WELL, it sure looks like March has decided to slip into the calendar in a most lamb-like manner. Certainly the calm seas, sunny skies and gentle breezes did a good job of covering up some of the atrocious weather that has so recently dealt North America another icy winter blast. Will the old adage hold true and we shall see the month end in a blustery, stormy front that will delay the start of any sport fishing until well into April or even May?If, as some years have been, the next few weeks see a marked improvement in the weather, the already warming offshore waters may well see an influx of game fish. Usually first to arrive is the wahoo spring run. While this can be fantastic as it was two or three years ago, it is also usually very short-lived. The fish seem to move miles each day completing pretty much a tour around the island and offshore Banks before dispersing making it much harder to rack up any decent numbers.

What is fairly reliable is the year-round presence of the wahoo. Maybe the numbers available are a far cry from those available at the height of the runs but working the Edge usually manages to scrounge up a strike or two. From the sportsman’s point of view, this justifies burning a bit of fuel and, if the trolling can be combined with the trip to the fishing hole of choice, then so much the better.It is the yellowfin tuna that keep most anglers guessing. It seemed that this species was the fish during the early summer months. Chumming for yellowfin tuna put Bermuda on the world’s light tackle map. The best months were June and July with most major tournaments like the International Light Tackle Tournament being scheduled for that time of the year. In more recent years, the best tuna fishing has been either earlier in May and the beginning of June or late, in August and September. Still more perplexing is the presence of yellowfin on the offshore grounds during the winter months. With the lack of effort, there is no real telling what is happening offshore and there are not too many willing to risk a fishable day on what may turn out to be a fool’s errand.

What is known is that even years ago, it was possible to chum for Allisons on the Banks up until about Christmastime. From then until about May virtually nothing happened. In the last 15 years or so, anglers trying the occasional calm winter’s day have been rewarded with some tuna action on the Banks. Then came a remarkable burst of activity that saw good numbers of mid-sized yellowfin being caught off the East End of the Island. First off, this was a less than likely place to go looking for tuna and, second, what was really strange was that this was January! While things might have continued all the way until the spring season, the weather turned sour and no one was able to get out to them and by the time things had settled down the fish had long since moved on. Back to the time-honoured waiting for chumming season before looking for yellowfin tuna.

While trolling has always accounted for some yellowfin, it was chumming that really produced the numbers of fish. Early and late season trolling usually resulted in mixed bags with tuna and the odd dolphin or rainbow runner mixed in with the wahoo which were the primary target. Once the chumming started, large hauls of tuna were expected; often with literally dozens of boats spread over a relatively large area each catching fish.

Another factor that is hard to quantify is the mixture of commercial and sporting effort. Once upon a time, it was really only the sports fishermen who went after the yellowfin, usually with light tackle. Much of the reason was that it was hard to sell tuna and it didn’t have much of a market niche. This changed with the sudden popularity of fresh tuna ain the restaurants both here and abroad. Naturally, the professionals saw an opportunity and this market is one that is monitored quite closely by the commercial man. The perennial problem has been that once tuna becomes available, there is generally enough of it to glut the market. Once that happens there really isn’t much point to catching any more simply because it won’t sell quickly and will take up a lot of freezer space.

Now part of the problem stems from the fact that it is hard to separate the so-called angler from the commercial man. Many anglers have fishing licences and sell their catch to help defray their expenses. This has also put paid to most light tackle usage with the theory being using heavier gear to maximise the catch. This, of course, puts the angler in direct competition with the commercial operator and ensures that the market is saturated as soon as any numbers of tuna show up. On the flip side, (how many actually remember “records”?) commercial fishermen used to share their information with the sports-minded anglers. This is now, for obvious reasons, no more. If the fish are located, then by the time the sportsman gets wind of it the market will be full up.

Combine this rationale with the time of year and it is not surprising that precious few anglers even try for tuna. For most, it is a quick drag for a possible wahoo and then getting the anchor down somewhere where the coneys and hinds are likely to please. A bit of chum may lure some “floating fish” but the real target is the sort of fish that makes for fillets or a nice whole baker.

Although that strategy is worthy of merit, anyone really interested in some tuna activity should consider taking advantage of any good day when the tide seems to be behaving itself. This is often the most difficult element to arrange but, one must suspect, that the tuna no longer play by the old rules and their should be a few in and around the usual likely spots on the Banks If an hour or so fails to bring anything in the way of results, then it is time to run up on the Bank and to start working the bottom. Unless the gods are very much against you, it should be possible to get enough fish to make it necessary to have to wash the cooler out. Best of all, in just over a week or so, the clocks will change and there will be even more daylight hours for finding Tight lines!!!

It is the yellowfin tuna that keeps most anglers guessing