A quick look at the calendar should start one thinking about the spring and summer ahead. If the boat needs to be ready for May, then now is the time to beat the rush and to get it on slip and get the usual maintenance done.The fact that the clocks make an early change this weekend will probably add to the confusion, especially when most of us will be heading to work in the dark once again. Great for anglers, though, with the time shift making for long, light afternoons on into evening. After a couple of weeks the early morning darkness will diminish and the long days will be welcomed by sportsman both offshore and on the golf course. The spring (or vernal) equinox is not too far away and that will mean that it is really spring, soon to be followed by summer. Those who wait procrastinate and lose out on a lot of the fast action that the early season can bring.

You may or may not have noticed it but the water temperature as given by the media and weather station is starting to creep upward. This is in keeping with the observation that the coolest inshore water temperatures usually occur around mid-February. It should also be noted that the inshore temperatures where most measurements are made generally drop lower in the winter and peak higher in the summer than offshore waters. The incredible volume of the open sea serves as a temperature buffer and, so, there is less variation in the temperature out on the Edge or Banks as there is over the reef or right inshore.

Apart from some of the mixing processes that see warmer offshore waters being mixed with cooler inshore waters, the increasing strength of the sun and the ever-lengthening day means that more heat energy is being pumped into the sea. Fish and other organisms react to such changes and, for some, the water temperature dictates their life histories.

Now is the time when the net fishermen, few though they are, start to look for the first influx of jacks into inshore waters. While most people are convinced that water temperature is the key factor, the occurrence of jacks has been documented at least as early as mid-March.

The species in question is the blue runner. That name does not convey much to the layman. To some fishermen the fish is known as a white jack, some people call them long-fin jacks because of the elongated pectoral (side) fins, and there are a variety of other monikers. Most people refer to them simply as “jacks” and despite the low regard everyone claims to have for them, their presence is eagerly awaited at roadside fish markets.

Quite apart from their market value, this species also offers the small boater and even shore fisherman a chance at some light tackle sport. Trolling small silver spoons or Rapala|0xae|-type lures will often elicit strikes even when the fish are not apparent. On the other hand, if they are in a feeding frenzy — they go really wild and explode like thunder on the water’s surface — they will hit just about anything or manage to get snagged on a hook.

Like all members of the jack family, they put up a good fight that usually belies their size. On 6 or 8-lb test even a two-pound jack will make you think that you have hooked something considerably larger. Often if you happen to find a school, by just circling around you can get repeated strikes. Also, daisy chain type rigs can prove productive as the jacks compete with each other to be first to the food! On another note, trolling in the sounds and bays turns up something big every once in a while. There are some large amberjack and horse-eye bonita (Almaco jack) that travel through these inshore waters and every so often they will attack a trolled offering. On such occasions the use of really light tackle can prove futile. There are also rockfish that inhabit these waters and they too can be enticed to hit a trolled lure. Be mindful that there are still a few small groupers in the Sounds that might take a lure but which are protected by law. Similarly, any juvenile rockfish that you might have the good fortune to hook have to make the minimum legal size before it can be kept.

Another member of the jack family that is readily accessible even during this usually blustery month is the palometa or pompano. Although they can be caught in and around the harbours and bays (Albuoy’s Point used to be a good spot), the best place to try your luck is along the sandy beaches. Even on some windy days it is possible to find a shoreline with a bit of a lee that will facilitate casting with a spinning rod. Fly gear can work but the thought of casting a fly with any sort of breeze is nothing short of daunting.

The use of bread for bait can prove to be a nuisance unless the fish put in an appearance right away. Dumping the oil out of a tin of the cheapest sardines that you can get and dripping into bits of bread is an ideal chumming method. The bread floats and the oil spreads out a wide slick. Pompano have a good sense of smell and will show up almost immediately if they are present in the area. Their trademark black-edged fins can be easily seen flitting in and about the floating bits of bread.

Next comes the task of casting a bit of bread into the area of the action. This is not as easy as it sounds because the bread often comes flying off the hook in the midst of the cast. Assuming you can get the hook-bearing morsel into the right area, the fish will hit it almost as soon as it hits the water and usually hook themselves. Then there will be a remarkably stubborn battle from a fish that probably weighs less than a pound! Another sure-fire chumming method is using cat food. One of the fishy flavours (tuna, etc.) gets the attention of the pompano and puts them into feeding mode. Perhaps unexpectedly, given the clarity of the water, there are a number of artificial; lures that work. Small silver spoons tracked through the water often get strikes, particularly if the chum has done its work and the fish are looking for a meal. Merely casting and retrieving a spinner or spoon on light gear can all too often produce some surprisingly Tight lines!!!