Abaco Offshore Fishing Report and Forecast: April 2015

Mike Petosa and crew enjoyed a great bite, while fishing from Walker's Cay to Marsh Harbour aboard "48 Express" with Capt. Billy Black. PHOTO PROVIDED by Capt. Billy Black.
Mike Petosa and crew enjoyed a great bite, while fishing from Walker’s Cay to Marsh Harbour aboard “48 Express” with Capt. Billy Black. PHOTO PROVIDED by Capt. Billy Black.

According to Kevin Sawyer of Island Boy Tackle in Marsh Harbour, fishing has been great and will only get better! Mahi-mahi showed up early this year and over the last several weeks, the fish have gotten more aggressive and larger (15- to 20-pound range) with some pushing 30- and 40-pounds. The bite should stay strong through May.

There are still plenty of wahoo being caught and the marlin are showing up just in time for the launch of the Bahamas Billfish Challenge (BBC). As of mid-March a number of blues have been caught, along with a white. Roffs™ Bahamas Season Fishing Forecast for 2015, issued in mid-March, calls for fishing action improvement during the April-June BBC tournament season.

“Water temperatures are expected to rise over the 6-8 weeks as a relatively ‘normal’ sea surface temperature is expected. This suggests that the blue marlin’s arrival will not be delayed by water temperatures below their thermal preference. Based on continued warming and the presence of this blended blue water east of Abaco, one can anticipate the arrival of some blue marlin by the last week in April. But it is likely that sailfish, white marlin and hatchet marlin (round scale spearfish) with dominate the first tournament’s billfish catches until the warmer, bluer water arrives.”

Check out www.roffs.com to see where the “blue marlin water” exists and its impact on yellowfin tuna action in the Bahamas as well.

Kevin reports that bottom fishing has produced plenty of mutton snapper and yellowtail, and he reminds anglers that grouper season will re-open this month.