The little blast of winter-like temperatures punctuated by some rather gusty breeze, not to mention a suspected tornado or two, probably kept thoughts of summer angling out of some people’s heads this past week.It shouldn’t take too much more than a glance at the calendar to strongly suggest that it might just be that time to get the boat ready. Most of us spend months longing for the fishing season only to have it speed by, leaving most of it as a memory. It really does mean us having to get up and get on with it.Angling reports are not exactly encouraging but that is something that has to be radically subject to change at short notice. It is that time of the year that change comes quickly and there are enough signs that spring has definitely “sprung”. All it needs now is the fishing itself to pick up.There are some wahoo around although the numbers are nowhere near what they were a few weeks ago. The size also seems to have dropped off even though there are often several different year classes of wahoo on the offshore grounds at the same time. Thus it is possible to catch a fish in the ‘teens, followed by a 40-pounder a few minutes later.Something that may produce larger wahoo is a technique that has sort of fallen into disuse. Trolling a daisy chain is effective when juvenile mackerel or blackfin tuna are around. Both make fine live baits. The use of a sturdy daisy chain will catch more school-sized mackerel that can also be used as live baits. These with a lot less finesse than “frigates” and likely to last a lot shorter, splashing a double-hooked live mackerel in the wake often get a larger wahoo’s attention and, in a few weeks’ time, don’t be surprised to see a blue marlin or even a mako come in with every intention of making a meal of it.There also seem to be some yellowfin tuna around. Again, most of the fish caught have been schoolies with some being taken on the troll and a very few caught in the chum. But, by the same token, there have not been too many boats concentrating on chumming on the Banks.Part of the problem stems from the lack of sport fishing effort.The anglers and their respective clubs aren’t really into fishing mode yet and the commercial fleet is just starting to make the transition from the lobster fishery back into the finfish business. In fact, it is very much the commercial fishery that stimulates the sporting aspects and many of us adopt a “wait and see” attitude. Not exactly the most proactive approach but one that has served us pretty well over the years.Unlike most other places in the world, Bermuda’s commercial fishery very closely resembles the sport fishery. In most places, even the gear types differ radically as well as the techniques used and even the grounds worked. After all, not many sports fishermen make the week-long or so run to the nose of the Grand Bank to try and catch swordfish.Here, in Bermuda, just about the only differences relate to the class of tackle being used and in the modern age, it is the sport fishery that is mimicking the commercial fishery as most so-called sports craft are using 50-lb test class gear and heavier.Back in the day, most sport boats would not carry anything heavier than 30-lb test and all the gossip was about fish on ultra-light line, battles that lasted hours and “the onethatgot away” was inevitably the subject of hours of Monday discussion.The target species are also usually different; in most places, the commercial fleet is directed towards market species that are of dubious sporting, but unquestionable market or culinary, value. The anglers concentrate on the tuna, wahoo, billfish, bluefish, striped bass and other species. These species are often protected from commercial exploitation in certain jurisdictions but may also be restricted for the sportsmen. Special licences or permits may be required. In extreme cases such as the taking of bluefin tuna in Canadian waters, there may be complex mechanisms in place that make big game fishermen have to work alongside certain commercial operators if they even want a shot at a fish.So, to inject a bit of truth into the matter, the season is a lot closer to hand than it might appear. Nothing particular this weekend or next but then it is the Easter holiday weekend when precious little boating occurs.The weekend that follows sees the start of the competitive season as the Bermuda Fishing Clubs Annual Tournament (BFCAT) is scheduled to take place. This year the Bermuda Anglers Club is the host club.The Island’s IGFA-affiliated fish clubs can field as many as three teams, each consisting of up to four anglers to a maximum of 12 representatives from each club. Recognised line tests are: 8, 12, 16, 20 and 30-lb test with fish having to weigh at least 50% of the line class in order to be eligible. Release points are awarded for tuna and billfish. Fishing times are from 8.00 am until 3.00 pm with the weigh-in taking place at the Spanish Point Boat Club.Just this past week, Capt. Jimmy Loveland has confirmed the dates for the Bermuda Triangle Tournament. The Bahamas Open is the 26th to the 28th of May.This year’s fishing dates for Bermuda are the 9th, 10th and 11th of July. Perhaps amazingly, this is the seventh such event and it does draw some support from the visiting boats that come to Bermuda for the month of July. Many of those boats actually finish up their angling seasons in the Virgin Islands or Venezuela.What is probably of most interest, certainly to locally-based boats and anglers, is the fact the tournament rules have been modified to make the Bermuda and Bahamas legs of the Triangle ‘boat” tournaments. This means that there is no minimum number of anglers and anyone even the mate or skipper could pick up the rod and catch the fish, with the only stipulation being that the fish has to be caught in accordance with IGFA rules.This is more in keeping with local practice which differed markedly from the “angler” tournaments in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere which pit the individuals against each other on a more personal basis.The July full moon this year is on the 15th and this fits in nicely with the Bermuda Big Game Classic (13-17th of July); at least for those who are firmly convinced that the moon affects the fishing. For some of us at least, that is the be all and end all to which we devote our efforts to seek the challenges offered by Tight lines!!!