[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ffshore in Abaco, April will still produce a steady wahoo bite on the drop off. Mahi-mahi have been arriving in small schools. You can find them in weed lines and under floating debris and keep eyes in the sky for the frigate birds—they can lead you to fish. Also keep an eye out for schools of blackfin and yellowfin tuna offshore. Trolling cedar plugs will work for the tuna.
Trolling rigged ballyhoo with smoker heads and chuggers will produce the bites for mahi and artificial lures that creates lots of action will all draw the attention of billfish to your spread, so be prepared. Thirty- to fifty-pound gear is best for trolling offshore. Try adding some trolling weights (32-to 48-ounce) to some lines to help track baits a bit deeper in the water.
When the winds are blowing from the west offshore, be prepared for the bite to slow down.
As an option for the west wind days, inshore fishing in April can produce yellowtails, mutton snapper and grouper. Grouper season is open and vertical jigging with metal jigs in 80 to 200 feet, can produce rockfish and grouper.
Bottom fishing from 20 to 50 feet of water with squid, will produce bites. You can also try slow trolling the reef and grass bars with Yo-Zuri or Rapala diving plugs.
April is a great month to fish in Abaco for your chance of taking multiple spices offshore and inshore and enjoying the weather before the summer heat.