Ballyhoo

Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Although at a distance the Ballyhoo looks like a member of the needlefish family because of it's long needle-like lower jaw and feeding habits, the Ballyhoo's upper jaw is very short. They are a member of the Half-Beaks.  Only the lower beak is long. The lower beak end has what looks like an iridescent red tip. See pictures #1& 2. Seen mostly in quiet bays where they feed on schools of baitfish near the surface . Their bodies are silver with a blue-green sheen and their tails are forked like a Jack's but only the upper lobe of the tail fin is yellow.  The times I've seen them, the water was quite turbid and the fish always stayed away at a distance of  ten feet or more and moved off as soon as they saw me.