California Barracuda
Sphyraena argentea

Physical Description

• Elongated cylinder-shaped body.
• Slender, long, pointy snout.
• Large mouth full of canine-like teeth.
• Brownish-bluish color on their back and sides, white or silver on bellies. Tail is yellowish.
• They can reach a length of about 4 feet and a weight of about 15 pounds.

Range

• From Kodiak Islands, Alaska to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California.
• Not common north of Santa Barbara.

Habitat

• Usually considered a pelagic, or open water, species.
• Usually near shores or coastal areas in adult life.
• When young, found in bays in shallow waters.

Diet

• A predatory fish, exhibiting aggressive behavior in order to feed on other small fishes.
• Their diet primarily consists of small fish such as anchovies, small Pacific mackerels, grunion, squid, groupers, grunts, and even young barracuda.

Predators

• Eagles, terns, marine mammals, large fish, sharks.

Interesting Facts

• They are distinct from other barracudas due to their silvery shiny backsides, small scales, and the lack of bars or spots on their body.
• They are often considered a sport fish by fishermen.
• They can form long, thin schools sometimes miles long! 

Sources: California Sea Grant; MarineBio Conservation Society; Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Photo: Daira Paulson