It is winter in spite of the warmer than usual conditions. As such, this Island is prone to the passage of fronts that bring gale force winds and pretty much exclude offshore excursions.

There can be absolutely gorgeous days that beckon fisherman out on the briny but, for the most part, these tend to be occasions when the spirited angler is hard at work in an office or elsewhere.

If doing chores around the house, or working on the boat, doesn’t seem particularly enticing, then the body that governs game fishing worldwide may have an outlet for your piscatorial endeavours.

When one thinks of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), it conjures up thoughts of marlin, giant tuna and swordfish. And while that august organisation does deal with the recognised salt water and fresh water game species of the world, maintaining the line class records so dear to anglers’ hearts, it also maintains a listing of all-tackle records for virtually every species of fish that can be found anywhere.

What one has to question is why some people go in search of such marks, all the while adhering to the established rules of game fishing.

Some of the more unlikely species for which records are kept include the goldfish, which, for the non-believer, is held by a 5lbs 14oz specimen caught in New Zealand.

Although this is not a suggestion that you hurry off to cast a line into your neighbour’s koi pond, as an alternative entertainment to the pursuit of wahoo and tuna that require a journey to at least Bermuda’s Edge, these species offer some angling possibilities that are nearer to home.

Realistically, fish like the Bermuda chub, with a record of 13lbs 4oz, which can be found inshore, over the reefs and just about anywhere or the palometa offer chances at getting into the record books.

Unfortunately, an area where Bermuda could be in with real chances are the records held for grouper species such as the yellowfin grouper, red rockfish to locals, or red grouper, deer hamlet, among others, all of which are protected species.

To give some idea of the range of winter possibilities, these all-tackle records include tomtate (white grunt, locally), blue-striped grunt (“yaller grunts”), triggerfish (turbot) and even the lowly pinfish which is so common inshore during the winter months.

The latter is going to have to be a monster though, to make it into the record book. It is presently held by a 3lbs 5oz specimen!

Rather surprisingly, there is no category for the silver porgy, or bream, although there is one for the puddingwife, usually referred to as a “parrotfish” by bottom fishermen who happen to latch on to this member of the wrasse family. Silly as it may seem, so far, the slippery dick hasn’t made the eligible list either.

If you want to check out possibilities and although they are not endless, there are more than enough to occupy any angler for the next couple of months before things start to improve, just go to www.igfa.org on line and then click on world records.

Non-members can only access the all-tackle marks which are done alphabetically, but rest assured, there are a lot of them. Just remember that sometimes the names are not that simple.

For example, take the blue-bone porgy, it won’t be under the “B”. First of all, it is only called that here in Bermuda. It is actually a jolthead porgy, but in either case, it will only be found under the letter “P” for porgy, where there are ten species listed.

When you eventually find the right entry you will learn that the all-tackle record is in excess of 23lbs.

Now, if this isn’t enough to get the blood rushing, finally, there are also all-tackle length world records. These are for specified species and allow for the release of the fish. The majority of the species so recognised are not applicable to Bermuda, and those that are, are unlikely to be released with the possible exception of the blackfin tuna and odd horse-eye jack.

Yellowtail snapper, amberjack and bonitas are definitely going into the fish box if they happen to show up on the end of a line at this time of the year.

If you do manage to get offshore, trolling for wahoo for an hour or so and then trying to work the bottom is probably the best strategy. Most weekenders just need a single wahoo to justify the outing, especially since they tend to be larger at this time of the year.

Rigged bait trolling works, as do artificials, but those who chum while they bottom fish might happen to get the robins up, and then a bit of live baiting might pay off with a hefty wahoo providing the Tight Lines!