It is winter; no doubt about that. Just look at he gear that people are wearing and despite living in a sub-tropical paradise, most inhabitants resemble Eskimos. The only really good thing is that the weather is variable and can go from seeming frigid to almost balmy in 24 hours or so.It is the less than desirable days that we remember rather than the days where the sun shines, the winds are calm and the mercury creeps toward 70ºF. What we need to do is to trust the forecasters a bit more and to plan accordingly.The passage of the cold front during the latter portion of the week probably knocked any idea of fishing out of everybody’s head even though the promise of improving weather over the weekend might have provided some incentive to at least consider the benefits of an expedition afloat.There are some tuna on the Banks and along Bermuda’s Edge. Most are yellowfins and they range from mostly schoolies up to small mid-sized fish in the 40 to 50-pound range. Numbers are not fantastic but they are there to be had. Some serious dedicated chumming along the drop-off might lure in a blackfin or two but they really prefer the warmer water that is still five or six months away.There are always a few wahoo in the local area but the mere thought of how much fuel might be consumed searching for a willing candidate can be daunting. Better to let them come to you. The good fortune associated with turning up a live bait can increase the odds of catching a decent fish but it does help to be pragmatic.Realistically, at this time of the year, the thought of doing great battle with monsters from the deep is a little far-fetched. Allowing for the occasional exception, such as a thousand pound bluefin crashing on a baited offering be it something dragged on the troll or a morsel drifting at the back of a chum slick, it is necessary to set one’s sights considerably lower. Make no mistake, though, those leviathans can and do make their way through the Bermuda zone and although they are not likely to be the fat-enriched target of the lucrative Japanese fishery, they will still be muscular brutes who will take full advantage go f the deep water around this Island and the seemingly lighter than a winch gear that most anglers employ.The most productive strategy at this juncture is to concentrate on fish that make an addition to the menu, often reducing food costs at a time when just about everything seems to be at a premium.One species that has largely been ignored but which is resident and willing to please at most any time is the yellowtail snapper. Anchoring up and chumming in 18-22 fathoms of water, over the deeper reefs can result in a school of these rising up off the bottom and provide almost continual action until the tide turns but even, in the more likely case, just a few put in an appearance, it doesn’t take too many of the larger than average snappers that we get here to provide enough fillet to last a meal or two.While fishing at this draught be sure to work the bottom. Not only will yellowtails occasionally remain just above the bottom but there are other desirable species that live down there as well. These include amberjack, bonita (Almaco jack) and the true bottom fishlike coneys, barbers and hinds. The latter are pretty thin on the ground these days but you never know your luck. It is a little early but there are probably a few blue-boned porgies that will be cruising the sandy passes between the coral heads and while not much in terms of game, they do make for a wicked chowder.Sinking chum or other attractant to the bottom often livens up the proceedings. If quality bait isn’t readily available try something seriously basic like cat food. Any one of the cheaper brands will work; just try to get one of the fishier flavours. The lazy man’s way of getting it down there is merely to punch holes in the can and toss it overboard but this is littering the ocean floor and given that this is likely to be happening in a coral reef area, a particularly nasty habit to get in to. A bit like dynamite fishing in the South Pacific: effective but horribly destructive. Not something to be encouraged in our newer, greener world.A far better way to accomplish the same is to take a net bag; a small bag like the ones that onions come in will do fine. Toss in a lead sinker, dump in the cat food and then tie the neck of the bag with some fishing line. Best of all, make sure that the fishing line is attached to a rod and reel. Then it is just a matter of free spooling the bait bag down to the bottom. Best of all, it is easy to crank back to the surface where it can be reloaded with bait and dropped down again as and when needed. Believe it it does get results.One thing about winter fishing and that is it does turn up some interesting catches. A few things that are seldom caught have been found here during the winter and a lot of these have had their captors running down to the Fisheries Division or the Aquarium for an identification. Usually the fish is not particularly rare but it might well be uncommon for this location and people become so used to catching the expected, it doesn’t take too much to leave them wondering what they have caught. In fact, things have changed so much that a catch of one of the grouper species that were once the mainstay of the local commercial fishery is likely to mystifying. A rather sad commentary, but true nonetheless.If avoiding winter completely is your plan, you may be interested to learn that the IGFA, on behalf of the Presidential Challenge Charitable Foundation, Inc., has called for qualified observers for the 2012 Presidential Challenge Conservation Series. This will be fished in Central America with the first event taking place in Costa Rica at the beginning of March. Any qualified observers interested will find a very competitive package has been put together and the fishing down there should be great at that time of the year. Anyone interested in further details should not contact the IGFA but either e-mail joan[AT]preschallenge.com or go to www.preschallenge.com on the internet.Staying at home and completely avoiding the briny won’t make for much fishing excitement but there are plenty of other places, mostly to our south that are just brimming with potential Tight lines!!!