WITH the excitement of the week just past and the imminence of the big December holiday, it just stands to reason that it is time to relate a Christmas fable.

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the North Pole, mayhem abounded. The great red-clothed elf had gone amongst the missing and was nowhere to be found. Surely this presented an opportunity to change centuries-old tradition.

The elves had thought that a proper political process would have resulted in the democratic election of an interim leader but that is not how it turned out. An upstart reindeer named Rudolph had seized power and was now running his new People's Democratic State of the North Pole.

For this particular position, Rudolph was particularly well suited. His red nose, symbol of his proletarian state where all were equal and he was only a little more equal, had been justly earned in the reindeer swilling halls where he could always be seen imbibing heavily as he sought to foment unrest and to spend countless days avoiding that scourge known to the less fortunate as "work".

To be fair, he had landed a bit of a sugar plum. He only had to work on Christmas Eves and even then only if they were rainy, foggy nights. But now that he was in charge things were going to be different.

There was the matter of the Christmas gift list. Rather than merely discarding such, as it might give the elves too much time on their hands, Rudolph felt that it was about time that justice be done and what better place to start with than the anglers who subjected his friends, the fish, to so much torment.

Up in Somerset, Captain Alan J. Card would finally get what he deserved; lack of a mention in any fishing publications or outdoor television shows.

As for that foul being, Pickled Onion, he should be subjected to a ban on his inflammatory writing. The mere thought of fomenting angling activity was shocking, horrible and so politically incorrect, it should not be allowed to continue.

Down at the East End, the Barnes household would have the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future visited upon them. Not that Barney and Bounce don't deserve to be haunted but one suspects that the spirits will be alive and well down there.

Captain Keith Winter was also on the naughty list for crimes against the fish as were a whole host of Bermudians who have nothing better to do on a Sunday than pursue poor innocent fishys.

Seeing that no one was deserving, Rudy the Great Leader as he was now known, shut down the North Pole and cancelled all Christmas presents (cue to boo and hiss).

Thus the sleigh was duly packed away and the reindeer were out grazing having been told that they could have the rest of the year off when, what to the wondering eye should appear, but Old Saint Nick. With movements so lively and quick he had the elves in double time stocking up his sack and made for a speedy departure to ensure that the world's children would find their stockings filled next morning.

And, just so that you know what happened, the erstwhile dictator Rudolph (like so many of his ilk) was exiled out onto the tundra where he would be reduced to a diet of mosses and lichens, a far cry from the fermented beverages to which he had become so accustomed. And here endeth the story which like so many has to have a moral. Just what it is is open to debate but for one, the good side wins and Santa again is everyone's hero (cue to cheer wildly).

The onset of wintry weather has pretty much put an end to the sport fishing, not to mention that even if the weather were perfect, the seasonal festivities would probably take precedence even over the hottest wahoo bite.

Perhaps happily, the action leaves quite a bit to be desired. There are some wahoo about and it should be possible to elicit a strike or two along Bermuda's Edge. The Banks are a long way off and with the promise of moderate breezes from the northeast; the prospects for this weekend don't look particularly good. The lee along the South Shore and maybe as far as Sally Tucker's offers some opportunity but it will most likely be left untried.

There are a few yellowfin around with the southeastern point of Bermuda's Edge around to Northeast Pointers being the best area for trolling for them. There are enough wahoo along there to justify going out for a couple of hours. It is close to home and it should be possible to catch enough to justify the effort and fuel.

Fishing over the shallower reefs and in the channels should produce a few amberjack, bonitas and lots of triggerfish (turbots). Not much game action but a source of white fillets.

Actually, there is some half-way respectable fishing to be had from the shore. This is largely ignored but returning students from colder climes and other visitors escaping the northern winter who long to wet a line will usually clutch at straws. Given a bright sunshiny day, the clear waters along the South Shore beaches can provide some interesting action. Best suited for a light spinning rod, the pompano (palometa) will please into early January. The time-honoured bait of bread soaked in sardine oil will still get results but so will small silvery lures or spoons.

Although a mite late in the season (the fishing season, that is), there may be a few barracuda lurking in the shallows and they will respond to shiny lures as well. Using bait on the bottom will catch bonefish. Even blind fishing for them works. Don't expect trophy bones in the five pound plus bracket but small fish in the one half to two pound range are actually quite abundant and capable of putting up a spirited fight.

Speaking of spirits, it is that time of the year when we should look beyond the glitter and glamour and remember the reason for the season brings a message of peace. For many of us that is the salient reason behind the sport of angling: being at peace with nature and enjoying a form of solitude even though it may well be in the company of others. The only welcome thing to shatter our peace is the scream of a reel and the primeval struggle of man against beast. While there may be few opportunities at this time of the year, accept this wish for a Happy Christmas, hopefully punctuated with Tight lines!!!