Sphyraena jello

The pickhandle barracuda is a coastal predator that likes warm waters. It can be found anywhere, on or in the vicinity of the reef. It is less pelagic than the greater barracuda.

It can be encountered all year round, at any hour, including mid-day. Of all the varieties of Indonesia it is the thinnest, recognizable by its yellow caudal and a dozen forked vertical bars, while s. quenie and s.barracuda have about twenty.

It is often in schools of many individuals, motionless and staggered, like mikados, near the reef.

Occasionally one can also find it motionless and camouflaging on the bottom, intensely marbled to go unnoticed.

This barracuda is generally hunted by directly diving onto it or through mid-water agachon.

Because of its generally modest size it is easier to land and less dangerous than the greater barracuda.

A positive point is that because of the absence of ciguatera in Indonesia, one can consume it without back thoughts. A valid catch.