They really nab at flashers. Better than bait fish. Since they usually are in schools you drop a flasher in their midst and FISH ON! We used to dull(paint) our dive gear just in case. One knocked off my dive mask once from the silver buckle. Scared me real good.
Yes we used to use spoons in the back country around Key Largo and Islamorada. We would troll past the mangroves and catch small Barracuda to take back and make fried fish sandwiches. The good old days.