Blackfin barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) is a saltwater species recorded in Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 0–100 m.
Scientific name: Sphyraena qenie · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 170 cm
The blackfin barracuda is a sphyraenid found near current-swept lagoon and seaward reefs, feeding on fishes. By day it is usually seen in large semi-stationary schools that tend to hold the same site for months or even years at a time, and it probably disperses at night to feed, which is why it is most often hooked by trolling between dusk and dawn. It occurs in tropical waters between roughly 30 degrees north and 24 degrees south, from the surface to about 100 m, and reaches about 170 cm total length, commonly 80 cm, and up to about 7.1 kg. It supports commercial fisheries and is a game fish, selling in the medium price band, with a trophic level of 4.5, very high fishing vulnerability at 76 of 100, and very low resilience.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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