Clay is correct on both topics. You see a lot more cuda eaten in the Pacific and Australia, why I don't know. Maybe it's a different species, maybe it's regional (geographical), or maybe we just haven't cuz we were brought up that way. I don't eat beetles and bugs (besides crawfish and lobster!), but just cuz our culture doesn't, doesn't mean they are unedible.Clay-Doh (11/20/2007)They can have a desease called Ciguatera. Very rare, and large amberjacks and the bigger varieties of snapper and grouper are also listed as posible species. It is more common in tropical waters with coral since it is a microscopic organism that is the sourse of the toxin.
I have yet to eat a cuda, but have heard they are exellent smoked since they are an oily fish. The one I shot I didn't get to eat cuzHarry (whos boat we were on)said the thing smelled way to nasty to let on his boat! And they do stink...like baterry acid, metal, and antifreeze mixed with fish.
Gloryboy (11/20/2007)I have eaten quite a few throughout the years. I think they are good table fare. While I don't kill them randomly, I dont put anyone down for it either.
I do kill Remora's though. Sorry lil' bastards.
As far as the smell goes, might want to put it on ice guys, never was confronted to a particulary bad smell coming from cudas,comparatevly I found cobia stunk quickly (if not iced).
Then you never cought 1 cuda from around these waters FRENCHY... Stinkin cudas....:sick
A cobia smells like roses compared to those bastards.
Stories like that make me say "no thanks" to cudas. But be aware, ALL fish have the possibility of Ciguatera. So next time you unload those groupers and snappers, it's best to give me a call and I'll sample them for you, free of charge- unless I die and then my wife will pay you a couple bucks!LITECATCH (11/21/2007)we were at the horse shoe rigs and a buddy of mine caught a cuda. kept it and his parents almost die from eating it. we have live bottom here! the way the food chain works is, the ciguatera is on the reef. a snail eats it, a puffer fish loves snails and eats the snail. now with the cuda being one of a very few fish that has a mouth that can eat a puffer fish, it is now in the cuda where it stays until something else eats it. don't be fooled thinking it is ok to eat them. my friends parents were sick (almost died) for 6 months. they were not allowed to eat ANY fish fresh water included for 1 year. from what i understand they can't even think about eating fish even today after how sick they got. so please, throw those stinky boys back!