Its not so much the fly that is the problem, its the method.
One way of fishing them is to use a very short leader, perhaps a foot or two, on a very very fast sink line, fished static on the bottom. Along comes the fish, takes the fly, the angler picks up the rod and winds it in. The fish is normally hooked at the back of the throat whish means it could not be released of if it breaks the line, will possibly die.
On the other hand, the booby can be fished on the point with a couple of buzzers and it becomes a very effective top water tactic.
