We have generally gone in late March or early April but last year we left home on Thanksgiving Day. For all the reasons other folks have noted, we are going again this year on Thanksgiving. We did not however encounter any bugs but we do tend to anchor or moor away from shore and/or in a spot where there is a breeze. Many times the mooring balls further from shore are the last to go which works well for us. Keep in mind you are looking at the tail end of hurricane season.