[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ffshore in Abaco during May will produce a steady mahi-mahi bite. You will find them in schools within weed lines and under floating debris. Also, keep your eyes in the sky for the frigate birds, they can lead you to fish. Also, keep watch for schools of yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
The billfish bite will be heating up. Troll in the 500 to 1500 feet range. Use squid teasers to bring them into the spread.
Trolling rigged ballyhoo with smoker heads and chuggers will produce the bites for mahi. Naked baits and artificial lures that create lots of action will all draw the attention of billfish to your spread, so be prepared.
Thirty- to 80-pound gear is best for trolling offshore. Try adding some trolling weights (32- to 48-ounce) to some of your 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 windy days in May, inshore fishing can produce yellowtails, mutton snapper and grouper. Grouper season is open and vertical jigging 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.
May is a great time to fish in Abaco for a chance of taking multiple spices offshore and inshore, and for enjoying the weather before the summer heat arrives.
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