With the Atlantic weather map looking pretty bare at the moment, it is fair to assume that the weather will be conducive to some fishing over the next few days. One of the problems with living in a subtropical island paradise is that not only do the tropical systems affect the weather, but so do the passage of cold fronts and winter weather-bearing gales. The transition from one to the other can be very subtle and there are often times when both are in effect. Thus, it is to be hoped that the latter holds off for a little while longer, allowing for the next month or so to develop into the fine fishing that can so often characterise September.

One of the main reasons for this is that while summery weather often persists in the local area, many of the productive fishing grounds to the north and west experience the impacts of cold fronts — and that sends the pelagic wanderers back towards the tropics where warm conditions are guaranteed. This usually means that they have to travel past this island and because migrating fish are usually hungry fish, they are often in a biting mode.

Not that such things are too evident at the moment. Less than favourable weather kept much of the fleet homebound this week and, right now, much of the commercial fleet is more concerned with the imminent spiny lobster fishery than any of the species readily available offshore.

Those who do make it offshore will find chumming for small-game fish is a productive technique. A chum line will attract a few wahoo, along with an ever-increasing number of barracuda, both blackfin and yellowfin tuna, as well as a selection of mackerel and rainbow runners that will flit through the line.

The more expensive option, trolling, will catch some of the few wahoo that are cruising along the drop-offs. Tuna are a more “iffy” proposition and dolphin just happen when they do. Short of finding something floating, there is no sure-fire way of catching mahi mahi.

Pelagic fisheries are notorious for seeing seasonal peaks and valleys. Also commonplace are fluctuations between years. For instance, some years see better billfishing during the summer than that of other years. And some wahoo runs are better than others. This can refer to numbers or quality, and sometimes both. Over time, though, these things seem to average out with there being some sort of norm. These things are expected and are just part of a natural progression.

What is a bit strange is that one of the species that was once commonplace on the summer offshore fishing grounds here in Bermuda has been exceptionally uncommon for a decade or more now. This is the oceanic bonito, probably better known locally as a skipjack tuna.

Now, this is a fish that gets around in huge numbers. So much so that some of the international fisheries management groups referred to them as the “cockroaches of the ocean”. One of the smaller tunas, this species seems to reach a maximum of about 45 pounds. Often occurring in huge schools, the skipjack is found virtually everywhere where the sea temperatures approach warm. Proof of this is that the IGFA world records come from every ocean on the planet. There is even a 20lb line test record from Bermuda set back in 1978.

Skipjack go by a slate full of colloquial names and are important to many of the world’s commercial fisheries. They are an important food fish in Japan, Hawaii and many other places. While never a preferred eating fish here, they occurred regularly enough that they were one of the 17 game-fish species recognised by the now-defunct Bermuda Fisheries Information Bureau.

Although a few fish have been caught here recently, the numbers are nothing like they used to be. It was common in chum lines, and large schools were often seen. Later in the year, juveniles would be sometimes mixed in with the so-called frigate mackerel. The species cannot be confused with any other tuna; a series of parallel lines on the belly makes it obvious. A solidly built tuna, it gives a very good account of itself on hook and line. A shame there aren’t any out there now.

Looking ahead, there is a new wahoo tournament that will be soon accepting entries. This is the Macallan Wahoo Cup, a light-tackle tournament with wahoo the only eligible species. Organised by Sea Horse Anglers Club, with a number of sponsors, this event is hoping to take full advantage of the autumnal wahoo run that should commence during September. Entry forms will be widely available this week; and, with this to look forward to, any decent conditions should lure anglers out to test the waters ahead of a month full of Tight Lines!!