STAY at home and dream has pretty much been the watchword of the last week or so. If the cold weather, blustery winds and driving rain weren’t enough to discourage you from heading offshore, be assured that it was enough to keep the fish hiding wherever it is that they go when the weather turns inclement.Maybe the safest fishy place to be was at the Miami Boat Show or, at least, at some point considerably to the south of the Island.

It must be closer to fishing season than it appears. After all, the 27th annual Bacardi Rum Billfish Tournament is to be fished from March 12-17 at Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas. With that location just about 1,000 miles south of us, the billfish just cannot be too far away. Soon they will be making their way into local waters and, one would like to think, high summer will be upon us.

Naturally, it is kind of hard to put that sort of thought into perspective. While the thought of warmer weather can be conjured up, it is hard to reconcile the fact that the water temperature is conducive to that lover of warm water, the blue marlin. Actually, there is some logic behind such thinking. Although the Bahamas is close to that warm flow of water that is the Gulf Stream and the islands are located alongside Florida, March is early for billfish even by their standards. Those islands are as susceptible to the passage of cold fronts as we are and the weather can turn untidy this early in the year. Also, the most meaningful measure comes from the sea surface temperature which, while better than 72 degrees Fahrenheit, still is far below the low-80’s that blue marlin love. The bottom line is that although this tournament is one of the season’s great events, the fishing is often somewhat lacking in blue marlin with white marlin and sailfish often providing the bulk of the action. Don’t be too mislead though, there have been some hefty blues caught; it is simply that early in the season, the fish tend to be a bit thin on the ground.

Such circumstances can be likened to billfishing in Bermuda during late April or early May. Blue marlin have been caught and boats fishing for wahoo have often reported run-ins with large billfish, but this is not the norm. Unlike points to our south and west, we do not play host to large numbers of white marlin and the sailfish is really a species that favours the continental shelf region. While stragglers will turn up here from time to time, the main emphasis here is on that oceanic traveller, the blue marlin and you really want the warm summer waters of June through August to maximise your chances at a shot at a trophy fish. For now, rely on that virtue, patience.

In the shorter term, despite the inclement and otherwise discouraging conditions, next week sees the start of March. This month can come in roaring like a lion or meekly, like a lamb. Either way, it quickly sees the last of the truly wintry weather here and, often, things settle down remarkably quickly. Those who pay attention to such things will note that the sea surface temperature is already starting to move upward and, in many years, around about now there is a welcome run of wahoo offshore. While there are no guarantees, it still takes someone to actually put in the effort and venture offshore to see what is happening.

The inshore is slower to react, but calm sunny days should see bonefish invading the flats and seagrass beds along the shoreline. Another sure sign of spring is the appearance of schools of jacks inshore.

While waiting for this halcyon turn of events, there will be days that are eminently fishable and, if you are willing to compromise on the offshore scene, it is possible to work the reef areas with some reasonable chances of success.

The surest shot comes from working the bottom. A waterglass can come in handy in the 15-18 fathom depths but that is really if you are looking to specialise in porgy fishing. Bouncing a series of hooks off the bottom should pay off with barbers, coneys and the occasional hind. Nothing wrong with such pickings but they really don’t bring out the gamefisherman in you.

Ladling some chum overboard can change this situation quite quickly. Robins often appear out of nowhere and offer all sorts of potential for trading up. Never believe that wahoo and other blue-water species won’t come into shallower water. They have frequently been caught in water of 16 fathoms or less. Other species also come in on top of the Edge. Areas like the northwest, where the Xing Da was sunk as a diving attraction, are close enough to the open sea to attract blue water species, often in numbers. So don’t be too surprised if a wahoo or tuna takes a bait, even when you are in water shallow enough to see the bottom! More expected in a reef area chum line are species like amberjack, bonita and yellowtail snapper. Even though the water is a mite on the cool side, yellowtails can and do please throughout the year and there is something to be said for the cooler conditions. Yellowtails can really deteriorate quickly with the summer being the worst possible time. Naturally having sufficient ice prevents this but at this time of the year you can actually get away with a minimal amount of ice. The fish are coming out of water that is a lot cooler than during the summertime and, chances are, you won’t be staying out too long. Likewise, the so-called “heat of the day” isn’t too intense and this helps to prolong things as well.

Other species can please at this time of the year as well. Although it is not time to go after white-water snappers a bit of fishing in the channel areas can provide some table fare as well.

Everyone seems to forget about the triggerfish or turbot. While they are a challenge when it comes to cleaning them, they do produce a nice, firm white fillet. They are willing to take most any bait and do put up a short but spirited battle. Just avoid their jaws though. They pack some teeth that are larger and sharper than you’d expect. A nip from one of these will have you wishing that you had never even thought about any Tight lines!!!