Frustration - fishing for barracouta

[crumpet_avenger]

Fishing for snapper on monday at buoy 15 where I have had success before. No snapper but when checking baits I was constantly followed to the surface by some nice sized couta. 2 actually jumped out of the water chasing my pilchard. Others just raced to the top and stayed there. They were roughly 3 ft in size, Id try putting my pilly back in but they would swim away. Given that I was fishing in 70 foot of water and I have been told during the day Couta go to the bottom, I didnt have lures capable to get down there. Is there anyway to catch these guys?

P.s I have caught couta as a bycatch drifting for tiger flathead out off san remo. although given the tide coming through the western entrance, the boat would drift too fast.

[cheaterparts]

Fishing for snapper on monday at buoy 15 where I have had success before. No snapper but when checking baits I was constantly followed to the surface by some nice sized couta. 2 actually jumped out of the water chasing my pilchard. Others just raced to the top and stayed there. They were roughly 3 ft in size, Id try putting my pilly back in but they would swim away. Given that I was fishing in 70 foot of water and I have been told during the day Couta go to the bottom, I didnt have lures capable to get down there. Is there anyway to catch these guys?

P.s I have caught couta as a bycatch drifting for tiger flathead out off san remo. although given the tide coming through the western entrance, the boat would drift too fast.

if they where about just a nice shiny 70 gram slice and put it on some good leader I use at least 40 pound
cast out and whined back fairly quick there will hit a slice like 10 men
couta just love shiny things including shiny brass swivels - thats why most use black these days
the old couta are a bit of fun to catch and dam good fresh bait

cheater

[fishingvic]

The Couta will smash anything that moves!

We were fishing for squid using dark coloured jigs, and these Couta smashed the squid jigs. (Lost about 4! )

Changed over to Rapalas, and metals and landed 6 of them!

PS, the calamari were up to 2kg

iphone-060911-261.jpg (79.42 KiB) Viewed 773 times

Couta and squid

iphone-060911-264.jpg (73.58 KiB) Viewed 773 times

[will]

Nice squid and couta! :thumbsup:

[crumpet_avenger]

ive heard they are good bait but i really enjoy eating them. nice pics. . cheers for the tips. ive got the bug. whats the best months / and times to catch these guys?

[Fish-Hunter]

Great catch .