April’s arrival announces warmer weather, water and a gradual end to expecting the next north swell. Oh yes, swells from the north will still swing by from time to time, but the transition this month to smaller swell with a more easterly direction becomes evident. No-see-ums…ouch, we got ‘em. Mozzies provide the uninitiated an unsolicited welcome this month also. Just a word to the wise, the winter’s been wetter than usual; our bugs love fresh meat. Bring long pants and long sleeves, wear socks at night; cover the areas they like to bite. It’s greener than bringing a can of bug spray and contributing to the immense garbage disposal problem in this country. Kayaking off Bluff, Eleuthera last month, two giant plumes of smoke were clearly visible on the horizon, gushing upwards from the burning Nassau city dump some 30 miles away. That can NOT be good for business. Visitors please help us combat this problem by taking your garbage back out with you. Boaters especially are well equipped to do this. Our islands are tiny, and no proper landfills or recycling programs exist. Wait a second, this is a surf forecast. Your quiver should definitely include something for catching smaller waves this month. Expect less rideable days than March, but count on a number of swells in the 3-5 foot range. Eleuthera and Abaco, with plenty of exposure, will be the islands with the better surf. For Phil Collins it was ‘No Jacket Required’; for April surfers in the Bahamas it’s ‘No Wetsuit Required’. Gregory Town’s Pineapple Jam Music Festival is April 13. Phil won’t be there, but Willis & The Illest will be!