Top Balao Halfbeak Fishing Countries

The Balao halfbeak (*Hemiramphus balao*) is a slender, surface-dwelling marine fish found primarily in the warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic, especially around the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Recognized for their elongated lower jaws, balao halfbeaks are an important baitfish species, highly valued in both commercial and recreational fisheries, particularly as bait for larger game fish like tuna and billfish. The top countries harvesting balao halfbeak include the United States (notably Florida), Cuba, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean nations, where artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries target them using seine nets and small mesh gillnets. The industry is largely focused on supplying the live and frozen bait market rather than direct human consumption, making balao halfbeak a critical component of the region’s sportfishing economy.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.