How to Rig Ballyhoo for Offshore Trolling

Introduction

Rigged ballyhoo is the most widely used offshore trolling bait in the world. From mahi-mahi and wahoo to sailfish and marlin, nearly every pelagic species will eat a well-rigged ballyhoo. Learning to rig them properly is a fundamental skill for any offshore angler. Here's a step-by-step guide to rigging ballyhoo for trolling.

What You'll Need

• Fresh or thawed ballyhoo (medium or large)
• 80–130 lb monofilament leader
• 7/0–9/0 J-hook or circle hook
• Rigging wire (single-strand #8 or #9)
• Crimping sleeves and crimping tool
• Skirted lure head (optional but recommended)
• Bait needle or rigging needle

Preparing the Ballyhoo

Start with a fresh or properly thawed ballyhoo. Remove the beak by snapping it off at the base — this helps the bait swim straight. Squeeze the belly gently from head to tail to clear the gut cavity. This prevents the bait from spinning or ballooning in the water. Run your thumb along the spine to break the backbone in 2–3 places — this gives the bait a natural swimming action when trolled.

Step-by-Step Rigging

Step 1 — Attach the Hook to the Leader

Crimp your hook to the end of your mono leader. Leave about 6–8 inches of tag end above the hook eye — this will be used to secure the bait.

Step 2 — Position the Hook

Insert the hook point into the belly of the ballyhoo just behind the pectoral fins and push it through so the hook bend sits in the belly cavity and the point exits through the side of the fish. The hook eye should sit just inside the gill plate.

Step 3 — Secure the Beak

Using your rigging wire, wrap tightly around the bill of the ballyhoo and the leader 4–6 times, then twist to lock it in place. This keeps the bait from spinning and ensures it tracks straight in the water.

Step 4 — Add a Skirt (Optional)

Slide a skirted lure head over the ballyhoo before rigging if you want to add color and action. Pink/white, blue/white, and black/purple are proven offshore colors. The skirt should sit just behind the head of the ballyhoo.

Step 5 — Test the Bait

Before deploying, drag the rigged ballyhoo alongside the boat at trolling speed. It should swim straight and true with a natural side-to-side wobble. If it spins, re-break the backbone and re-rig.

Trolling Tips for Rigged Ballyhoo

• Troll rigged ballyhoo at 6–8 knots for most species
• Run them in the short and long rigger positions in your spread
• Wahoo prefer faster speeds — bump up to 9–12 knots with a ballyhoo/skirt combo
• Keep bait in the freezer and thaw only what you need — refreezing degrades quality
• Fresh ballyhoo always outfishes frozen when available

Shop Trolling Gear at BlackWater Co.

BlackWater Co. carries trolling lures, skirted heads, mono leader, crimping tools, and everything you need to rig and troll ballyhoo offshore. Shop our Trolling collection and get your spread dialed in.