YEAH, it’s that time of year again. No, not the holiday season just yet but the weather has set in and despite the fact that it might turn out to be alright, there are always nagging doubts as to the wisdom of planning an expedition afloat. Most people will agree that the weather forecasts are pretty accurate, give or take a system arriving a few hours early or late. There are also situations when weather systems, fronts or lows take to lingering in the vicinity of the island, thereby sometimes affecting the local weather for days at a time without necessarily making for bad weather on shore. After all, a warm, sunny, slightly breezy day ashore can be a nightmare out on the open sea. All too frequently an otherwise rather nice forecast comes along with warnings to mariners and this spells bad news for anglers.Notwithstanding the predictions, there is little doubt that a change in the weather affects the fish. While it is hard to be definitive about it, the usual trend is for the fish to feed madly as the pressure starts to take a drop and for them to be totally out of sorts when the barometer is low. A rising glass also tends to get results for the fisherman but there are also probably other factors such as the duration of the low as well as the amounts of wind and ocean swells.

The currents or “tides” as local call them also play a role and just recently an inclement tide played havoc with the offshore chumming conditions. This is being reported as pretty much the norm even though most experienced fishermen have reason to believe that a “good” tide might make it possible to enjoy a really good haul of tuna with the occasional wahoo making for variety.

It is pretty much recognised that there are some nice yellowfin tuna to be had. The average school-sized fish seems to be in the 40-pound range but there are some that are considerably larger. A commercial boat earlier this week had at least one tuna that cleared the 100-pound mark and there were plenty of signs that there were other fish this size around, but that the fluky tide prevented the fishermen from establishing a decent chumline. This makes it difficult for the fish to feed as well (funny how no one ever looks at things from the fish’s point of view).

Wahoo are also to be found cruising through chumlines and this species is less finicky about where the individual fish might turn up. So, it is possible to catch a few ‘hoos by sticking to chumming even though the preferred method is to use the chum to get up some suitable live baits that are more likely to entice a strike from any wahoo that might be anywhere nearby.

Trolling is still producing wahoo but most of the fleet is shying away from fishing methods that increase the fuel bill. Most boats pull the trolls along the southwest Edge enroute to Challenger and then run a short bit along the edge of the Bank to a suitable chumming and/or drifting spot. Then, depending on a number of things, the process may be repeated on the way home. Bottom line: chumming and bottom bouncing for coneys, hinds and the odd amber is the name of the game.

Looking overseas, the United States has recently passed new legislation that affects the sports fisherman. Effective the beginning of next year, everyone fishing a billfish tournament in the Atlantic inclusive of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean (USVI and Puerto Rico) and using a natural bait must use circle hooks. This also applies to lure/bait combinations.

The use of traditional “J” hooks in lures is still permitted because artificial baits are seldom swallowed by billfish and the hook is generally snagged somewhere in the bony mouths of marlin and sailfish.

This is meant to be a conservation measure on the basis that fish that are caught on baits are more likely to swallow the bait and get hooked deeply where thus negatively influencing their chances of survival even if they are released. There is little doubt that the circle hooks while effective in hooking the fish seldom “gut hook” a fish. In fact, almost invariably, the hook winds up in the corner of the jaw where it can either be removed or the leader can be clipped leaving the hook in place which, in theory at least, should not cause the fish too much difficulty.

From our point of view, this will have little effect on the summer billfishing season. While many of the American visiting boats may get into the habit of abiding by the US laws, local boats almost invariably use lures for marlin and regular old-fashioned “J” hooks are the norm. Very few local boats run baits for billfish, preferring those lures that can be pulled at high speed as this allows greater coverage of the deep water around the Island that harbour trophy blue marlin. Although the US law is meant to afford protection to white marlin, their frequency locally is so small compared with blue marlin that there is no directed local effort on white marlin.

It is interesting that places like Costa Rica that have already acknowledged the value of their billfish population as an economic resource have insisted on circle hooks for some time now.

If anyone thinks that the United States makes some serious requirements of their anglers get this: people who deal in the shark trade, own or operate longliners that fish for tuna and billfish and those who operate shark gill netting boats have to attend approved shark identification workshops. The purpose of this is to improve the fatality rate for endangered species such as sea turtles. Imagine, the Bermuda Fisheries Division enacting such legislation here. Would that be problematic or what? Still with billfish, starting next July the Blue Marlin World Cup will be dedicated to Jim Hardie. Hardie was one of the founders of the Blue Marlin World Cup and was the Commissioner for the fishing for many years until he passed away last month.

Happily, for the hundreds of boats and crews that fish this worldwide tournament, the tournament will continue and it is now headed up by Mike Leech, former President of the IGFA.

It is anticipated that there will be a number of changes and those interested in this landmark event, that Bermuda has done so remarkably well in, can keep apprised of developments on the internet at www.bluemarlinworldcup.com. Doubtless, come next July 4 there will be lots of boats both local and foreign searching for the ultimate Tight lines!!!