Ballyhoo size

[birdhunter]

I am about to place an order from baitmasters. What sizes would you recommend for yellow fins, wahoo, and dolphin. I am looking to purchase about two cases I do not mind mixing sizes. I was thinking a case of mediums and a half case of smalls and half case of selects.

[#1Gaffman]

I think that sounds pretty good.


Mediums for YFT, HOODGS,

Smalls, For sails, whites.

I would bump up to the horseys though. But selects are nice to.



Now i just need to save up some $$Mulla$$ for macks and squidlys and flying fish and mullets, and, well the list goes on

[Glenn W]

Hey Birdhunter,
Let me explain something for ya and offer an alternative. From our pm's, I understand that you live in Richmond and fish mostly in Carolina.
Baitmasters have an awesome product, no doubt. Their ballyhoo are as good as they get in the industry. However, this is not the only packager of quality dead baits. One of the biggest advantages of Baitmasters is that they will ship directly to you, the consumer. For this you pay a subtantial price--- especially if you only buy a case or two.

Because of the sheer volume of ballyhoo the Carolina boys go through, quality baits are widely available in Hatteras and MHC. This is not the case for our brothers north of the DMZ. Thus, Baitmasters is perhaps the best way for the northern guys to get a quality hoo. You don't have that problem.

As the season wears on and it gets hot, even our ballyhoo purchased in NC can be of a lesser quality due to summer caught baits ( much softer than winter caught baits). As such, most of the NC charter boats will buy their baits now for the season (locally).

The point is, you can buy your baits from local NC retailers now that are just as good as baitmasters and a heck of alot cheaper. Buy a couple cases when in the OBX.

The only way you will save any money at all is if you have a freeezer on your boat. If you plan on transporting a weekend's worth of bait from Richmond to NC each trip, trust me, you will pay out of your ass for bait due to the waste ( I certainly hope you don't plan on refreezing any thawed ballyhoo )---- been there done that too many years and paid alot more for bait in the long run than if I just bought it by the package in NC.

If you want to buy by the case now, Frisco Rod & Gun is the only place to consider in Hatteras. MHC offers more options--- EJW, Joe Shutes are perhaps the most reliable.

I would much rather pick through packages of baits than take my chance on a pre order--- even Baitmasters.

As far as size, I would stick with mediums for 95% of your needs. A few Selects are good for the fall wahoo bite, and if you really are going to go Blue Marlin fishing, you will need some Horses. Forget the Smalls---- yea, yea, yea, dink baits---- mediums will work fine for the Whites and Saildogs in NC and are easier to rig properlly.

[Bert Rodgers]

Speaking of sizes, last year Del Marva Sports carried some real nice "Large" that came 5 in a pack for like $11.00. They were damn near as big as horses and were tough as nails. Does anyone here remember the brand name?

Bert

[WAHOONBOX]

DANG GLENN............WELL SAID!

TUNA - WAHOO-MAHI-.....MEDIUMS

I ALSO USE THE "LARGER" MEDIUMS IN THE PACK FOR MY SNIPER ROD AND ON MY TEASER BRIDLE RIG

SMALLS DO NOT HOLD UP AS GLENN SAID...AND REQUIRE CONSTANT OBSERVATION FOR WASH OUT.....AND MOST GUYS DON'T DO THIS....SOME EVEN SLEEP ON A BOAT.

WHEN YOU PUT A HORSE OUT....YOU SOMETIMES ARE TAKING YOURSELF OUT OF THE PICTURE FOR THE " AVERAGE JOE FISH" .... AND I USE HORSE TO TARGET ....I SAID TARGET BLUES. GIANTS AND BIGEYE

A MEDIUM BALLYHOO... ATRUE MEDIUM BALLYHOO IS A DEADLY WEAPON....USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

I ALSO DITTO GLENN....FRESH PACKED GOOD VACCUM SEALED BALLYHOO ARE ALL THE SAME.....DON'T BUY BAIT BECAUSE THE PACKAGING IS PRETTY

[#1Gaffman]

Hey Birdhunter,
Let me explain something for ya and offer an alternative. From our pm's, I understand that you live in Richmond and fish mostly in Carolina.
Baitmasters have an awesome product, no doubt. Their ballyhoo are as good as they get in the industry. However, this is not the only packager of quality dead baits. One of the biggest advantages of Baitmasters is that they will ship directly to you, the consumer. For this you pay a subtantial price--- especially if you only buy a case or two.

Because of the sheer volume of ballyhoo the Carolina boys go through, quality baits are widely available in Hatteras and MHC. This is not the case for our brothers north of the DMZ. Thus, Baitmasters is perhaps the best way for the northern guys to get a quality hoo. You don't have that problem.

As the season wears on and it gets hot, even our ballyhoo purchased in NC can be of a lesser quality due to summer caught baits ( much softer than winter caught baits). As such, most of the NC charter boats will buy their baits now for the season (locally).

The point is, you can buy your baits from local NC retailers now that are just as good as baitmasters and a heck of alot cheaper. Buy a couple cases when in the OBX.

The only way you will save any money at all is if you have a freeezer on your boat. If you plan on transporting a weekend's worth of bait from Richmond to NC each trip, trust me, you will pay out of your ass for bait due to the waste ( I certainly hope you don't plan on refreezing any thawed ballyhoo )---- been there done that too many years and paid alot more for bait in the long run than if I just bought it by the package in NC.

If you want to buy by the case now, Frisco Rod & Gun is the only place to consider in Hatteras. MHC offers more options--- EJW, Joe Shutes are perhaps the most reliable.

I would much rather pick through packages of baits than take my chance on a pre order--- even Baitmasters.

As far as size, I would stick with mediums for 95% of your needs. A few Selects are good for the fall wahoo bite, and if you really are going to go Blue Marlin fishing, you will need some Horses. Forget the Smalls---- yea, yea, yea, dink baits---- mediums will work fine for the Whites and Saildogs in NC and are easier to rig properlly.

Obvioslly for different reasons it is better to order winter ballyhoo, But a question i have been wondering is does it make any differance for Macks, squids, mullets and such?? or just ballyhoo?

[birdhunter]

Thanks a lot for the great advise guys. My concern was that most of the time our trips are last minunte as we are always looking for that window. That being said, it always seems that we are scrambling for bait as we arrive and most of the time being forced to purchase what ever bait is at the marina when they open. WHat do you think of the idea of buying a case locally (OBX) to have for those last minute cannon ball runs.

[clt_capt]

Birdhunter,
I had a similar situation when I was in Southport. I talked to one of the local fish markets and he was able to order me a few cases of bait, which I kept at home in Raleigh. When a last minute trip came up, I'd just take what I needed down.

You could likely do the same (or go by one of the local tackle shops), have them order you a case to keep in reserve.

[jayjysmth]

me and gofshn just went to joe shutes a couple weekends ago to stock up. I bought a couple cases and threw them in the freezer here in greensboro. next trip down to mhc i will grab a few packs and hit the road. sure beats scramblin around on a friday night trying to find bait.

[reel fool]

.......SOME EVEN SLEEP ON A BOAT.......

I think that guy cut off my WWBs last year...