It is time for a reality check! Although it is February and despite the wintry weather of the past few days, it has not really been cold and the warmer temperatures and the increasing solar insolation are contributing to the continuing upwards movement of the sea temperature.

An early spring, at least, marine-wise, is pretty much on the cards and it will do well to be prepared for developments that will take place sooner than usual. For many, that means getting some work done on the boat sooner rather than later. And what better time to do that than during the off-season?

Having said that, it is not all doom and gloom offshore at the moment; there are a few bright spots out there. Part of the problem is the low level of effort: there are only a few dedicated line fishermen who concentrate on either the pelagic fish or working the bottom. Those that are have been getting some fair results; not stellar but acceptable. Mixed bags consisting of the odd tuna along with two or more wahoo seem to be the norm. Unfortunately, most of the fish are a bit on the small side and, while that is fine for the weekender who just wants a bit of fish for the table, the commercial operator needs enough to show a profit.

Wahoo have figured fairly consistently, but have not really shown any definite pattern of abundance. If anything, there have been more caught on the Edge than the Banks, which seem to be a mite quiet. There are some tuna out there and the blackfin were showing plenty of signs of activity earlier on with chummers reporting some success with both species of tuna, although they have been all pretty much school-sized.

Ambers and bonitas make up much of the bottom fishery, with hinds and coneys providing a bit of colour. The odd dolphin and large mackerel round out the usual suspects for those wetting a line on the deep blue.

If the offshore still looks a bit too daunting for you, there is something else that you can turn your hand to that may well prove to be an advantage when the yellowfin are available in numbers on the Banks and the light-tackle fishing has really kicked into high-gear mode.

While just about anything fishy will work as chum, hook bait is an area where most anglers get a bit particular. Chunks of fresh mackerel are good, marlin meat is super-effective on tuna, but, when a good, all-around hook bait is required, it is the anchovy or “chobie” that is the fish of choice. And ensuring a supply of these for the summer months can be a challenge. They are best caught fresh and now is a good time of year to go in search of them.

This will mean cruising the inshore slowly and, with a most observant eye, looking for bait. Not just any bait; there is always a bit of fry around, but now is a good time of year to go in search of anchovies. Even a small knot of the blue-looking bait fish is well worth netting and storing properly because it will pay dividends down the road. Do not confuse the target species with herring, pilchards or one of several species capable of deceiving the inexperienced. Not that it is simple.

As is almost always the case, nothing is ever really simple. Actually, the nearest thing that Bermuda has to a real anchovy is the hog mouth fry and that is a whole story in itself. This, not least of which, is because it is a species that is found only here in Bermuda. There are a few similar species found elsewhere through the Caribbean and Atlantic, but the experts have determined that there are subtle differences (as in, get your microscope out!) that set it apart. But we were talking about “chobies”.

What Bermudians have always called an “anchovy”, and revered as a fine bait, is actually a sardine. The species enjoys a wide range encompassing both sides of the Atlantic, which helps to account for the variety of scientific names that it has been given over the years.

This fish actually likes cooler waters, even though their breeding season may be during the summer. This makes finding them now and netting a bunch for use later a good prospect. It need not be a great big haul — just a dozen small bags will do most people. The key is to salt and store them properly.

Again, small quantities allow for quicker freezing and that will make a difference when it is time to use them.

If such an inshore pursuit fails to interest, then among the things sighted this week by those actually venturing out on to the briny has been some serious tuna activity to the north of the Island. Judging by observations and the splashes made, the fish in question were not the usual yellowfin or blackfin tuna that are expected around here, but a relative newcomer — the bluefin tuna.

Relative, because in old Bermuda literature, the species was fairly routinely seen, even if it was seldom or never caught. At the height of postwar exploitation, numbers rapidly diminished and so the species was uncommon here at best. More recent efforts to manage the fishery have led to some success and, so, there are probably more fish than there were 20 years ago.

Perhaps a slight change in their migratory route combined with a shift in local fishing habits has made such encounters with these giants more commonplace. One thing that is for certain is that latching on to one of these wanderers will give new meaning to Tight Lines!!!