IT'S all back to normal: calm seas, warmer days and plenty of opportunities to go in search of a big one. With the moon waxing and the water warming, there is likely to be some major billfish action over the next week or so.

The reasons for this suspicion are simple. It has already been established that blue marlin are in the offshore grounds. Late May is usually when the action starts to "hot" up. There are also loads of yellowfin tuna around the Banks with many of these of the so-called "school size"; perfect nuggets for marlin.

It is a curious anomaly that of the many studies done on the stomach contents of Atlantic blue marlin, it is the blackfin tuna that seems to be the favourite food. While this information comes from proper scientific sources, the data is quite old and it is probable that the survey may not have been as wide-ranging as it might have been. For one, the blackfin tuna is confined to the western Atlantic. What about the blue marlin that live over in the eastern Atlantic? The Azores, Madeira and African coastal states are all home to blue marlin, some of which are full-size. I'm sure that they don't go on hunger strike when they can't find their "favourite" food.

Perhaps it is the size of the blackfin that accounts for the frequency in which they turn up in billfish tummies. Remember, not all marlin are thousand pound behemoths ? lots are in the 100-pound range and although little is known about them, there have to be some real babies somewhere as well. Blackfin occur in schools and it is not uncommon for the average fish to be less than ten pounds.

At the normally accepted ratio of a blue marlin being able to inhale anything up to about one-tenth its size, the numbers seem to work, at least, in this part of the world.

All sorts of things have been found in marlin. Sand eels (where do they get those!), expected fish like oceanic bonito and less expected species such as triggerfish (turbot). The truth is probably, the marlin eat whatever they can find and catch and this probably includes each other.

For those interested in fish that offer some nutritional value as well as sporting action, the wahoo action is still very good. This spring run has seen some very respectable specimens caught. Fish in the better than 50-pound bracket and some ranging on up to about 80 pounds or so. Really nice 'hoo's. The Banks are the hot spot for this and other species but expect Bermuda's Edge to continue to produce on a regular enough basis to justify dragging there.

Yellowfin tuna are nothing short of abundant on the Banks. Charter boats have had lots of hauls involving 20 ore more tuna. Although most are in the 15 to 25-pound range, some larger fish are now starting to be interspersed through the schools. On the troll some significantly larger fish on up into the hundred pound category have been taken. One of these can really come as a bit of a shock when a wahoo was the intended target. Expect to spend a good deal of time and energy on such a fish even if the tackle is suitably heavier than that used by most sportsmen.

Something that trollers fail to take into account are the hooks that they use.

Many like pulling large baits or lures in the hope of catching large fish. While the pros have this one pretty well figured out, it's amazing how many amateurs over hook; that is use a larger hook than necessary and then fail to take into account the class of tackle that they are using. Most amateurs are using 20-lb, 30-lb and occasionally 50-lb gear. It isn't until you go to the very serious regular or the professional that the 80-lb and 130-lb gear comes into play.

So for the average weekender the gear is going to be mid-range at best. Taking even the heaviest of these the 50-lb rig, the strike drag setting is probably going to be between 16 and 18 pounds. Even if the hook is sharp it takes a lot of power to drive the point the half inch or so on an 11/0 to allow the barb to take a grip.

Even when using middle-range tackle it pays to think light. A pair of 6/0's in a double hook rig in a small garfish can be deadly on just about any species, provided the hooks are sharp. With the smaller hooks, say 6/0 through 8/0, it is possible to get an almost needle sharpness that will easily penetrate even the toughest jaw and establish a good hook hold.

Although most anglers are tempted to think that bigger baits mean bigger fish, the old adage about elephants and peanuts comes to mind. Huge marlin have often inhaled small lures or baits after having passed up bigger offerings. Another advantage of smaller rather than larger is that other species such as white marlin, dolphin and wahoo have no problem snatching one of these out of a spread. Variety truly is the spice of life.

The deadline for entry into the Bacardi Rum tournament is now upon us and anyone wishing to participate should drop everything and go get an entry form, complete it and hand it in.

This is one of the Island's "big" tournaments inasmuch as while it may not rival the Big Game Classic, it draws wide support from a cross-section of locals who just want to compete in a fishing tournament. Along with about two other events, this is a rare opportunity for someone who is an occasional angler to get together with some friends and to try one's luck upon the briny. Basically, you do not have to be a millionaire (or even just live like one) to be a player.

Entry is free (increasingly unheard of anywhere these days) and the prizes are nice, too! At last report the Bermuda team of Bobby Rego, Danny Fox, Buddy Sowers and John Domaniac had moved into first place in the Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship which is being fished in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. They attributed their successes to their ability to coordinate multiple hook-ups. This is something that just about all local anglers are quite adept at, but which we just take for granted.

It seems that anglers from most other places either fish from chairs or take it one fish at a time. Anyone who has chummed here knows that when the tunas show up it is scatter action and lots of Tight lines!!!