Ah, but you can be sure that the weather will conspire against any efforts to avoid a hectic day in town and to reap the rewards that come with a day on the briny. Even Sundays are compromised as the focus is on shopping and laying in the provisions that are so necessary at this time of the year.

It is that time when seasonal distractions take over from most piscatorial activities with the possible exception of the commercial operator. The fact of the matter is even they are in some way affected by the vexations that come with the holiday season.

Having said that and partly accounting for the sharp downturn in fishing effort, all is not lost. There are enough fish out there to justify a sortie abroad and there is a surprising amount of variety available.

First off, do not be too quick to take the water temperature as reported on the news to heart. That temperature is taken inshore in waters that are highly susceptible to changes in the weather and which can vary markedly from one day to the next.

Granted, even on a bright sunshine day there isn't as much heat input as there would be in mid-summer, the sun does nevertheless warm up the water. Smaller volumes are subject to greater change than larger volumes; so, comparing a sound or bay to the great offshore is a bit like apples and oranges.

At present the usual reported water temperature is in the vicinity of 70°F. Ask any local who has been to the beach and most replies will be something like "freezing"! It is nowhere near that cold but there are enough of us who think that May 24th is too early to go in for a dip.

The reality is the offshore waters and the water over the reef areas is significantly warmer and although it will cool off some more, it will still hover in the sub-tropical range which allows many game fish to tolerate the conditions.

Another way of looking at it is to consider the corals on the reef. Most of these cannot survive temperatures much below 64°F and they seem to be doing quite well, considering that water temperatures of 61 and 62 degrees are usually reported in the dead of winter. Quite simply out over the reef, there is enough volume to ensure that the ambient water temperature is high enough to ensure coral survival.

Out on the ocean or the areas where sport and commercial fishermen ply their respective pursuits, the water remains warm enough to keep some species around. There are also anomalies such as the blue marlin. Although this is really a species associated with the tropics, they are pretty temperature-tolerant and have been caught here even during the winter months. The blackfin tuna is another species thought to be truly tropical but there is a resident local population. At least, that is what can be gleaned from tagging studies and the fact that they are caught through the winter.

Wahoo are also present here throughout the year. There are seasonal peaks in the spring and autumn but these seem to be less related to temperature than to seasonal migration. The late summer/autumnal run often carries on into late October and November when the water is noticeably cooler than it was in early September. While the temperature may provide the fish with a cue to starting their movements this is probably not as critical as other factors such as food abundance or simply the presence of other wahoo. Many species that are schooling species such as wahoo and tuna must have some common requirements that keep them together.

Another thing to consider is that there may well be fish around that we don't often catch simply because we don't see them. When the water is at its summertime warm, certain species simply stay deeper where it is cooler. Some of these are actually designed for low-light situations. A good example is the big-eye tuna. While little is heard about them during the course of the year they are caught here, often mistakenly identified as yellowfin tuna by those who fail to notice the larger than usual eye that accounts for their name. Similarly, albacore are far commoner here than most people think. Although only a few are caught by commercial fishermen and sportsmen, they come through this area in vast schools but mostly at depth because they prefer water in the 61-63°F range. Deeper is cooler and when the surface water cools off, the fish often move upward, increasing the likelihood of encountering a fisherman.

Exploratory longlining which gets down deep have almost always picked up at least a few albacore. Other possibilities are swordfish and blue shark used to be a fairly common winter species.

For a variety of reasons, anglers just don't see as many sharks as they used to in summer or winter. Basically, this is the time of year when virtually anything can turn up behind your lure or bait.

At present, the reports coming in from the few who are braving the offshore include regular catches of wahoo and some yellowfin tuna. The tuna which are most welcome are not giants but are eminently suited to light and middle-class tackle. A few have been taken while trolling and the tide conditions decide whether or not chumming is a viable option.

Recent reports suggest that it isn't really the best course of action. This is subject to change and the real key is to keep your eyes open for signs that the tuna are feeding somewhere where you can get to them. A chance encounter may make room for a quick drift while ladling chum over the side to entice a few to follow the boat and give you a chance to catch them.

If conditions are a bit on the "iffy" side or the fish are not in the mood to take a trolled offering, bottom bouncing should pretty much guarantee something in the fish box. Just about anywhere there should be some coneys and barbers with the odd hind. Porgies, while not at their most plentiful just yet, are common enough and a welcome addition to the proceedings.

Snappers, jacks and bonita are also willing to please and are likely to show up just about anywhere. So there is still plenty of reason to take advantage of anything near fishable provided you can spare that precious commodity ¿ time.

The other key to fishing at this time of the year is to plan your use of time. The days are short and still getting shorter.

Go out early and come back early means making the best of the light. Limiting fishing time or just not being greedy can also have you heading for home at a reasonable hour. Although sport fishing is still on the agenda most of us are simply looking to wet a line any old which way and, hopefully, to be rewarded with some Tight lines!!!