cudas. You cut a piece of of the cuda and toss it to the ants. If they eat it, then you can eat it... I've eaten up to 5ft cudas by this tactic... 100% secure.

[fishnfool73]

The ant and fly trick has been debunked numerous times.

[Eman305]

When I was at deering estate one day a fella who said he had been fishing for many many years told me that cigueretta poisoning is only in the Caribbean becatuse of water temps I believe was his reason. At the eke place on a different day a guy told me he took home a 4ft cuda for eating and it was in his cooler. Never ate one myself tho

[jezratty]

or there is the inlaw method... fry it up feed it to your inlaws wait for the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,(it is best to do before they are leaving town because if they get sick you really don't need to be in the same state as that kinda monster) ..if they don't get sick the fish was fine to eat

[GO4EM]

What if you add garlic?

[Username28]

What if you add garlic?

[BadWolf43]

I just ate my first Barracuda last weekend and loved it. I made seasoned cuda nuggets

[snapperfanatic18]

ciguatera in a fish can occur in any place..... caribbean or not..had a friend of mine eat one that was about 8 0r 9 lbs and got sick...vomitting, fever and diarrhea..and also...hair loss...no joke!

[BEOWULF]

ciguatera in a fish can occur in any place..... caribbean or not..had a friend of mine eat one that was about 8 0r 9 lbs and got sick...vomitting, fever and diarrhea..and also...hair loss...no joke!

Where was it caught?

[ilovefishing]

IMHO there is so many better fish to eat off the coast of Florida to even begin to consider eating a cuda. But hey that's just me

[snapperfanatic18]

[quote="BEOWULF"][quote="snapperfanatic18"]ciguatera in a fish can occur in any place..... caribbean or not..had a friend of mine eat one that was about 8 0r 9 lbs and got sick...vomitting, fever and diarrhea..and also...hair loss...no joke![/quote]

Where was it caught?[/quote] here off of miami...

[lasthope]

Well I've never eaten cuda... Never wanted to, but pretty much any fish can get this with the exception of offshore fish like mahi and deep water snapper. Makes me not want to eat anything!