Fish Photos, Fishing Info, Angling, Catching Fish, Cooking Fish

Australian Fish Photos, Seafood Photographs and Information

Custom Search

 

Sea-Ex is celebrating
27 YEARS of assisting Seafood, Marine & Related Companies with online marketing!

Advertise Your Company on Sea-Ex - Click Here

 

Directory & Info for Fishing, Angling, Fishing Tackle, Fishing Guides, Fly Fishing, Bass Fishing, Sports fishing, Game Fishing....
Info on All types of Fishing | Angling | Fishing Tackle etc.

Australian Fish Bag Limits and Size Regulations

Photos of Australian Seafood, Fish, Crustaceans & Cephalopods and Information on each...

Abalone, Blacklip
Albacore Tuna
Baler Shell
Barbounia, Tiny
Barracouta
Barramundi
Bass, Sea
Batfish
Batfish, Silver
Blackfish
Boarfish
Bonito Tuna
Bonito, Watson's Leaping
Bream
Bream, Butter
Bream, Slate
Bug, Moreton Bay (Slipper Lobster)
Bug, Balmain
Butterfish
Calamari, Southern
Carp, European
Catfish, Blue
Catfish, Lesser Salmon
Cockles
Cod, Bar
Cod, Blue eye
Cod, Coral Rock
Cod, Ghost
Cod, Maori
Cod, Murray
Cod, Southern Rock
Cod, Spotted
Cod, Tomato
Cod, Wirrah
Cod, Yellow Spotted
Coral Trout
Cowanyoung
Crab, Blue Swimmer
Crab, Champagne
Crab, Giant
Crab, Mud
Crab, Spanner
Crawfish
Cuttlefish
Dart Fish
Dolphin Fish
Dory, John
Dory, Mirror
Dory, Silver
Drummer, Southern
Eel, Longfin
Emperor, Red
Emperor, Red Throat
Flathead
Flounder, Small Toothed
Flutemouth, Rough
Frost Fish
Garfish
Gemfish
Goatfish
Grouper
Gurnard, Red
Gurnard, Spotted
Hairtail
Hump Headed Maori Wrasse
Hussar
Jackass Fish
Jacket, Ocean
Jacket, Sea
Jewfish
Jobfish, Gold Banned
Jobfish, Rosy
Kingfish, Yellowtail
Latchet Fish
Leatherjacket, Reef
Ling
Lobster Eastern Rock
Lobster Southern Rock
Long Tom
Luderick
Mackeral, Jack
Mackerel, Slimey
Mado
Mahi Mahi
Mangrove Jack
Marlin, Black
Marlin, Blue
Marlin, Striped
Melon Shell
Monkfish
Mono
Moon Fish
Morwong
Morwong, Red
Mullet - Roe
Mullet, Diamond Scale
Mullet, Red
Mullet, Sea
Mullet, Yelloweye
Mulloway
Mussels Black
Mussels Greenlip
Nanygai
Octopus
Orange Roughy
Oreo, Black
Oyster, Native
Oyster, Pacific
Oyster, Sydney Rock
Parrot Fish
Parrot Fish (2)
Perch, Ocean
Perch, Saddle Tail Sea
Perch, Silver
Perch, Splendid
Perch, Stripey Sea
Pig Fish
Pike
Pineapple Fish
Prawn, Banana
Prawn, King
Prawn, Red Spot
Prawn, School
Prawn, Tiger
Queenfish, Needleskin
Rainbow Runner
Redclaw Crayfish
Redfish
Ribaldo
Ribbon Fish
Rudder Fish
Salmon, Atlantic
Salmon, Australian
Scad
Scallops, Queensland
Scallops, Tasmanian
Scorpion Fish, Raggy
Shark
Shark Black Tip
Shark, Blue
Shark Bronze Whaler (Dusky)
Shark, Bull
Sharks Fins
Shark, Gummy
Shark, Mako
Shark, School
Shark, Tiger
Shark, Whiskery Reef
Shark, White
Shrimp, Mantis
Sicklefish
Silver Biddy
Snapper
Snapper, Big Eye
Snapper, Fry Pan
Snapper, Gold Band
Snapper, King
Snapper, Red
Snapper, Red Tropical
Sole
Sole, Tongue
Squid, Arrow
Squirrel Fish
Stargazer
Stingray, Butterfly
Stripey Sea Perch
Surgeonfish, Sixplate Sawtail
Sweetlip, Slatey
Sweetlip, Yellow
Swordfish
Tailor
Tarwhine
Tilefish, Pink
Trevally, Big Eye
Trevally, Golden
Trevally, Silver
Triple Tail
Trout
Trumpeter, Striped
Tuna, Albacore
Tuna, Bigeye
Tuna, Bluefin
Tuna, Longtail
Tuna, Skipjack
Tuna, Striped
Tuna, Mackerel
Tuna, Yellowfin
Venus Tusk Fish
Whiting, Sand
Whiting, School
Wrasse
Yabby, Freshwater Crayfish
Yellowtail
FULL LIST of Fish & Seafood

Beche De Mer
(Sea Cucumber - Trepang)

Amberfish
Blackfish
Black Teatfish
Brown Sandfish
Curryfish
Elephants Trunks fish
Greenfish
Lollyfish
Pinkfish
Prickly Redfish
Sandfish
Stonefish
Surf Redfish
White Teatfish

Sea-Ex Seafood Trade Directory
Directory of Seafood Companies by Species Imported, Exported, Wholesale, Processors & Producers
Click Here for SEAFOOD DIRECTORY

Commercial Seafood Directory
Sea-Ex Seafood, Fishing, Marine Directory
Aquaculture Directory
Seafood Trading Board
Commercial Fishing
Seafood Information by Country
Australian Fish Photos & Info
Interesting Fish Facts & Trivia
Country Directories
Thailand Business Directory
Seafood:
Wholesale Seafood Suppliers Australia
Wholesale Seafood Suppliers International
Retail Seafood Sales
Seafood Restaurants
Seafood Recipes
Seafood Information
Seafood Industry Resources

Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) Photographs and Information


Barracouta take lures avidly even spectacularly at times when they are feeding at the surface. They even provide strikes on poppers. On top of the lure action the fish will take just about any bait and feeds anywhere from the surface to the bottom. 

