Using Live Ballyhoo on the Reef off Key West
One of my favorite ways of fishing is to catch and use live Ballyhoo on the reef this time of year. A Ballyhoo is a small common baitfish found in these waters. Everything, from Yellowtail snapper to Blue Marlin will eat a ballyhoo so they are nervous, and rightfully so. When the water is warm, they will stay in the shallows where they are safer. But, this time of year, when the weather turns colder, the shallow water will cool down first and the schools of Ballyhoo will move out to the reef where the water is warmer………..and much more dangerous! Whenever possible, I like to anchor on the reef first thing in the morning and catch some live ballyhoo, and then slow troll with them on the reef.
Live Ballyhoo usually means lots of action !
Yellowtail snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jacks, Barracuda, Kingfish, Cero Mackerel and even Sailfish come into the shallows along the Reef to feed on the Ballyhoo. Most of my customers find the steady action fun.
Yesterday, we caught ballyhoo
It took longer than I had hoped, but we got enough to fish the rest of the day and then some. We seemed to have a bit of “rubber-Hookitis”, but it’s a learning curve and once my customers got with the program, we put some nice fish in the boat.
Click Below!
Fishing Vacation Packages
with