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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Animals

Fish

Great barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Often a lone silver watcher near the surface. Give it space, stay calm if one follows you, and remember a sighting is never promised.

Least ConcernIn 84 Atlas countries

Least Concern (IUCN, 2013) means it is not at high risk of extinction worldwide today.

Great barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teeth
Photo: Karl Callwood on Unsplash
Great barracuda hovering over seagrass and coral in Belize
Photo: Wouter Naert on Unsplash
Great barracuda gliding low over a sandy seabed
Photo: Ekaterina Zlotnikova on Unsplash
Two great barracuda swimming together in blue water
Photo: Rémi METIN on Unsplash
Great barracuda patrolling between pier pilings
Photo: Heidi Bruce on Unsplash
Great barracuda swimming beneath a boat hull, Virgin Islands
Photo: Karl Callwood on Unsplash

Photos show the species, not always the places on this page.

Length

Usually about 1.4 m (4.6 ft) long; largest recorded about 2 m (6.6 ft)

Weight

Typical weight not reliably measured; published maximum records range from about 40 to 50 kg (88 to 110 lb)

Next to a person

Commonly about the height of a child; the largest are longer than most adults are tall

What it eats

Fish and squid or octopus, and sometimes shrimp.

Around people

Potentially dangerous, respect

How it lives

The great barracuda usually lives alone, though small groups also occur. It is active by day, mostly at or near the surface, where it hunts fish, squid and octopus, and sometimes shrimp.

Where it goes

Young great barracuda grow up in mangroves, estuaries and seagrass, often in small groups. As they grow, they move out to reefs and open water. Adults use many habitats, from murky harbours to clear reefs and the open sea.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Found in tropical seas worldwide. Indo-Pacific populations are largely connected, with a small difference in Hawai'i, while western Atlantic and Caribbean fish form a separate lineage; the eastern Atlantic falls in between. There are no formal subspecies.

Meet it respectfully

Bites on people are rare, but they can cause serious injury. Never touch, feed, chase, corner or surround a barracuda, and never spearfish near one. Keep calm body language, and avoid shiny jewellery or knives in poor visibility. Follow local park rules, as they differ by place.

Fun fact

Tap the bulb to light it up.

Where you may meet it

Great barracuda in the Ocean Atlas

Places we have researched where this animal is recorded. It is never guaranteed, and some places are for watching from the boat only.