Barracouta are also known as 'couta and snoek (South Africa) and Sierra (South American waters)

The barracouta is frequently referred to as 'couta. It also has several other colloquial titles, including "pick-handle", "axe-handle" and "hammer-handle", all of which refer to its shape. In some areas its South African name of "snoek" or "snook" is also used.



 

Barracouta are an excellent sporting fish which will have a go at anything that sparkles and will jump clear of the water chasing lures which are trolled behind boats.

It is abundant in the southern hemisphere, ranging widely from southern Australia, both islands of New Zealand (where is is particularly plentiful) south of Cook Strait, South Africa, Argentina and Chile.

It is related to the great mackerel family and its allies.  It is an important commercial fish.  The Barracouta is a pelagic fish, traveling in schools and has been known to grow to a length of 1.5 metres, although an average size is around 1 metre and weighing 2.5kg.  It has an elongated, compressed body which is covered with minute, easily dislodged scales.

underwater photo of a school of barracouta

This slim, needle-toothed fish is usually dark, steely-blue or green along the top of the back and bright, metallic silver on the flanks and belly. There is a distinct black patch near the leading edge of the long, relatively high first dorsal fin. The forked tail is dark, often black. Barracouta are sometimes confused with the tropical barracuda. However, beyond vague similarities in body shape and teeth, the two have little in common and are unrelated.

Although often caught at lengths between 50 and 140 cm, barracouta are very lightly built. Even exceptional specimens in excess of 150 cm rarely weigh more than 4 or 5 kg. A more typical barracouta measures under a metre in length and weighs between 0.8 and 1.5 kg.

Barracouta eggs are small, transparent and pelagic.  Fry inhabit sheltered waters of bays and estuaries and grow very quickly, reaching 30cm by the end of the first year.

Although they are a pelagic fish, they can be found in schools at all depths down to forty fathoms.  They feed and travel very close to the coast.  They will feed on small baitfish such as anchovies and pilchards, jack mackerel and krill.  They are active, savage hunters and are driven on by a voracious appetite.

Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) Photo

Map showing where Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) are found in Australian waters

DID YOU KNOW?
The Barracouta have 3 large vicious teeth under it's upper front lip, followed by rows of very sharp, flat cutting teeth in each jaw.

 

DID YOU KNOW?
In the early part of the twentieth century, the fishing industry in Australia began to target additional species and use of new fishing methods. Until mid-century, sea mullet was the most common commercial fishery, followed by barracouta.

 

Scientific Name Thyrsites atun
Location Southern half of Australia
Season All year round.
Size To 1.5 metres and up to 6kg
Australian Species Code 37 439001
Taste, Texture -

.

Nutritional Information
For every 100 grams raw product
for Barracouta fillet.

Kilojoules -
Cholesterol -
Sodium -
Total fat (oil) -
Saturated fat -
Monounsaturated fat -
Polyunsaturated fat -
Omega-3, EPA -
Omega-3, DHA -
Omega-6, AA -

See Also:  Snoek


Angling for Barracouta :

Barracouta take lures avidly even spectacularly at times when the 'couta are feeding at the surface. They even provide strikes on poppers if you like to get your jollies with visible takes. On top of the lure action the fish will take just about any bait and feeds anywhere from the surface to the bottom.

Barracouta often form very large schools and appear to 'invade' an area making it impossible to catch anything else. When this situation occurs, anglers often get frustrated and hurl abuse at the 'couta. The best thing to do in this situation is maximise the opportunities available and enjoy the fishing. The school behaviour of these fish can be quite irrational as they chase anything that moves. The fish will even leap at a lure suspended above the water.

 


Cooking Barracouta:

Although generally despised in New South Wales, barracouta actually have tasty, pinkish-coloured flesh which is firm and white when cooked, and is also ideally suited to smoking. After cooking, the many long, flexible bones are easily removed. The flesh of barracouta can occasionally be infested with parasitic worms. Cooking destroys these worms and they appear to have no effect on the eating quality of the fish. However, barracouta should never be eaten raw.


Commercial Fishing for Barracouta:

Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) Photo of whole fish

The Couta Boat:
A couta boat is a type of boat sailed in Victoria, Australia, around Sorrento and Queenscliff and along Victoria's west coast as far west as Portland. It was originally used for fishing around the coast there from around 1870 until the 1930s, although it survived as a commercial fishing vessel until the 1950s.

The couta boat developed for the coastal fishing industry over the later part of 19th century. Fishermen chased such sought-after fish as barracouta (hence the name “couta boat”, scientific name "Thyrsites atun") but fishing co-operatives established quotas to control prices, and it was this that led to the added requirement of speed in a good fishing boat.


More resources about Barracouta & Barracouta Information

 

 

 


©1996 - 2024 Sea-Ex Australia Sea-Ex Seafood Fishing Home Page
Any problems regarding this page, please contact webmaster [at] sea-ex.com
 

Disclaimer  |  Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy