Caught a Barracuda a few years ago about 50 miles offshore of Ocean City, MD. They are rare this far north. Must have come up in a warm water eddy from the Gulf stream. He was only about 38 inches long but the jaw is almost 7 inches and full of razor sharp teeth. There were only two recorded catches here that year, mine and another, speared on a wreck dive. Caught mine on a trolled tuna rig. He came aboard flappin' and snappin'. I would have released him but he was gut-hooked and died so we cut him up for chum. They're not really fit to eat, though I hear some island people eat them. They really smell very strong and stinky. I was dusting a shelf and rediscovered the jaw today. Thought maybe some of you land-locked fellas might enjoy seeing it. Top pic is the inner surface, bottom is the outer. J.O'.
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:05 pm
Caught a Barracuda a few years ago about 50 miles offshore of Ocean City, MD. They are rare this far north. Must have come up in a warm water eddy from the Gulf stream. He was only about 38 inches long but the jaw is almost 7 inches and full of razor sharp teeth. There were only two recorded catches here that year, mine and another, speared on a wreck dive. Caught mine on a trolled tuna rig. He came aboard flappin' and snappin'. I would have released him but he was gut-hooked and died so we cut him up for chum. They're not really fit to eat, though I hear some island people eat them. They really smell very strong and stinky. I was dusting a shelf and rediscovered the jaw today. Thought maybe some of you land-locked fellas might enjoy seeing it. Top pic is the inner surface, bottom is the outer. J.O'.
I am a fresh water fisherman and to me, that is a hell of a set of teeth for a fish.
Ray
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Those Pike and Pickerel can put a good bite on you. They're in brackish to fresh water. Kind of "river Barracudas". Caught this guy last Spring in the Pocomoke River, Worcester County,MD. Look at the maw on that guy, and full of teeth. Put him right back, no good to eat, fun to catch. J.O'.
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:05 pm
Caught a Barracuda a few years ago about 50 miles offshore of Ocean City, MD. They are rare this far north. Must have come up in a warm water eddy from the Gulf stream. He was only about 38 inches long but the jaw is almost 7 inches and full of razor sharp teeth. There were only two recorded catches here that year, mine and another, speared on a wreck dive. Caught mine on a trolled tuna rig. He came aboard flappin' and snappin'. I would have released him but he was gut-hooked and died so we cut him up for chum. They're not really fit to eat, though I hear some island people eat them. They really smell very strong and stinky. I was dusting a shelf and rediscovered the jaw today. Thought maybe some of you land-locked fellas might enjoy seeing it. Top pic is the inner surface, bottom is the outer. J.O'.
Great souvenir. I have tried Barracuda, but ours may be different to yours. The only reason i would feed it to a cat is if i was trying to kill it.
Righto, Cudgee . I taught Zoology for years and I liked to save specimens like teeth, jaws, fins, and anything the students might find interesting. J.O'.
I shivered looking at your fantastic images Ken so you obviously captured the essence of the ice storm - hope everyone affected is hunkered down and finding the beauty as Ken had done - thanks for sharing!
Thanks Tom. Over 120,000 homes are without power in Texas, mostly along a path between Austin and Longview where the ice is heaviest. Luckily we are north of that line. Problem is due to ice accumulation on the branches of evergreen trees Ike pines, cedars, live oaks and others, causing limbs and entire trees to fall onto power lines. Have not heard of any deaths.
All the live oaks and cedars here are sagging and we have one live oak that has a large limb broken on one side. Fortunately nowhere near a power line.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:40 pm
As long as I'm grasping at straws: A reflection.
beautiful Joe and it reminded me of a local news writer we have here on DelMarVa called Charles Paparella who produces a segment called Travels with Charlie https://www.wboc.com/features/travels-with-charlie/ which you will recall is a novel by John Steinbeck. Enjoy!