Ballyhoo
Hemiramphus brasiliensis
Also called 'Hoo, Balao.
How to tell it
Only the LOWER jaw stretches into a beak, tipped orange-red — the trolling bait.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called ballyhoo, and what gives it away.
- Atlantic needlefish: Both jaws long and toothy. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
How anglers catch it
Netted or caught on tiny hooks in a chum slick; the offshore bait of record.
On the table
Bait royalty; fried whole in the islands.
In the app
Point the camera at a ballyhoo and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about ballyhoo
How do you tell ballyhoo from Atlantic needlefish?
Ballyhoo: Only the LOWER jaw stretches into a beak, tipped orange-red — the trolling bait. Atlantic needlefish: both jaws long and toothy.
How do you catch ballyhoo?
Netted or caught on tiny hooks in a chum slick; the offshore bait of record. Methods: casting.