[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pril is the best month for catching the most variety of pelagic species in Long Island. This month blends together the migratory season of each species. Numerous amounts of wahoo, tuna, mahi, and marlin migrate through. Targeting these species three to four days before the full moon, provides the best action for the bite. Almost any technique will prove productive during this month as you can choose to catch specific species according to the technique you employ. High speed trolling will almost guarantee you a few nice wahoo in the boat. Or live bait fishing usually pays off well for yellowfin tuna. Most people are not so particular to target certain species, but rather slow troll natural baits to catch a variety of them. Our preferred spread consists of Ilander Flasher Lures matched with custom rigged horse ballyhoo, and a braid Marauder. We typically run a four-line spread with two ballyhoos on the outriggers, then a ballyhoo on either a planer or downrigger and the Marauder on a flat line. Trolled along at 8 knots, you usually are not waiting long before the action starts. Fishing Simms Bar off Clarence Town is a hot spot. We like to work the edge in a zig zag pattern covering depths between 250 feet to 800 feet. Don’t be shy to put some heavy drag on these fish, as the ‘’man in the brown suit’’ is always following your boat ready to take their tax. We typically rig our ballyhoo with 9/0 and 8/0 double-hook rigs, so we can get away with 20-pounds of drag set at strike. Long Island also provides great blue water spearfishing for that adventure enthusiast, willing to brave the sharks for a shot at a world record size wahoo or mahi. Either a day in the boat, or a day in the water, It’s going to be a memorable one.
Tight lines!