Ballyhoo Rigging Video

For anybody fishing for sailfish, white marlin, striped marlin, even black and blue marlin, ballyhoo is a staple bait. They work great for dolphin, wahoo, damn near anything. Ballyhoo or garfish, as they are referred to in Australia, are a must have bait for any gamefish boat. This bait fish is a natural source of food for most all the species mentioned. Knowing how to rig ballyhoo is a basic offshore fishing skill you really must master.

Chris Rushford, from Reel Teaser Fishing Adventures in Western, Australia, is about as well rounded of a fisherman as you could ask for as a mate or fishing guide. He likes fishing for big marlin, giant trevally, tuna, wahoo, sailfish, barramundi, snapper, you name it and he excels in the pursuit of it. He knows the tackle, terminal connections, techniques, rigs, baits and lures. Chris is a fishyAF waterman.

Chris will show you how to rig skipping garfish or ballyhoo for sailfish in this brief In The Spread bait rigging video. It is simple and quick and a must know. He will open with bait preservation and how key it is to have good quality baits. Ballyhoo will deteriorate in short order, without proper care. Chris will share each component used in this rigging technique, the stitches he makes, how he makes his snub leader and his method for attaching the hook to the bait.

A quick rundown of the components Chris uses in rigging a garfish include wax thread, hooks, a snub leader, crimps, crimping pliers, compact skirts and a rigging needle. This should take less than two minutes with practice.

Chris will show you how easy it is to stitch a harness to the ballyhoo for holding the hook to the bait. You will see exactly where and how to make each incision with the thread. He will point out how to sew the gill plates closed without puncturing and potentially cracking them. Your main goal is to get a central tow point for the hook, so the bait swims without spinning.

Once the ballyhoo is stitched up, you will see how the skirt is attached, bill trimmed and the connection for tying the hook to the bait.

This is such a simple ballyhoo rigging video to follow. Chris Rushford makes it seem just as easy as it will be for you. Watch and learn from an outstanding fisherman.

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