Quick Rig Ballyhoo

Want more mahi, wahoo, tuna, and marlin? Then you need to know the “Quick Rig Ballyhoo”!

Ballyhoo are extremely popular withoffshore anglers around the world and are a go-to bait for many game fish,especially wahoo, mahi, tuna, and marlin. Most of us are not professional mates and need a quick and easy way to rig ballyhoo. The old copper wire, rubber band or floss rig is difficult and time consuming for most. Give this quick rig a shot!


The key to a well-rigged bait is to start with top-quality fish. Make sure to chose packs of ballyhoo with clear eyes, no frost and the vacuum seal is intact. Thaw the ballyhoo slowly in ice water and do not break the seal until ballyhoo are thawed. 

 

Step 1
For the quick rig you'll need the following items: your choice of leader (for light tackle fishing we use 100-pound leader), single-strand wire (we use #10 or #12 wire), crimps to match your leader, appropriate size hooks for line class and size of bait, bait springs, chin weights, wire cutters, and crimping pliers. If you like, you can add Islander lures, squid skirts, Mold Craft bubbler, or any skirted lure for added color and splash.

 

Step 2
First, make a small pin out of the single-strand wire bent into an "L" shape. The short section should be about the same length as your crimp and the long section needs to be long enough to go through the head of your ballyhoo. You can always go a bit longer and trim it down later if required.

 

Step 3
Attach your hook to the leader with the pin inserted in the crimp so it's locked into place at right angles to the hook shank. I prefer to crimp close on the hook so the pin is as close to the hook eye as possible. This rig works best for tuna and mahi but will catch marlin and wahoo. You will occasionally lose a wahoo or marlin on the 100lb mono leader, but you will get more bites. You can rig any of the ballyhoo with or whiteout a chin weight! 

 

Step 3a
For wahoo make the entire leader out of #10 or #12 wire.

 

Step 3b
For marlin use 200lb mono and rig, just like the 100lb rig for tuna and mahi. This will be used with large or horse Ballyhoo and larger lures and skirts. This is the most difficult one to get the ballyhoo to swim as the 200lb mono is stiff. You need more practice with this rig. You can do it!

 

Step 4 (Optional)
Slide a bait spring down the leader, and if you choose, you can now add a lure or skirt before crimping a loop in the end of the desired length.

Step 5
To rig the bait, start by cutting off the long part bill to equal the short beak and cut off pectoral fins and removing poop from belly area by squeezing poop out of the anal hole. The bill will be in the way of rigging, the pectoral fins and cause the bait to spin, and leaving the poop will make the baits wash out faster. Next you need to measure and mark with a small hole where the hook should exit the belly. The also need to bend and crack the backbone so the ballyhoo swims better, and lastly carefully squeeze and separate the meat from the backbone without damaging the skin of the ballyhoo.

 

Step 6
Next start by opening up a gill plate and sliding the point of the hook through the belly towards the hole you made in the belly.

 

Step 7
Push the point of the hook out through the belly and push the pin up through the bottom jaw and out of the top of the head.

Slide the bait spring down and rotate it around the pin until it's firm against the bait. If you're fishing the ballyhoo naked, the bait is now ready to go.

 

Step 8
 If you have a lure or skirt slide that down to the ballyhoo and coil the leader.

 

Step 9
If any of your Ballyhoo have a kink or bend they will not swim and they will helicopter. If this happens, you will not catch fish.

 

In the case you have placed the hook too far back use a pair of scissors to make a cut in front of the hook to relieve pressure on the ballyhoo and allow to swim straight.

 

Step 11
After rigging lay the ballyhoo out on a metal tray and dust with Bionic Brine so they last longer and don’t wash out so quick. Store in a cooler over ice on the metal tray not on the ice.

 

Rig the ballyhoo the night before and leave brined over ice. They will last even longer if they have been brined over night!

As a last trick add some ProCure Bait Scent!

Now you have the finished product so get out there and catch a trophy and some dinner!