Wahoo biting ballyhoo rigs out of Murrells Inlet

Fish are there in numbers and sizes

The wahoo are biting all along the coast of South Carolina, and a group of anglers out of Murrells Inlet has had a field day with them in the past week, especially around the Winyah Scarp. One local captain who has won several wahoo tournaments over the past few years, had one of his best days ever last week.

Capt. Danny Carey of Careyon Charters (914-760-6452) caught 8 wahoo on one trip, which is quite a few more than he generally expects to catch on a day trip this time of year.

“They’re really out there, and they’re biting. I’m just trolling typical trolling rigs like Jugheads, Iland lures, and Blue Water Candy with ballyhoo. Once you find them, stick with them. If you catch one in area, troll back through it again,” he said.

Carey said that at least for right now, the wahoo are not at all particular about what colors they want.

“Certain times of year, I think ‘I need this color, I’ve got to have that color,’ but lately, it hasn’t mattered at all what color we’re using. They are just eating, plain and simple, no matter what colors we are pulling,” he said.

The wahoo have come in a range of sizes for Carey, with the biggest one weighing over 75-pounds, which was caught by 13-year old Riley Adair. Others have ranged from 30- to 50-pounds.

One challenge Carey has faced when bringing wahoo to the boat has been sharks. A shark gutted a 40-pound wahoo while Carey was reeling it in, but he said when that much activity is going on, sharks are going to come check things out. Using a high-speed reel is about the only chance anglers have of solving this problem, and even then, if the shark wants it bad enough, anglers cannot possibly reel fast enough.

“This is a great time of year for wahoo. Some people think it’s a little early, some people think it’s a little late, but the fish are there, and they are eating. And as we move into spring, the bite should only get better,” said Carey.