|
Hemiramhus brasiliensis is one of the most
popular offshore baits around. Most of us know this baitfish
as the Ballyhoo. It can be found from New York and the
northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. It is also found
throughout the Caribbean, but oddly enough can not be found
in Bermuda.
Ballyhoo is found around reefs and wrecks, but is found in
the deep waters of the ocean to harbors and bays inland.
They are considered a pelagic species and are found in the
subtropical marine environments. Ballyhoo is a surface fish
that form large schools and feed mainly on small fish and
sea grasses. It is used mainly as a baitfish, but is eaten
in the West Indies.
The
average size is between 10” to 12”. The ballyhoo has an
elongated lower jaw that forms into a bill. There are
several species, but two are prevalent on the east coast of
the US: ballyhoo, Hemiramhus brasiliensis and
balao, Hemiramhus balao. The ballyhoo has it’s upper
tail gray and short pectoral fins and the balao has it’s
upper tail orange-red and long pectoral fins. Both species’
bill is tipped with orange-red. Also, their backs are a
blue/green and silver undersides.
The
significant fishery is in south Florida. Both species mature
at a fork length between 7” to 8” and spawning occurs
between March and April and in July. Ballyhoo produce around
1,500 eggs and the balao produce around 5,000 eggs. The eggs
of both attach themselves to the floating blades of sea
grass and the larvae tend to develop in the floating
grasses.
The
food of the ballyhoo consist of sea grasses, copepods,
siphonophores, and decapods and the balao feeds mainly on
polychaetes, copepods, siphonophores, and decapods. Both
grow very fast with the females growing more rapidly than
the males. At the age of 1 year, the average fork length is
8˝” to 9”. The ballyhoo has a maximum life span between 2 to
3 years and the balao has a maximum life span between 1 and
2 years. |
