Summer is coming and probably quicker than most people think. It can be hard to believe but starting to get the boat and fishing gear ready for the season ahead is probably a timely activity.

The move to daylight saving time this weekend brings about a few changes of its own. Nothing that really affects Mother Nature, but a few things that will alter how mortal men and women plan their lives. It will be dark until almost 8am, negating the need for a really early move to be on the Edge at first light.

While some will welcome this, the positive side is the extended amount of light in the evening. From the angling standpoint, this means getting home later simply because hanging on for the “late bite” as the sun goes down will be all that much later.

In between the passage of the cold fronts and the near-gale winds, there have been some absolutely gorgeous days that cry out for a journey on to the briny. As is usually the case, the only ones able to take advantage of such days at short notice are the professionals, and a few of these have managed something in the way of success recently.

Trollers working the Edge and the Banks have had some limited success with wahoo. Twos and threes seem to be the norm, although the average size of the fish does compensate somewhat for the lack of numbers. Thirty-odd pounds seems to be the norm, with the odd fish reaching up to the 50lb mark. If three fish in the boat account for 100lbs, then things are not all bad.

Chumming on Challenger Bank has produced some fair catches of tuna. The fish are almost all schoolies, but they are present in reasonable numbers and this can be expected to improve as the conditions do, making a decent haul of fresh yellowfin a real possibility.

Although there is nothing really great to report as yet, once spring-like conditions return, things can happen quickly and with little advance notice.

First off, how do we know that it is spring or even spring-like? Do we rely on the calendar that tells us when the vernal equinox is or do we look for signs from nature? The most obvious of these is already upon us, as large numbers of whales are to be seen offshore as the humpbacks migrate from their wintering grounds in the Caribbean to the rich summer feeding grounds off Nova Scotia and New England.

In the old days when fixed fishing gear (fish pots) were the norm, the algal growth known as “whale moss” was also characteristic of this time of year. This is less seen now because the modern lobster traps tend to be moved more often than the fish pots were and the action of trapped lobsters actually cleans the wire that comprise the traps, making an accumulation of algae unlikely.

It is generally the abundance of food that keeps heavy feeders such as tuna in a given area and this is the time of year when the zooplankton start to make their presence known. Often showing up as the orangey-red creatures in tuna and mackerel stomach contents, these crustaceans live below the surface waters and are heavily grazed upon by some species. Trolling daisy chains with red and red/white combinations sometimes get mackerel to bite and, if they are small enough, they can be used as live baits. Similarly, trolled lures or baits sporting red, orange, white and combinations thereof sometimes elicit strikes from yellowfin on the prowl.

The food web actually starts with the plant-like organisms that live in the ocean, and the increased day length and intensity of the sunlight, both of which are noticeable by humans, help to stimulate the growth and reproduction of the phytoplankton. While they may not be apparent or even visible to the naked eye, they form the basis for other life in the ocean because they are the food of the zooplankton, which are fed on by small fish, etc, etc.

This also the time of year when the reef fishing offers up some real possibilities that are ignored during the rest of the year. Although not exactly of sporting interest, there is some rather specialised bottom-fishing to be had. Working the broken bottom — or “porgy holes” — will result in a few curious coneys and barbers, with a red hind often proving to be a bit of a surprise.

The main target is, of course, a porgy and, while there are several species involved, the main quarry is the blue-boned porgy. This species reaches sizes in excess of 10lbs and it is often possible to catch four or five of them out of the same hole or local area. Not particularly challenging on either a rod and reel or handline, they are renowned for their value as a foodstuff and the heads are often the heart of a good chowder.

The best areas are not all that far from home and this makes them a good choice when there may still be some doubts about the weather, but the desire to wet a line becomes overwhelming. Not a game fish in anyone’s books, the blue-boned porgy is large enough to provide any angler with some brief but tasty Tight Lines!!!