Despite unseasonably fine fishing weather, effort is flagging and unlikely to be rekindled this year even though there have been some notable catches of wahoo, dolphin and yellowtail snapper. The active anglers are few and far between while the commercial fishermen are caught between their lobster responsibilities and the pursuit of readily marketable fish, including the ever in demand bottom species. It seems that angling season is all but over.

Another sure sign that the summer is petering out comes with the departure of the last foreign boat that has spent much of the summer working the Bermuda deep water for billfish. While the Reel Lax has now departed for her home port, this was more a result of the changing season and the likely onset of winter gales than the lack of marlin. Although the size of most of the fish they encountered was on the small side for Bermuda blues, numbers were fairly consistent with at least a couple of opportunities each day they fished. So, without doubt, the fish are still there. And, while small may be the norm, for those who may have forgotten, years ago Captain Boyd Gibbon’s Coral Sea hooked into a large blue marlin well into the month of October.

For now, billfish can expect a free ride as the directed effort for them will be virtually nil as both commercial fishermen and the remaining anglers choose to concentrate on species which are marketable or that can be stocked into a freezer for the weeks ahead when a trip offshore will be nigh on impossible.

While the wahoo run seems not to have occurred, there are at least sufficient fish around to ensure that a day’s trolling will have at least a few to justify the effort. What seems to be missing are the larger fish that all so often constitute the autumnal run. Whether they are just exceptionally late due to the exceptional weather that the month has demonstrated or if they have chosen to bypass the island is anyone’s guess, but for now it is the fish that are out there that are providing the action and are more than acceptable.

While the offshore fishing scene gathers most of the limelight during the summer season, the inshore should not go ignored. To be sure, the most glamorous game fish do not generally hang about the harbours and bays although there are notable exceptions. There are also arguments about what makes a fish “game”.

Take, for example, the barracuda. An undisputed game fish according to most angling literature, yet one that is largely discounted by local anglers who claim they don’t put up much of a fight or that they stink or have little food value. While there is some truth to all these claims, there are other ways of looking at it.

Most often the barracuda that are caught offshore are caught on tackle way too heavy for these relatively light weight fish. Their body is not dense, and even large ‘cudas will often weigh much less than they appear. While a three-footer may look an impressive catch, the scale will declare otherwise. Basically, such lightweight fish are best suited to light tackle and, all too often, the line that a barry has taken is really intended for a much heavier wahoo or tuna.

They will try to put up a fight, often jumping clear of the water on occasion. Light spinning tackle being used to present artificial lures will get the most out of a barracuda, allowing it to reach into its bag of tricks to try and effect escape.

While their natural slime will have a distinct rather unpleasant odour, smaller barracuda make for a fine white fillet which is far more common in the market than most people think.

While in many locations they are the chief suspect for ciguatera and other fish-borne poisonings, for the most part, the fish here have not been the source of problems. Now, there is always the possibility that a fish caught here might not have called Bermuda home and may carry some undesirable issues from elsewhere but there is no way of telling for sure.

Bio-magnification, or the process by which toxins are built up in predatory species, suggests that older and likely larger specimens are more apt to carry a heavy dose of toxin. Using this logic, smaller specimens should be safe to eat and most local barracuda seem to slot into this category.

Although largely ignored, the barracuda is a common inshore fish, often present over the white sand beaches and grassy areas. Happily for many bathers, they are masters of camouflage and many a swimmer, happily ignorant of their presence, has been followed by these curious fish. It is these barracuda that offer some fine action to the angler limited to shoreline efforts. While most are only a couple of feet long, there are occasional larger ones. Casting a shiny silver spoon or other flashy lure with a rapid retrieve will often result in an explosive strike as a barracuda appears out of nowhere to make for surprisingly Tight Lines!!!