Barracouta local fish species facts and Limits. Barracouta is found in the southern waters of Australia including Victoria, Tasmania, Adelaide, Western Australia and NSW. They prefer cold climate conditions. They are considered a pest species in some areas where they are often caught as bycatch in plague proportions. They’re not regarded as table fish due to a parasite commonly found in their flesh. They are easily identified in the water due to their long dorsal fins, sharp teeth and long silver elongated body. They can grow up to 5 kilos but are most often caught between the 1 and 2-kilo mark.
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They have no minimum legal size, but a daily limit of 20 and the scientific name of Thyrsites atun. Barracouta will happily take a range of fresh baits including pilchard, squid and garfish.
Barracouta will happily take a range of metal spoons and soft plastics such as minnow imitations, curl tails and paddle tails. These can be retrieved quickly or trolled from the back of a boat. Their sharp teeth make them a challenge to catch and they will often bust you off or shred your leader. In some cases, a wire trace is required if you’re specifically targeting them. Barracouta must be handled with the utmost care. Their teeth a razor-sharp and can inflict damage if not handled with caution.
For rod and reel, we recommend a Medium strength spinning gear or if bait fishing a medium rod with a paternoster rig. Barracouta can be found scattered throughout the Bass straight, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, You can target barracouta all year round
You can obtain a free Victorian recreational fishing guide from the Victorian Fisheries Authorities weblink
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