FijiTanzaniaW. SaharaCanadaUnited States of AmericaKazakhstanUzbekistanIndonesiaArgentinaChileDem. Rep. CongoSomaliaKenyaSudanChadHaitiDominican Rep.RussiaBahamasFalkland Is.NorwayGreenlandFr. S. Antarctic LandsTimor-LesteSouth AfricaLesothoMexicoUruguayBrazilBoliviaPeruColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFranceEcuadorPuerto RicoJamaicaCubaZimbabweBotswanaNamibiaSenegalMaliMauritaniaBeninNigerNigeriaCameroonTogoGhanaCôte d'IvoireGuineaGuinea-BissauLiberiaSierra LeoneBurkina FasoCentral African Rep.CongoGabonEq. GuineaZambiaMalawiMozambiqueeSwatiniAngolaBurundiIsraelLebanonMadagascarPalestineGambiaTunisiaAlgeriaJordanUnited Arab EmiratesQatarKuwaitIraqOmanCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamNorth KoreaSouth KoreaMongoliaIndiaBangladeshBhutanNepalPakistanAfghanistanTajikistanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanIranSyriaArmeniaSwedenBelarusUkrainePolandAustriaHungaryMoldovaRomaniaLithuaniaLatviaEstoniaGermanyBulgariaGreeceTurkeyAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandAustraliaSri LankaChinaTaiwanItalyDenmarkUnited KingdomIcelandAzerbaijanGeorgiaPhilippinesMalaysiaBruneiSloveniaFinlandSlovakiaCzechiaEritreaJapanParaguayYemenSaudi ArabiaN. CyprusCyprusMoroccoEgyptLibyaEthiopiaDjiboutiSomalilandUgandaRwandaBosnia and Herz.MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoTrinidad and TobagoS. SudanMoʻorea, French PolynesiaRurutu, French PolynesiaAmed, Bali, IndonesiaGili Trawangan, IndonesiaKomodo, IndonesiaGili Air, IndonesiaMaratua and Derawan, IndonesiaRaja Ampat, IndonesiaNusa Penida, IndonesiaLovina, Bali, IndonesiaFlorida Keys (Key Largo), United StatesLa Jolla and the Channel Islands, United StatesMaui, United StatesOʻahu, United StatesSan Diego and La Jolla, United StatesJuneau and Southeast Alaska, United StatesGlacier Bay, United StatesSeward and Kenai Fjords, United StatesLittle Cayman, Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman, Cayman IslandsCayman Brac, Cayman IslandsWestpunt, CuraçaoWillemstad and the central coast, CuraçaoCuraçao Marine Park (southeast coast), CuraçaoKlein Curaçao, CuraçaoCôte des Arcadins, HaitiÎle-à-Vache, HaitiThree Bays Protected Area, HaitiGrand Turk, Turks and Caicos IslandsSalt Cay, Turks and Caicos IslandsProvidenciales and Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos IslandsWest Caicos and French Cay, Turks and Caicos IslandsSalt Island and the RMS Rhone, British Virgin IslandsNorman Island and the Indians, British Virgin IslandsVirgin Gorda, British Virgin IslandsAnegada and Horseshoe Reef, British Virgin IslandsCades Reef and the southwest coast, Antigua and BarbudaEnglish Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua and BarbudaBarbuda and Codrington Lagoon, Antigua and BarbudaSoufrière and the Pitons, Saint LuciaAnse Chastanet, Saint LuciaWest coast deep water, Saint LuciaGrande Anse, Saint LuciaSpeyside and Little Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoBuccoo Reef, Trinidad and TobagoTurtle Beach, Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoGrande Riviere, Trinidad, Trinidad and TobagoMergui Archipelago and Burma Banks, MyanmarLampi Marine National Park, MyanmarAyeyarwady River dolphins, MyanmarLa Ventana, MexicoGuadalupe Island, MexicoTofo, MozambiqueFernando de Noronha, BrazilAbrolhos, BrazilPraia do Forte, BrazilSanta Catarina whale coast, BrazilBonito, BrazilCulebra, Puerto RicoVieques, Puerto RicoLa Parguera, Puerto RicoRincon and the Mona Passage, Puerto RicoBaird Bay and Eyre Peninsula, AustraliaBarunguba and Narooma, AustraliaBremer Bay, AustraliaCairns, Port Douglas and the Ribbon Reefs, AustraliaChristmas Island, AustraliaCocos (Keeling) Islands, AustraliaLady Elliot Island, AustraliaLord Howe Island, AustraliaNingaloo, AustraliaRowley Shoals, AustraliaTasman Peninsula and Eaglehawk Neck, AustraliaMaria Island and the east coast, AustraliaBimini, The BahamasAndros, The BahamasExuma Cays, The BahamasEleuthera, The BahamasOkinawa, JapanPlacencia and the Southern Reef, BelizeBouillante and the Cousteau Reserve, GuadeloupeSt John and the national park, US Virgin IslandsLa Digue, SeychellesMahé, SeychellesPraslin and Curieuse, SeychellesDahab, EgyptMarsa Alam, EgyptBonaire and Klein Bonaire, Caribbean NetherlandsSaba and Saba Bank, Caribbean NetherlandsSint Eustatius, Caribbean NetherlandsMalpelo, ColombiaGorgona, ColombiaNuquí, Bahía Solano and Utría, ColombiaProvidencia and Santa Catalina, ColombiaSan Andrés, ColombiaSanta Catalina and Coiba, PanamaGulf of Chiriquí, PanamaPearl Islands, PanamaIsla Iguana and Isla Cañas, PanamaBocas del Toro and Bastimentos, PanamaGuna Yala, PanamaRoatán, HondurasUtila, HondurasGuanaja, HondurasCayos Cochinos, HondurasCoron, Palawan, PhilippinesMoalboal, Cebu, PhilippinesPanglao and Balicasag, Bohol, PhilippinesSiquijor, PhilippinesApo Island and Dauin, PhilippinesApo Reef, PhilippinesBoracay, PhilippinesEl Nido and Bacuit Bay, PhilippinesPort Barton and San Vicente, PhilippinesTubbataha Reefs, PhilippinesJardines de la Reina, CubaMaria la Gorda and Guanahacabibes, CubaTorshavn and Sandagerdi, Faroe IslandsLe Carbet and the Caribbean coast, MartiniquePort Antonio and Negril, JamaicaInner Hebrides (Coll, Tiree and Mull), United KingdomMoray Firth and Chanonry Point, United KingdomOrkney and Scapa Flow, United KingdomFarne Islands, United KingdomLundy, United KingdomReef platform and north shore, BermudaLittle Bay and Shoal Bay, AnguillaBourail, Poé and Déva, New CaledoniaNouméa and the Great Southern Lagoon, New