YES, it is winter but that doesn't mean that you can't go fishing. Some of the days are calm enough and even pleasant enough to make a day afloat a pleasurable experience. While the fishing may not be top-notch, there is some to be had and there is also the distraction of seeing whales frolicking.

Before you go ranting on about how cold it is, spare a thought for the ice fishermen who found themselves adrift on an ice floe the size of a small island. The entire situation is something that never would have crossed the minds of local anglers, being more akin to being out on a broken down boat that was in deepwater where it was impossible to anchor. The problem was no boat and if and when the ice melted, there was no alternative but overboard. Take this a step further and even if it is warm enough to melt the ice the water is cold enough to bring on death by exposure in a few minutes. Nasty!

With the moon having gone full this past week, a few older and wiser fishermen took advantage of the situation and went rockfishing. Now, rockfishing is a speciality in its own right. For those who don't know, rockfish are often found in relatively shallow water where they take up temporary residence around single reefs, much to the dismay of the parrotfish and other species that call the coral reef home. This means that you don't have to venture too far offshore and, if you are successful, the result is a big fish that is unquestionably of top quality.

For those looking to give this form of fishing a try, the smart thing to do is to make it as fool-proof as possible. The first thing is to locate the rockfish. This is easiest done by those who know the reefs something like the back of their hand (funny, how we all say that – I never look at the back of my hands!). There are certain places that are more likely than others to harbour a rockfish or two or three. For whatever reason, they often occur in pairs or small groups of three or so. Some suspect that it is a dominant male with his harem that takes up residence on a particular site. The trick is locating the quarry in advance.

For the novice, start off by inspecting the lobster traps set up in the shallows. Obviously, don't mess with the traps, they are the way they are for a reason: most fishermen have purpose to the how and where of setting them. The germane part is that there is bait in the traps intended for lobsters but it also draws fish and that, in turn, can entice a rockfish into the area. If you are really friendly with a lobster fisherman, he might (but probably won't) tell you where he has seen a rockfish lurking. They often follow traps to the surface or otherwise dominate the area.

There is nothing sporting about catching Mr. Rockfish. A heavy leader attached to a good solid piece of line; preferably, parachute cord or heavy monofilament, is what is required. A big bait helps; try a whole fish (jagged mackerel works) or a live bait (a live coney works) or an octopus, dead or alive. Make sure you use a good, solid hook. Big is good, but make sure that it is strong. Even the stainless steel 14/0's used for big billfish have been known to straighten out when attached to a rockfish.

Go to the rockfish site and do something to get the fish active. Most times, this can all be observed from the safety of the boat. Just dropping the anchor can be enough to get the fish's attention and to lure it out of the rocks onto the sandy bottom. Chumming works as well and there are those who pick likely spots and then spend a few weeks dumping racks or other bait in the same place in the hope of luring rockfish to the area.

Once the fish puts in an appearance, let the armed bait go overboard. If all goes well, it won't be but a few seconds before you are attached and then it is a battle to keep the fish out of the rocks. Try keeping it on a short tether. Any slack can enable the fish to whip the line around a coral head or otherwise find a cutting edge that will lead to a separation of man from fish. You will be amazed at how fast such a big fish can move over a short distance and the sheer power is incredible. If all goes well, you will probably need a gaff to boat the capture and a billy club or pick (from the old days!) to dispatch the fish before it does any damage by flailing about. Once accomplished, it is time to enlist the services of a chef to provide the fish dinner, not to mention the chowder that will keep you warm when the weather reverts to being wintry.

There is another way of catching rockfish that is often used by commercial fishermen. This involves trolling. Get out the heavy gear – 130 lb test might be heavy enough – but heavier is better and utilise the deep troll. The business end of the rig is an artificial lure which can be easily obtained at most tackle shops – the gaudier the better. This is trolled down deep over reef areas (remember to adjust the depth of the deep troll ball to the depth of the water!) and every so often it will come tight with a rockfish on the end. Don't be surprised if the water is only a few feet deep or if you are a mere stone's throw off land. Rockfish live pretty much everywhere and bite when and where they feel like it. When you do hook up, expect a good tussle and you do need to keep the fish out of the rocks. Occasionally, if the water is deep enough, getting the fish halfway up will cause the swim bladder to expand (less pressure means the volume of air increases) and the fish might actually float to the surface. That's when you have a real advantage. Don't count on it happening though and remember that it never happens in water where the depth is only 20 feet or so.

As mentioned at the outset, there is nothing sporting about this type of fishing but, when all goes well, it really does give new meaning to Tight lines!!!