IT'S summer time and the living is supposed to be easy. To be sure, it is the time of year when the fishing should be close to peak and with tournaments set to happen with regularly over the next couple of weeks, there should be plenty to report.

Strangely contrary to that is the fact that the first of the big blue marlin tournaments kicks off in just over one week's time and with the onset of those, the emphasis on traditional fishing for tuna and wahoo all but takes a back seat. At one point, this looked to provide a pretty dismal outlook for most common or garden variety anglers, to whom the idea of dragging big lures all over creation on the off chance of a marlin showing up is simply not going fishing. Fishing is supposed to end up with having something to put in the pan or, at least, the freezer.

The wahoo continue to make the news. Although they are starting to ease off, there are still enough around to justify putting in some trolling time. Live baiting is proving to be a successful tactic and is probably the surest way of concentrating on the larger specimens. Robins work well but there are some mackerel around that can be caught on daisy chains that are small enough to warrant double-hooking and reinvesting. Don't forget, though, that there are things other than wahoo that quite like those dainty morsels.

Happily, some yellowfin tuna have finally shown up in their usual haunts. With the first part of the summer season largely given over to light tackle chumming tournaments, this species is pretty much necessary to make these a success. They also provide a suitable alternative to the billfishing for anglers who want a bit of fun and something to take home.

The Brien- Pallot fly fishing tournament turned up some interesting results last week. Bob Cheers caught a nice 69-pound yellowfin on 20-lb test tippet. This fish has the potential to become the Bermuda class record as it is 22 pounds heavier than the existing record. The existing record was set by Robert Trosset back in 1991. Although not a potential record due to Cheers' fish, a first time fly fishing angler in the tournament, Paul van Pelt caught a nice 51.7 pounder.

Other possible records come from a 55-pound wahoo caught on 20-lb tippet ¿ no mean feat! ¿ which betters the existing 47 pound mark, also set by Robert Trosset. There is also a report of a world record yellowtail snapper having been taken. Now, with the potential world records, things can take a little longer because they have to be ratified by the International Game Fish Association and this means that the line has to be tested and certified. Bermuda records, on the other hand, can be accepted on the basis of manufacturer's stated line test. The only exceptions arise when an application is also made for an IGFA mark. In such cases, the result of the IGFA application is definitive. If it is declined by the IGFA for any reason (usually line test) then it is not accepted as a Bermuda record either.

That latter step has proven to be the downfall of many a potential record since some lines simply overtest on occasion ¿ even if they are tournament grade pre-certified lines. In the course of most local tournaments, the rules call for manufacturer's stated line class to be acceptable. The fact of the matter is that some lines are stronger than others with some manufacturers also suggesting that their line is stronger than others even when they are all supposed to be, say, 30-lb test. How the common angler is supposed to get around this is anybody's guess. On the one hand brand-new line might well overtest but if the line used to the record application has spent three years on the reel and been used for everything from bottom fishing to trolling, then there is every chance that, between the sunlight exposure and the odd chafe, that the line will break at the appropriate poundage.

It would seem that enough are now taking advantage of the local fly fishing to spread the honours out a bit. Given the number and average size of the fish available here, the fly fishing records are probably seriously worth looking into on both the local and world levels.

The big chumming news this week has to be the Bermuda Anglers Club International Light Tackle Tournament. This event got off to a slow start, largely because the weather did not cooperate and the first day saw blustery winds and heavier seas than were welcome. Fortunately, the fish were a bit more willing and, with five teams taking part, team Wahoo, Wayne and TNT took the early lead with 3,496 points, 599 points of second-place Sea Horses Anglers Club. The host club settled comfortably into fifth place and looked forward to improvement through the week.

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