A properly brined and rigged ballyhoo will troll for hours and catch every offshore predator in the Atlantic. A poorly prepared one washes out in minutes. This reference covers selection, brining, eight rig families, spread placement, and species matching for sailfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, and wahoo.
Bonito is arguably the ocean's best bait fish, attracting everything from trophy marlin to kingfish with its oily flesh and natural appeal. Learn how to catch, prepare, and use bonito as live bait, strips, and chunks to consistently hook the game fish of your dreams.
Live shrimp are one of the most effective inshore baits available, but even the best bait fishes poorly on a dead or restricted hook. Captain William Toney of Homosassa covers three rigging methods, the right hook sizes for each species, and exactly how to keep shrimp alive and kicking longer on the water.
Where you place the hook determines how the bait swims, how long it stays alive, and whether a big fish commits or passes. Freelining, nose hooking, back hooking, and belly hooking each serve a specific situation. Knowing which to use and when is what separates productive bait anglers from everyone else.
Most anglers know pinfish catch fish. Far fewer know which hook placement triggers the right action for each species, or which rig puts that bait where it needs to be. This article breaks down the biology, the bait collection, and the technique decisions that actually move the needle.
Ballyhoo is the most trusted baitfish in offshore fishing for good reason. It looks right in the water, triggers predators by instinct, and works across nearly every Atlantic species worth targeting. This article covers the biology behind why ballyhoo performs so well, how to source it fresh, and how to rig it five different ways.
Frozen ballyhoo from a tackle shop will catch fish. Live ballyhoo netted that morning, brined, and rigged behind a sea witch will catch a lot more. The difference between average offshore days and great ones often traces back to how seriously a crew takes the bait at the back of the boat.
On Big Bend, there are various live baits for fishing, including shrimp, pinfish, mud minnows, and threadfin herring. Shrimp is the most common, while pinfish can be caught at the spot. Mud minnows are found in needle grass shorelines and creeks, while threadfin herring is a top snook bait. Handling these baits requires care.
Strip baits outperform ballyhoo in versatility and fish-catching potential for near shore fishing. Charter boats throughout South Florida rely on these proven techniques to target kingfish, wahoo, mahi-mahi, and tuna. Learn professional rigging methods, essential equipment, and expert techniques for consistent fishing success across multiple species.
Every offshore spread runs better when the ballyhoo rigs are right. This article breaks down the three core rigging methods, swivel, O-ring, and floss, with exact hook sizes, wire gauges, brine times, and species-specific setup details for wahoo, mahi-mahi, and sailfish.
