This is only going to get better. The tropical forecast for the next little while is without any of those cyclonic beasts; there is plenty of Saharan dust over the tropical Atlantic to further discourage any such development, and the winter gales have not yet quite got their act together. With any luck, the foreseeable weather should allow for plenty of offshore exploration.

Just when it was thought that things were ideal and the frigate mackerel had arrived ahead of the autumnal wahoo run, another juvenile species has shown up offshore. These are little blackfin tuna. Rather similar to the small false albacore (mackerel), these are even hardier specimens and will even outlast the latter as live baits.

Just now, the Banks appear to be alive with bait of all sorts, and this can mean a real bonanza for anglers, as most fish migrating through that area will have every reason to stop in and fuel up. Bermuda is a bit of an oasis in the ocean desert and travelling predators often have to go long distances between encountering food supplies.

Catches this week have seen an increasing proportion of wahoo, while tuna and the other species are starting to slacken off. Many fishermen are taking advantage of the availability of live baits and, although they generally meet with success, there are times when a good, old-fashioned rigged bait will get better results. The point is that there is more bait than predators at present and they can afford to be picky. As the wahoo become more numerous over the next few weeks, which they will, the competition will heighten, and the preference will be for the live baits because that is what they will be feeding on. The adage “match the hatch” originally applied to fly fishing is not far from being accurate for all types of fishing.

An increasing annoyance offshore is the barracuda; considered a game fish in many places, including Bermuda, it is frowned upon especially when a carefully rigged bait is ripped apart by a barry that may weigh only a few pounds. Worse yet is the feeling when a prized live mackerel is shredded, with no wahoo to show for it. A suggested solution is to keep baits deeper than 35 fathoms, but as many have learnt, the barracuda will and do venture off the edges into deeper water. It may help on occasion, and is worth trying.

And just because the emphasis has slipped away and the interest has transferred back to wahoo, tuna and the more traditionally sought-after species does not mean that the billfish have disappeared.

The water is still plenty warm enough for marlin and the mere fact that they cruise as far north as the canyons off New York and New Jersey means that they likely migrate back this way at this time of the year. Add in the amount and variety of bait species in this region and they are sure to linger for a little while at least.

Last weekend, Captain Eugene Barnes, running Scallywag out of the East End, neglected the usual species so readily available and decided to put in a day’s effort looking for billfish. Even though it is September, they were rewarded with five separate shots at fish, three of which were caught. What was noticeable, and has long been the case, is that the majority of these fish were small — in the 150lb to 200lb class. One of the fish that got away was apparently considerably larger, and that is probably to be expected.

The thinking is that the late-season fish are largely males and with the spawning period being over, at least locally, most females have departed. Science has shown that large billfish are females, and the males tend to be smaller. Of course, there is a time when a female is also small before she grows up and that also has to be taken into consideration when making generalisations of this sort.

Anyway, with plenty of bait around and all the pelagic species on the move some occasional action from billfish is to be expected even if it does not fit the game plan. And, for sure, no self-respecting marlin would turn up its nose (or bill) at a live bait on offer.

For those who follow the unlikely, September has also been a month where sailfish have been caught. An uncommon catch here, there are usually a couple caught every year with very early and late being the most frequent times of their occurrence. A species that is usually associated with continental margins, they seldom venture too far offshore, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Perhaps the odd sailfish gets mixed up with a school of wahoo or tuna on the move and is led astray out into the open sea.

Some excellent sport is to be had as well as a golden opportunity to stock up the freezer before the weather moves into winter mode and the boat takes up long-term residence on the moorings or gets shifted to the backyard. Likewise, there is a great finale to the tournament calendar with entries still open for the Macallan Wahoo Tournament. With plenty of prizes up for grabs, this event should even further enhance what should be abundant Tight Lines!!!