How to Rig a Ballyhoo Plug

When backside bites are few and much in between, the ballyhoo plug will shake issues up. This widespread rigging tactic fools not solely leery mutton and mangrove snapper, but in addition grouper, cobia, and varied lower- and midlevel species. As fundamental because the ballyhoo plug might seem, observe our tips to maximise its stealthiness and, in flip, effectiveness. 

Capt. Ben Sharpe has been fishing the Bahamas and southern Florida waters for many of his life. Bottomfishing is a robust skillset of his; few execs are as spectacular at turning round a gradual chunk. One among his tips includes a meticulously rigged ballyhoo plug, particularly within the clear waters of the Florida Keys, the place he now spends most of his -fishing time. 

“Individuals affiliate a ballyhoo plug with mutton snapper fishing,” Sharpe says. “But it really works for lots of fish, from yellowtails to mangrove snapper. I used to be not too long ago fishing for mangroves and catching them on ballyhoo plugs. Almost every part will eat one.”

Deal-Breaking Subtleties 

Rigging a ballyhoo plug isn’t a matter of reducing the bait in half and pushing a hook into its physique cavity. Doing precisely that can negate its effectiveness; the plug will spin, with its hook sliding out and into plain view.

“Inconspicuousness and stability are the keys,” Sharpe says. “The hook shank and eye should stay hidden and secured inside the bait, and there’s a trick to creating that occur (see Step 4). Additionally, the hook level must penetrate out of the middle of the plug’s again, not off-center or, worse but, by means of its aspect. That completely centered hook balances the plug. 

“Suppose streamlined too. That’s, minimize off the ballyhoo’s tail proper at its base, for a small-diameter opening, and rig the plug from its tail ahead. The plug might be topic to much less water resistance and tendencies to spin.”

Learn Subsequent: The right way to Rig Trolled Ballyhoo for Fishing

Drift or Sink 

When fish are roaming inside a pal slick, merely free-line a nonweighted ballyhoo plug. That is lethal when muttons and mangroves are off the underside, and even with yellowtails—simply use a smaller plug. Sizing a plug is a matter of reducing off the ballyhoo’s head and sectioning again.

For on-bottom placements in depths lower than 30 toes and with minimal present, merely slide a sinker onto the chief (knocker rig). In deeper waters and stronger currents, go for a fluoro chief of 30 to 40 toes lengthy, with the suitable weight affixed to a three-way swivel above the chief.

Preserve It Mild

Sharpe says to maintain issues mild. Choose the lightest fluorocarbon chief that may get the job accomplished. Ditto with hook measurement. Additionally, search freshly procured ballyhoo; recent baits make a giant distinction. If ballyhoo come up within the chum slick, attempt to internet or snag just a few. Most bottomfish can’t resist a fresh-dead ballyhoo plug.

Let’s Cut up the Invoice

To tempt giant bottomfish and even pelagics, Sharpe makes a plug out of an entire, split-billed ballyhoo. He’ll limber up the bait by barely crushing its spine and milking it. The previous is achieved by making use of slight strain along with his thumb and forefinger alongside the ballyhoo’s again whereas being cautious to not tear its pores and skin. The latter requires the identical process, however alongside the bait’s abdomen; this expels its excrement. 

Simple Pickings 

Inline (non-offset) circle hooks simplify ballyhoo plug-fishing. For backside baits, place the rod in a gunwale holder and let fish hook themselves. When the rod bends and line peels from the spool, seize the outfit and benefit from the struggle.

When free-lining ballyhoo plugs, present lots of slack line so the plug flows again naturally with the present, chum or chunks. As soon as the slack line takes off, merely have interaction the reel’s drag and reel steadily to set the hook. Then you may resume your pumping and winding routine. 

Rigging a Ballyhoo Plug

Step 1: Take away the ballyhoo’s tail near its base. Preserve the minimize flush and the diameter small. It will function the top of the plug. The smaller the diameter, the much less water resistance it generates.

Step 2: Insert a circle hook, ensuring to maintain it centered and in step with the ballyhoo’s spine. Bringing the hook level out of the middle prevents spinning.

Step 3: Pull the complete hook by means of the ballyhoo’s again, together with just a few inches of chief. 

Step 4: Reinsert the hook again into the outlet from which it exited, and produce the purpose again up by means of the middle of the ballyhoo’s again. The gap ahead needs to be simply sufficient to the place the hook’s shank and eye are contained inside the ballyhoo. Ben Sharpe stresses the significance of this step as a result of it locks within the hook. Which means no slippage or pulling out.

Step 5: Pull the standing chief tight to the hook to eradicate slack.

Cut up-Invoice Variation: Observe the steps above, with the addition of splitting the ballyhoo’s head and beak down the middle with a pointy knife.