WITH the mid-week weather the way it was it wouldn't take much to convince anyone that we are in the throes of winter. Not that it should come as anything of a surprise. It is mid-November and the talk on the street is more of the large gentleman in red and turkey than it is of wahoo and tuna.

On a positive note, there are always a few die-hard sportsmen in addition to the commercial operators, who really don't have too much choice, who will continue to fish on any day that they have the time and the weather lets them get offshore. For old hands, this can be easier than it sounds.

Actually, the winter weather pattern is quite predictable ¿ once it has settled in. Apart from the surprise gale, the scenario is pretty much the same throughout the winter. It is a cycle of plenty of wind starting out from the southeast, moving around through the south to the southwest then the real blows come from the west and northwest. The wind then blows itself out and swings to the north where it is almost dead calm for anything up to 24 hours.

One of the problems is that although the wind may have subsided, it takes considerably longer for the seas to die down. So while there may be no wind and the skies are clear and sunny, the breakers to the northwest may be readily visible to the naked eye as a mass of white against the blue of the calm reef waters. It is just such a situation that gave rise to the tsunami rumours last year.

At any rate, there will be times when the calm continues after the seas have abated and that is the time to take advantage of the abbreviated days and head on out to the fishing ground of choice.

The choice will vary with many preferring to remain over the deeper reef areas where there are still some yellowtail snappers and bonitas that will please. Also common are mackerel in the surface waters and robins can be as well. Usually down deeper there can be numbers of turbots (triggerfish) that will take almost any offering. Although the latter can be a pain to clean, they do make for a nice firm, white fillet. Working the bottom usually sees a few coneys, the very odd red hind and numbers of barbers. Seemingly the barbers are all as alike as peas in a pod but while they are small (averaging one pound) they are a member of the grouper family and can be quite tasty.

Reports from the commercial boats working the Banks are actually pretty encouraging. The normal practice seems to be putting in an hour or so on the troll in the happy circumstances that a wahoo or two usually please. With the fuel pretty much covered, it is time to spend most of the rest of the day bottom bouncing. Using multiple hooks on bottom rigs pays off because where there is one coney there are usually others. When one comes out of the rocks to hit the bait, the others follow suit so it is quite likely that the upward trip will result in two or three coneys or maybe even a hind. More of a rarity these days, but it does happen; is to come up with a double-header of hinds.

Much of the weight in commercial hauls comes from the so-called "floating fish". On average, even small amberjack and Almaco jacks tend to weigh more than the coneys or hinds. There are plenty of bonitas in the two to five pound range with some considerably larger while coneys are in the one to two pound range. Red Hinds, although they can get into the 'teens of pounds tend to be small as well. A five-pounder is big despite the stories people tell of the giant hinds they catch on a regular basis. Truth to tell, two to three pounds is more the norm. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do the math and quickly see that a mixed bag of fish with several bonitas, a like number of coneys or hinds, is going to get most of its weight (percentage-wise) from the bonitas.

There are a few other desirable species that are also encountered on the drift. Gwelly, an unusual form of jack, are more common in the winter months and the deep water (lesser or bastard) amberfish is also commonly caught. While neither attains weights in the same range as large Almacos or ambers, they can quickly add significant weight to a haul.

Bottom fishing on the Banks is a bit of a science in itself. It pays to keep an eye on the direction of the wind and of the tide. Both are inclined to shift over time, often combining to give the boat a completely different drift. The knowledgeable fisherman takes these things into account as the day progresses and is able to return the boat to a point where the last few minutes of the drift can be replicated. The trick here is to recognise that you can gone over a vein, or concentration, of fish and to quickly go back and drift over the same spot in the very real likelihood of enticing more bites from the fish. With some larger fish, like amberjack, they tend to move around in pairs or small groups and catching one on the drift is usually sufficient evidence to warrant a re-drift because, most times, the mate will take the bait and join its partner in your fish box.

Land-locked anglers will find that there are still some pompano to be had off the South Shore even though these will probably tend to be on the small side. The grey snappers will have departed the bridges and docks and headed for deeper water. There is the off-chance, though, that fishing from Watford Bridge or other access from the inshore to the deeper reef areas, will allow the intrepid angler to pick up a snapper or other species making a belated move out to deeper waters. Give it another couple of weeks with the falling water temperature and there will be precious few summertime species in the Great Sound area.

While it is realised that with the holiday season all but upon us, there will be plenty of pressure to do things like fixing up the house or organising entertainment or shopping, it should still be possible to manage a trip out in the boat. While it might not prove to be the most popular move about, going fishing can be a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the impending season. Bring home some fillets and you might even end up out of the doghouse. To do that, all you will need are some Tight lines!!!