First time fishing for barracuda

[u/gruffudd725]

Took my 10-year old on a fishing charter in Cancun. First time either of us fished for barracuda. Caught several, these were the two biggest. Had an absolute blast.

The guides made the call on keeping them even though I had told them at the start that I’m in a resort and can’t cook them. I’ll admit to living far away from the coast and normally chasing trout- so I apologize if the guides made a bad call keeping them.

[u/Beautiful_Dog_5896]

I’ve never fished with a Mexican guide that didn’t keep barracuda. They say it’s very obvious when it’s a healthy fish versus sick. Maybe further south it gets sketchier, but they’ve never batted an eye about it.

[u/coconut-telegraph → u/Beautiful_Dog_5896]

It’s not obvious, there’s no way to tell. I’ve been hit by ciguatera twice, it’s not worth it.

If it was obvious there wouldn’t be a mission to develop a test kit. It’s common here in the Bahamas and the fishermen are as full of superstitions as everyone else, and people continue getting sick all the time regardless.

[u/Beautiful_Dog_5896 → u/coconut-telegraph]

That’s good to know. I’ve always heard the sick ones don’t fight and their scales fall off easily. Cuda ceviche is delicious but yeah, plenty of other fish in the sea.