Is it hot enough for you? The offshore temperature is now warm enough that we had better start paying attention to the tropical weather reports.

Water less than about 82° F does not add power to tropical systems and even tends to slow down or weaken hurricanes and tropical storms. You might recall that last year, the local water temperature sort of hovered around the 82° F mark, spending most of it under that magic number with the resultant quiet tropical season.

With the current temperature a bit higher than that, anything can happen. Let's hope that we don't attract anything untoward. In the meantime, we should be able to get out and catch a few fish here and there. Just keep an eye on the longer range forecasts - that's the one good thing about most hurricanes, they usually give you a decent bit of notice.

Now, it looks like Bermuda does not have a monopoly on big billfish - at least not this year. The 37th annual White Marlin Open fished out of Ocean City, Maryland has set some major marks this year which if they hold up will earn beau coup bucks!

Leading the white marlin class is a 97.5 pounder, hotly pursued by a 92 pounder caught by Sea Toy. If nothing bigger comes in, the largest white is worth about four-fifths of a million with second place having to settle for $85 grand. Third place is down to an 80.5 pound white which should earn about $55,000.

Before you go thinking: what's the big deal; a white marlin that size seems small, think back to the last time a Bermuda white pushed the three-figure mark. Years ago most of the whites around here were quite hefty. That was back in the day when precious few marlin of any sort were caught. They were scarce enough that the Fishing Information Bureau's fish of the month for July was marlin, white or blue with the smaller variety not infrequently walking away with the award.

Whites caught here were big: the local record was in the 120-pound bracket and fish that size were not outrageously uncommon. They were a favourite target of light tackle trollers - not too surprising since we have learned that most other beasts with pointed noses in the deep are more than capable of making short work of anything even remotely resembling light tackle.

Most places in the world where whites were caught (they are limited in range to the Atlantic and maybe the Mediterranean); the average was thought to be in the 35 - 45 pound range. Like many fish a little smaller than what we got used to but now we too reckon most whites as well less than a hundred pounds. A guess as to the why is that the pressure put on the species by commercial longliners has taken out most of the older specimens and it is just the younger (smaller) fish that are around. Maybe as various conservation measures take effect, over time the size average will work upward. In the meantime, we can only catch what is out there.

Although the major Maryland event has always been billed as a white marlin tournament, there are enough blues out in the Gulf Stream area to make life interesting and this year the leader is a grander that weighed in at 1010.5 pounds which, if it wins, could be worth about $360,000. Next best is down (!) at 790 pounds.

If you are in any doubt as to the amount of cash up for grabs in this event, it dwarfs anything we have locally: this is in the millions. Try 2.13 million to be exact. The largest tuna is worth $270,000 and there are even prizes for dolphin that are in the multiples of thousands. If you enjoy greed and envy then check out the tournament website at http://www.whitemarlinopen.com/.

Those of you who enjoy frustration will be pleased to know that the IGFA has approved a men's world record for black grouper on 4-lb test line which weighed in at 1 pound 12 ounces. And another men's record on 6-lb test at 6 lb 8 oz.

For red grouper (Epinephelus morio) which we call deer hamlet and very seldom see although a few do live in the Great Sound, the new men's 4 -lb record is 2lb 8oz.

Even though these species are now uncommon in local waters, they do occur and there might be some scope for catch, weigh and release, followed by application for the lighter line class world records. This is accepted for things like largemouth bass competitions and might well be considered by the IGFA.

The IGFA has also had a bit of a field day with records for Almaco jack (bonita, to us). There is a 2-lb test men's record at 5lb 15oz and numerous new fly tippet records on classes 2, 4, 6 and 8-lb that range from 4lb 15oz to 6lb 12 oz - all of which are eminently betterable here.

Also open to challenge by local anglers although this species might well drive you insane, are the new records for grey snapper. All these new records are for men and they run like: 2-lb test - 5lb 1oz; 4-lb test - 4 lb 10 oz, and on 16-lb test line a 6lb 4 oz snapper.

Good luck with trying for a record grey, they do grow big enough here but they are also really smart. A full moon and fresh fry are your best bets.

The offshore scene is a mite quiet although this could well be due to the heat of the day putting the fish off. A few wahoo are on tap and chummers have reported a few taking up residence in chum lines and one would think that live baits might do really well. The only problem seems to be that the robins have decided to keep a low profile and often simply don't put in an appearance.

The yellowfin are hit and miss and while a few large fish have taken trolled offerings, they are not all that common in chum lines. What should be good at the moment is the class of blackfin tuna that is willing to please. Chumming on top of the banks or just in from Bermuda's Edge (down north is often very good) should entice some nice blackfin to the boat.

They are incredibly game little fish; a 20-pounder is big and a 40-pounder is a record-breaker but all are tough little nuts to crack. They are excellent on 12-lb test or less and can often give a good account of themselves on 20-lb test or more.

Rest assured, even if nothing else is biting, a Bermuda blackfin will teach you all about Tight lines!!!