European barracuda

Photo: Christian Amador Da Silva · © all rights reserved

Barracuda schools materialise over the plateau edge at Secca di Colombara most reliably between May and October, drawn by the current break created as open-ocean flow meets the seamount structure. Schools range from dozens to several hundred individuals, rotating slowly above the reef before dispersing to hunt along the wall. Their presence is strongly correlated with anchovy and sardine abundance in the area — a good barracuda sighting often follows a dense baitfish aggregation spotted near the surface on the boat ride out.