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HALL OF FAME MODELS
Ilander
A skirted head rigged over a ballyhoo, combining real bait with color and a smoke trail; a classic for sailfish, marlin, mahi and wahoo.
★ Hall of Fame · Lure type: Skirted Trolling Lure
DepthTrolled at the surface
ActionSwimming bait with bubble trail
WhereOffshore, drop-offs, weedlines
LevelIntermediate
How to fish it
- 1
Rig a fresh or well-brined ballyhoo on a hook and slide the Ilander down over its head.
- 2
Check it at the boat: it should swim straight and leave a bubble trail, not spin.
- 3
Troll it around 6-8 knots in the outriggers or flat lines along drop-offs and weedlines.
- 4
For billfish, drop back briefly on the bite before coming tight; for mahi and wahoo, just come tight.
BigJoe Tips
- A good ballyhoo rig is everything; a spinning bait gets no bites no matter the color.
- Brine your ballyhoo so they stay firm and last longer in the spread.
- Check baits every so often; weed on the hook or a washed-out ballyhoo kills the bite.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trolling a spinning or crooked ballyhoo.
- Running soft, washed-out baits too long instead of re-rigging.
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