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LOCAL Friday 4 July 2025

Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our Picuda!

(Oranjestad)—If you’re ever the tail, is thick, while the tail
planning on snorkeling dur- also forms a crescent but
ing your vacation on Aru- in this case one more "full"
ba, you may spot fish that than that of mullet or cone-
you can’t recognize. One fish. This reflects the hunting
of these may be the “Picu- style of the Picuda. It needs
da”, a very common fish to be able to accelerate
that swims all year long in quickly when the prey gets
the waters of Aruba. Here’s close.
some information about the
beloved Picuda. In Aruba:
Picuda can be found in our
Let's talk about the names of waters around our island
fish. Do you know your fish? throughout the year. Picu-
This is an informative article da, in our waters, is edible
that illustrate some fish and without any problem. Picu-
their names in Papiamento, da is also a highly sought-
which the Department of after fish by sports fishermen
Agriculture, Livestock and or recreational fishermen
Fisheries, known as “Santa because it puts up a good
Rosa”, wants to share and fight once hooked. It can
also obtain information be caught via trolling from
from the public. found throughout the year its white flesh in fish soup. with a round body like a tor- a boat, casting from shore
in our waters, where it is a In fishing culture, there are pedo and silver in color with with a line or rod, or by jig-
Picuda, Sphyraena barra- so-called "ambush preda- many other names, such as shiny black stripes. Below, ging, casting the lure (artifi-
cuda, Greater Barracuda tor" that stays still or floats Pecho blanco, Blekito, Ba- that is, the belly, is whiter, cial bait) and moving it with
Well known is the Picuda in the water waiting for nana, or Bleki. The names while the top part is darker. certain rod motions.q
on the island—Barracuda its prey to approach so it vary according to size. Its snout is very pointed, and
in English. Its scientific name can attack it with lightning the lower jaw is longer than Picture courtesy of the De-
is Sphyraena barracuda. It speed. It is well known for Description the upper one. Its pedun- partment of Agriculture, Live-
is a widely caught fish. It is fishermen, especially for The Picuda is a long fish, cle, where the body meets stock and Fisheries.

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — You are back or still enjoying your vaca-
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