Catching Ballyhoo In The Florida Keys

If you're a die-hard offshore angler you know the effectiveness of ballyhoo. But have you ever wondered where your bait comes from? Prevalent in the Florida Keys, these beaked baitfish are highly regulated to ensure their continued success. Follow us on the journey involved in making your angling dreams come true. When targeting ballyhoo a surface skimming lampara net is the most efficient and effective way of procuring a solid catch. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Once a school of ballyhoo is located and concentrated on the surface the crew deploys the large mesh net. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Commercial harvesters work together to maximize their catch and once the net is deployed another boat drives parallel to help drive the ballyhoo to the surface. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

After the captain completes a circle around the baitfish the crew begins to bring in the net with a series of pulleys and a power-assist winch. Once the first float comes back to the boat the crew must bring in the remainder of the net by hand. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

The net won't fully close until it is close to the boat and at anytime the ballyhoo could swim away freely. To help drive the bait to the surface a mate tosses a PVC pipe into the water. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Once the captain reaches the beginning of the net a purse line is pulled, which effectively closes the bottom and prevents the bait from escaping. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

With long-handled dip nets the mates begin carefully scooping the baits and placing them in fishboxes. Once onboard the baits are immediately brined in a combination of crushed ice, salt, sodium bicarbonate and two proprietary ingredients. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Back at the dock the baits are quickly offloaded and taken to Bionic Bait's facility. Here the ballyhoo are separated by size and packaged. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

The fresh ballyhoo are then vacuum sealed and flash frozen. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

From here the baits are ready to be shipped to anglers and tackle retailers around the world. Photo: Steve Dougherty-doughertyphotos.com

Catching Ballyhoo in the Florida Keys