Pickhandle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 20–200 m.
Scientific name: Sphyraena jello · Water: Saltwater, Brackish
Size: up to 150 cm
The pickhandle barracuda is a sphyraenid; adults are diurnal and solitary, while the young form schools. It appears around current-swept lagoons and seaward reefs, and also enters bays, estuaries and turbid inner lagoons. It feeds mainly on fishes and also takes squid. Commonly about 120 cm and up to 150 cm total length, with low population resilience and a fishing vulnerability of 75 out of 100, which puts it in the high-risk band. Large individuals carry ciguatera reports, which FishBase notes still need confirmation, so it should be eaten with caution. Sold fresh, frozen or dried salted.
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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