Ballyhoo

[Baja Fly Fisher]

Here's a couple photo's of the ballyhoo

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae72/jaysflies1/DSCN0434_zps23cedb27.jpg (http://s959.photobucket.com/user/jaysflies1/media/DSCN0434_zps23cedb27.jpg.html)

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae72/jaysflies1/DSCN0432_zps14425953.jpg (http://s959.photobucket.com/user/jaysflies1/media/DSCN0432_zps14425953.jpg.html)

They range from 4" to 6" I would guess the best would be 4", 5" in length. But I'm hoping the sardine's show up

Jay

[DLJeff]

Those are such a fascinating fish. The evolutionary advantages of having half a needle beak on the bottom escape me. I also like the fact the lower lobe of their tail has evolved to be longer so they can skim along above the water surface like flying fish without wings. We trolled some ballyhoo last week out at Diana's Bank west of Crooked Island for good size yellowfin.

[Darian]

Yep!! I agree. They are a fascinating fish. I wonder of the beak on the lower jaw isn't for rooting for food in muddy/sandy bottoms. Then tip of the beak is usually pale orangish in color, from scraping in the mud/sand???

[mems]

Half beaks, I catch them on small shrimp flies I use for bonefish. They school in the shallows and are wonderful offshore bait. I used one on sunday with a charlie, live small tuna trolled behind the boat. The Mahi come in to check out the tuna and then hit the ballyhoo. They are a trip when other fish are chasing them. They skitter across the surface like an aha, giant needle fish. They are almost a flying fish in that manner. I've been working on my skitter retrieve with a clouser for the baja trip. Can't wait to get down there. Darian I hope you guys have a good week. Keep me posted, Don

[Darian]

Aloha Don,.... Halfbeaks do seem to school up in the shallows. That's why I wondered about using the beak to root around in the mud/sand.

When do you arrive down there?? My partner and I arrive on May 31 for a week of trying for a large Rooster, etc. :cool: Check out the link for some large Rooster photo's taken last week:

http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/

[mems]

Hey Darian, yeah I saw that monster on tailhunter page. They were using live lady fish. I don't get down until the 7th and stay until the 21st. Leave me a few fish to play with. Hope you have a great time. One of these years we will fish together. Don.

[Darian]

We'll be leaving when you arrive. Too bad we won't be there at the same time. I've never been to Hawaii. Maybe I'll have to try some Bone fishing with you. :cool:

[Baja Fly Fisher]

One boat went to La Ventana area and along with some of Bulla's and Canelo. Found bait (ballyhoo) but no fish. Ramon stayed back and fished the Ranchito area and Boca del Alamo and did well. One guy lost another big dorado. Fish is way out there and jumping threw the hook. I told them to strip strike the fish when they make the fish run and set the hook. These two guys came all the way from Germany and I'm sure they will be back with their friends.
They spent a week in Cabo an only had one small jack and sierra. Needless to say, these guys are hooked

Hopefully tomorrow will bring a 40lber to the boat. It's there last day. They only wanted 5 days of fishing. Today they told me again what a difference between Ramon and the "so called" fly fishing captain they found at the marina in Cabo

Good luck tomorrow

Jay