Guaguanche, Sphyraena guachancho

Guaguanche, Sphyraena guachancho. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sebastian, Florida, April 2021. Length: 38 cm (15 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Sebastian, Florida.

The Guaguanche, Sphyraena guachancho, is a member of the Barracuda or Sphyraenidae Family, that is also known as the Guachanche Barracuda and in Mexico as picuda guaguanche and tolete. Globally, there are twenty-six species in the genus Sphyraena, of which eight are found in Mexican waters, three in the Atlantic and five in the Pacific Ocean.

The Guaguanche has an overall barracuda-like appearance, with an elongated body. They are grayish to olive brown dorsally transitioning to silvery on their sides with a golden yellow stripe along the flank. The margins of the anal and pelvic fish and the middle rays of the caudal fin are black. The juveniles have three broad bars at the rear that encircle the body. They have a long head with a long, pointed snout and a large protractile distinctly protruding lower jaw that reaches beyond the eyes. They have a protruding lower jaw that is equipped with large fang like canine teeth. Their small anal fin has 2 spines and 8 elongated rays, their caudal fin is large and forked; their first dorsal fin has 6 spines; their second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 9 to 11 elongated rays and is widely separated from the first; their pectoral fins reach beyond the pelvic fins base; and, their small pelvic fins are found in front of the dorsal fin origin. They have 1 or 2 short gill rakers. They are covered with small scales. They have a well-developed lateral line.

The Guaguanche is a schooling species that is found near shore in turbid coastal waters over soft substrate at depths up to 100 m (330 feet). They can be found in brackish waters in estuaries. They can reach a maximum of 61 cm (2 feet 0 inches) in length and 1.8 kg (3 lbs 15 oz) in weight. They prey upon small fish including anchovies, herrings, lizardfish, and snappers as-well-as shrimp and squid. Reproduction involves external fertilization and the release of pelagic eggs. The Guaguanche is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Guaguanche is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean.

The Guaguanche is most likely confused with the Great Barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda (caudal fin black with white tips; pectoral fins long reaching past pelvic fin base; pelvic fins in front of first dorsal fin) and the Sennet, Sphyraena borealis (mouth ends before eyes; pectoral fins short, not reaching pelvic fin base; pelvic fins under origin of first dorsal fin).

From a conservation perspective the Guaguanche is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are targeted by commercial fishermen with trammel nets and bottom trawls and via hook and line. They are also caught as a bycatch of the tuna fishery. They are sold fresh, salted and smoked. They are also pursued by recreational anglers as a game fish.