Great Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
How to tell it
Underslung jaw of visible teeth, scattered ink-black blotches on silver.
- Not a king mackerel? That one no blotches, dipping lateral line. (King Mackerel)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | 15-36 in FL slot in Collier-Martin counties; no size limit elsewhere | 2 per person; 6 per vessel (regulated counties) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 15-36 in FL slot in Collier-Martin counties; no size limit elsewhere | 2 per person; 6 per vessel (regulated counties) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 52 lb 4 oz | 2005 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 67 lb | 1949 · Islamorada | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 54 lb 8 oz | 1999 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 50 lb | 1970 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 13 lb | 2023 · Washington Canyon | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 52 lb 6 oz | 2012 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 67 lb 7 oz | 1985 · Cape Lookout | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 65 lb | 1948 · Georgetown | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 52.81 lb | 1993 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 45 lb 8 oz | 1996 · CB Buoy Line | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Small ones are eaten, but barracuda is a leading ciguatera carrier — most release them.
In the app
Point the camera at a great barracuda and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about great barracuda
How many great barracuda can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 2 per person; 6 per vessel (regulated counties); Florida (Gulf): 2 per person; 6 per vessel (regulated counties).
How do you tell great barracuda from king mackerel?
Great Barracuda has this: Underslung jaw of visible teeth, scattered ink-black blotches on silver.. King Mackerel no blotches, dipping lateral line.
What is the record great barracuda?
67 lb 7 oz in North Carolina (1985), Cape Lookout. Other states’ records are in the table.