Barracudas on the flats
As the wind shifts to the north for the first time of the Fall season, the barracudas move closer to the shallow water of the Florida Keys. After the second or third cold front, every sandy, white hole on the flats has a new resident that will stay until the winds turn south for the season.
Barracudas are the most underrated flats specie and prove to be one of the most fun of all fish that make their living on the flats. With a mouth packed full of razor sharp teeth, a tail that can propel them at 30 miles an hour and a coloration that allows for extremely effective camouflage, the barracuda is an apex predator of the highest degree.
Anglers can take full advantage of the availability of the barracuda in the Florida Keys by using surface lures and ripping them as fast as possible across the surface. Eventually, the lure will cross within sight of a big cuda and they will blast the lure with aggression not often witnessed by anglers.
To protect the fish, it is important to remove all but the trailing hooks on the lures. This will also help the lure to remain straight while skipping resulting in more strikes and a more effective hook up.
Some of my favorite lures are 6-12 inch floating swimmer/diver lures that have the bill broken off so they will not dive but skip on the surface. I also like eel imitations and soft plastic jerk baits.
The aggressive nature of the cuda allows anglers to fish for them in virtually any weather condition. While it is exciting to see a fish before you throw a lure to it, the cuda can also be caught by fishing "blind" and covering the water.
Come to the Florida Keys and get ready for the ride of your life.