It is way too late to still be dawdling and waiting for the fishing to come to you. The boat will be required for May 24 sooner than you think and there is some good fishing to be had; so, get on with the programme!

The commercial and charter fleet have been taking full advantage of what has to be the spring wahoo run. Catches of up to a dozen have been posted with some of the fish being substantially better than twenty-something pound schoolies. The action has been well spread with the Edge producing well and enough fish have come off the Banks to make a trip out there worthwhile.

Talk about taking something for granted. Wahoo are fish that are actually expected here. And not just by fishermen. It is as commonplace on a local menu as cod or haddock is elsewhere and even the worst landlubbers are aware of its existence. Its very name is a source of incredulity as it has no accepted origin other than the possible cry of an early angler who latched on to one.

They are known for a scorching initial run and, in the early days of light tackle, probably dumped a reel or two. The widespread use of heavier gear here has downplayed a lot of the thrill but it is still a handsome fish with a very respectable set of teeth that impresses most anglers who encounter the species for the first time.

What is a bit strange is that although the species is found in all the sub-tropical and tropical waters of the world, it figures on a rather limited number of sport fishing lists.

Obviously, it is huge here and it is important in the Bahamas and through the Caribbean although down there, the name kingfish is often used and that leads to plentiful confusion. In Barbados and elsewhere the term “kingfish” usually refers to a wahoo although the range of the king mackerel (sometimes called “kingfish”) overlaps, making a genuine king a possibility. Here in Bermuda, there are a couple of isolated verified incidences of kingfish occurrences but such a possibility is so remote as to be ignored.

Directed wahoo fishing occurs off certain locations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic side of Florida, but in many blue-water sport fishing areas it is considered something of a by-catch; usually where marlin and tuna are the target species.

Given that the more modern method of using lures with monofilament leaders for both tuna and billfish is pretty much the norm, it comes as no real surprise that not a lot of wahoo are caught. With their razor-sharp teeth, the use of wire is almost a requirement for catching this species.

The Hawaiian Islands is an area in the Pacific that produces good numbers of wahoo and there are locations in southeastern Asia and off Africa where wahoo are common. Various sport fisheries the world over encounter wahoo but there are not too many places that rely on them the way that Bermuda does.

Taking that into account, the present prevalence of wahoo on the offshore grounds both near the Island and on the offshore Banks is an opportunity that should not be missed.

They do give a good account of themselves on light tackle but with most anglers and fishermen preferring to ensure a successful capture, the heavier lines ae the norm.

At this juncture, trolling is the normal method of fishing as it allows the coverage of larger areas of bottom and offers shots at other migratory game fish species. So far, white marlin have kept a low profile although quite a few dolphinfish have been caught.

There is no doubt that there are blue marlin out in the deeper water but it is a little early for most anglers to drag out the heavy gear and to concentrate on the species that is responsible for most of the action during June and July. Now is the time to stock up on fish for the table and even just a few school-sized wahoo can lead to a summer’s supply of frozen fillets and fish steaks. And that can be a justification for using heavier tackle than is necessary for this fine light tackle species.

Speaking of light tackle, the competitive schedule shows the Bermuda Fishing Clubs holding their annual tournament next Sunday (BFCAT) and this is followed, two weeks later, by the first of the large public events, the ever-popular Bacardi Tournament.

Entry forms which need to be submitted on a timely basis and additional information will be widely available. Beyond the paperwork, most amateurs will require some preparation both for the boat and their tackle if they are to reasonably expect cooperation from the fish and the prospect of some Tight lines!!!