The range of S. barracuda is nearly circumtropical, encompassing the warm waters of most oceans. The species is rarely found in northern areas where winter temperatures dip below 20 °C for extended periods of time. However, some individuals have been found in the cooler waters off the coast of the northeast United States, South Africa and Japan (de Sylva 1963). On the east coasts of North, Central and South America, the range of the great barracuda extends from Massachusetts to southern Brazil (Robins et al 1986). Barracuda, especially juveniles, are found throughout the lagoon in mangrove and seagrass habitats (Fah 1976) where food and shelter are prominent. However, the distribution of the species in the India River Lagoon may be linked in part to temperature. A study conducted by Kupschus & Tremain (2001) showed that the majority of fish collected were alongside other tropical and subtropical species at the southern end of the lagoon.