Ballyhoo is kosher according to Jewish dietary law.

What is the scientific name of Ballyhoo?

The scientific name of Ballyhoo is Hemiramphus brasiliensis.

Does Ballyhoo have fins and scales?

Yes. Ballyhoo has both fins and removable scales, which is the requirement set in Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 for a fish to be considered kosher.

Can I eat Ballyhoo sushi or sashimi?

If Ballyhoo is prepared in a kosher kitchen with kosher utensils and ingredients, Ballyhoo sushi or sashimi can be kosher. Always verify the kosher certification of the restaurant or preparation source.

Where can I find more information about whether Ballyhoo is kosher?

KosherFish.co references the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chabad lists of kosher and non-kosher fish. For specific halachic questions, consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

Ballyhoo

Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Kosher

Has fins and scales

Fins Yes

Scales Yes

Description

The ballyhoo halfbeak, ballyhoo, balahu, redtailed balao or yellowtail ballyhoo is a baitfish of the halfbeak family (Hemiramphidae). It is similar to the Balao halfbeak in most features.

Ballyhoo is mainly used as bait for trolling by saltwater anglers.

The ballyhoo is a marine halfbeak of warm Atlantic waters on both sides of the ocean. In Florida it lives over shallow banks and grassflats near coral reefs, and it is caught off South Florida and Cuba.

Also known as

Balao
Halfbeak
Ballyhoo Halfbeak
Balahu
Yellowtail ballyhoo

Kosher Ballyhoo in foreign languages

Scientific	Hemiramphus brasiliensis
Spanish	Escribano de aletas rojas
Portuguese	Agulha-preto
German	Brasilianischer Halbschnäbler
Indonesian	Roa

Gallery

Ballyhoo — Alive — Alive · Abraham / CC BY-SA 4.0

Warnings & Kosher Issues

Kosher: a halfbeak with fins and scales, so it is a kosher fish.
Some halfbeaks have caused ciguatera poisoning.