CaledoniaPoindimié and Hienghène, New CaledoniaÎle des Pins (Kunié), New CaledoniaMan of War Shoal Marine Park, Sint MaartenKhao Lak, Similan and Surin Islands, ThailandKoh Lanta and Hin Daeng, ThailandKoh Tao, ThailandPerhentian Islands, MalaysiaTioman Island, MalaysiaFagatele Bay and the sanctuary, American SamoaOfu and the National Park, American SamoaSalomon Atoll, Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)Peros Banhos, Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)Tamarin and Flic en Flac, MauritiusBlue Bay and Mahébourg, MauritiusBelle Mare, MauritiusRodrigues, MauritiusXiaoliuqiu, TaiwanHualien, TaiwanSaipan, Northern Mariana IslandsKadavu and the Great Astrolabe Reef, FijiPacific Harbour and Beqa Lagoon, FijiSavusavu and Vanua Levu, FijiTaveuni and Viani Bay, FijiYasawa and Drawaqa Manta Channel, FijiAjaccio and the Gulf of Ajaccio, FranceBonifacio, Porto-Vecchio and the Lavezzi Islands, FranceMarseille, the Calanques and Cassis, FrancePort-Cros, Porquerolles and Hyères, FranceVillefranche-sur-Mer and Nice, FranceIfaty and Mangily, MadagascarNosy Be, MadagascarÎle Sainte-Marie, MadagascarGuam, GuamKoror and the Rock Islands, PalauParke Marino, ArubaPalm Beach and West Point, ArubaMayotte lagoon, MayotteMajuro Atoll, Marshall IslandsKwajalein Atoll, Marshall IslandsFuvahmulah, MaldivesHanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, MaldivesSouth Ari Atoll, MaldivesMafia Island, TanzaniaMikindani and Mnazi Bay, TanzaniaZanzibar - Matemwe, Mnemba and Chumbe, TanzaniaTobago Cays, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesUnion Island, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesFrench coast of Saint Martin, Saint MartinKavieng and New Ireland, Papua New GuineaKimbe Bay, Papua New GuineaMilne Bay, Papua New GuineaTufi (Oro Province), Papua New GuineaBayahibe and the south coast, Dominican RepublicWatamu, KenyaDiani, KenyaShimoni and Kisite, KenyaLos Roques Archipelago, VenezuelaMochima, VenezuelaAda Foah and the Volta estuary, GhanaMuni-Pomadze, GhanaColombier and the marine reserve, Saint BarthélemyKribi and Ebodje coast, CameroonDouala-Edea coast, CameroonRéunion, RéunionAliwal Shoal and Umkomaas, South AfricaCape Town and Hermanus, South AfricaSodwana Bay, South AfricaUmluj and the Red Sea islands, Saudi ArabiaYanbu, Saudi ArabiaJeddah and Obhur, Saudi ArabiaAl Lith, Saudi ArabiaGulf of Aqaba coast, Saudi ArabiaArnavon Community Marine Park, Solomon IslandsGizo and Western Province, Solomon IslandsMarovo Lagoon and Uepi, Solomon IslandsMunda and Roviana Lagoon, Solomon IslandsHoi Ha Wan and the Sai Kung coast, Hong KongWest and South Lantau, Hong KongSham Wan, Lamma Island, Hong KongAbu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLevera, GrenadaMolinière Bay, GrenadaCarriacou, GrenadaThe Narrows, Saint Kitts and NevisSoutheast Peninsula, Saint Kitts and NevisVava'u and Ha'apai, TongaLakshadweep (Agatti, Bangaram, Kadmat), IndiaNetrani and Murudeshwar, IndiaSwaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Barren Island, IndiaSouthern lagoon and Direction Island, Cocos (Keeling) IslandsPulu Keeling (North Keeling), Cocos (Keeling) IslandsDominica, DominicaCabo de Palos and Cartagena, SpainEl Hierro and La Restinga, SpainFormentera, SpainFuerteventura, SpainGran Canaria, SpainIbiza, SpainJávea (Xàbia), SpainL'Estartit and the Medes Islands, SpainLa Herradura and Costa Tropical, SpainLa Palma, SpainLanzarote, SpainMallorca, SpainMenorca, SpainMálaga and the Costa del Sol, SpainTabarca and Alicante, SpainTarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar, SpainTenerife, SpainSouthern Bioko beaches, Equatorial GuineaWuzhizhou Island, Sanya, ChinaSanya coral coast, ChinaXiamen Bay, ChinaMayumba National Park, GabonLoango National Park, GabonFaial and Horta, PortugalMadeira, PortugalPico (Madalena and Lajes), PortugalPrincess Alice Bank, PortugalCarlisle Bay, BarbadosFolkestone Marine Park, BarbadosWest coast nesting beaches, BarbadosChuuk Lagoon, Micronesia (FSM)Kosrae, Micronesia (FSM)Pohnpei and Ahnd Atoll, Micronesia (FSM)Yap, Micronesia (FSM)Eilat and the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, Israel

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American SamoaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaAustraliaThe BahamasBarbadosBelizeBermudaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsCameroonCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsChagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)ChinaCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaCubaCuraçaoDominicaDominican RepublicEgyptEquatorial GuineaFaroe IslandsFijiFranceFrench PolynesiaGabonGhanaGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamHaitiHondurasHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIsraelJamaicaJapanKenyaMadagascarMalaysiaMaldivesMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesia (FSM)MozambiqueMyanmarNew CaledoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaPhilippinesPortugalPuerto RicoRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaudi ArabiaSeychellesSint MaartenSolomon IslandsSouth AfricaSpainTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTongaTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos IslandsUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUS Virgin IslandsVenezuela
Sources for this page

Facts checked 26 September 2026. Photos: Unsplash licence, or Creative Commons as shown on each photo.

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