Local charter captains have noticed, however, that the bird activity is not as prevalent as it used to be. Trolling through a school of birds doesn't always guarantee a fish, as it once did a few years back. Common schools of baitfish include flying fish, squid and allison skip jacks. The flying fish are as numerous and as large off the South Drop area as anyplace around the Caribbean. Huge schools roam the surface and scatter to the air as boats approach.
Spanish mackerel are abundant and range up to five pounds.
You can usually buy your ballyhoo bait at a local marina. Biras Creek has a full-service marina for those wishing to bring their own boats or charter the local captain. They'll accommodate boats as long as 100 feet and having drafts of up to 12 feet. They offer water, electricity, fuel and dockage for up to 12 large boats. The friendly marina manager, Bob Hartman, has worked for Biras Creek for 10 years and is most familiar with handling the sailing craft for which the British Virgin Islands are renown.