Is this a Ballyhoo, caught at night in San Diego bay

[Jacobk123]

We went out about a week ago at night to hoop net with a buddy and had a few of these guys swim up in our deck lights. They hung out around the boat as long as the lights were on and we managed to snag one with the bait net for a closer look. My first instinct was Ballyhoo but I've never seen/heard about them being in our Southern California waters. Took a quick video with my phone and tossed him back in the water.

Video:

What is this baitfish? Caught at night in San Diego bay #shorts #fishing

We spotted this baitfish in our deck lights while out lobster hooping and caught it in the bait net. It looks like a ballyhoo but I've never seen them in Sou...

youtube.com

 

[PullOnThis]

Appears so… I’m no expert though

 

[pacificscout]

Shortbill spearfish?

 

[konared]

California Halfbeak

 

[Jacobk123]

California Halfbeak

After looking at photos online i think you nailed it.

 

[PullOnThis]

After looking at photos online i think you nailed it.

Agreed. Same family as a ballyhoo but I guess there is a difference…

 

[surfgoose]

It's a halfbeak for sure, the picture doesn't show the upper or lower fins and that is the main difference between the four species that we can encounter here in SoCal. At that small size it could be any of them.

It could also be a young ballyhoo, if its parents had swam through the Panama Canal and made it up a few thousand miles of Pacific coastline and settled in our waters. Stranger things have happened.

 

[skrilla]

California Halfbeak

California Halfbeak, Hyporhamphus rosae California Halfbeak, Hyporhamphus rosae. Fish caught from coastal waters off Agua Verde, Baja California Sur, March 2020. Catch and photograph courtesy of Ba…

mexican-fish.com

 

[tunanorth]

It's a halfbeak for sure, the picture doesn't show the upper or lower fins and that is the main difference between the four species that we can encounter here in SoCal. At that small size it could be any of them.

It could also be a young ballyhoo, if its parents had swam through the Panama Canal and made it up a few thousand miles of Pacific coastline and settled in our waters. Stranger things have happened.

Can't wait for the tarpon that came through the Panama Canal to keep moving north until they at least reach Baja!

 

[Glades Angel]

Definitely not a ballyhoo which is our go to trolling and cut bait here in SoFla.
tunanorth,if you encounter any of our tarpon on the left coast,kindly give them directions on how to get home...

 

[RideHPD]

Can't wait for the tarpon that came through the Panama Canal to keep moving north until they at least reach Baja!

Wouldn't be surprised if some have already started exploring the peninsula, I'm pretty certain I saw a cobia on the Pacific side a few years ago.

 

[tunanorth]

Wouldn't be surprised if some have already started exploring the peninsula, I'm pretty certain I saw a cobia on the Pacific side a few years ago.

Last I heard, the tarpon had moved about 75 miles north and south of the canal. Have not heard of any confirmed Pacific cobia sightings in a couple of years, but 750,000 of them had to go someplace!

 

[CalicoHunter]

We went out about a week ago at night to hoop net with a buddy and had a few of these guys swim up in our deck lights. They hung out around the boat as long as the lights were on and we managed to snag one with the bait net for a closer look. My first instinct was Ballyhoo but I've never seen/heard about them being in our Southern California waters. Took a quick video with my phone and tossed him back in the water.
View attachment 1440402View attachment 1440403
Video:

What is this baitfish? Caught at night in San Diego bay #shorts #fishing

We spotted this baitfish in our deck lights while out lobster hooping and caught it in the bait net. It looks like a ballyhoo but I've never seen them in Sou...

youtube.com