Opportunists are the only fishermen of any description that have been able to slip out on to the deep sea in recent days. The weather has been frowning on any such expeditions for so long now that most of the amateur contingent have called it a day and found alternative diversions.

This is because there has been some fair angling to be had. Meanwhile, wahoo continue to be the mainstay, despite having disappointed by failing to show up in the vast numbers that make up a true autumnal run. There are other species taking trolled offerings as well, making for interesting mixed bags. These include a few yellowfin tuna and barracuda, but there have been other less likely fish, too. A white marlin was caught and released last week, probably an outlier running with a school of wahoo and some extraordinarily well-received dolphin.

Perhaps what may seem surprising given the lateness of the season is the number of dolphinfish that are being caught. This species, not to be confused with the mammal of the same name, is now often referred to as mahi-mahi, which is the Hawaiian name. In actuality, this fish enjoys numerous names as it enjoys a very wide distribution, occurring in pretty much all of the world’s warm seas, including in the Mediterranean.

Dolphin, as the usual moniker here, is a sought-after game fish that enjoys an excellent reputation as a food fish but is seldom present in any great number. It is readily recognisable with its vibrant green, yellow and blue colouration and with its males contrasting significantly from females in sporting a different head shape.

In many places, this fish is associated with the floating Sargassum weed, so much so that off the Carolinas and Florida, such are actively sought out. In fact, they can be so numerous at those locations that they comprise the bulk of the sportfishing catch there from time to time.

Large mats of Sargassum occur here with an annoying frequency, particularly early in the season. They are generally frowned upon because here they are notorious for fouling lines and destroying rigged baits. Even though some massive mats of the weed can sometimes be found, the likelihood of there being any dolphin associated with them is pitifully small.

Historically, it is the late season which seems the nearest thing to an influx that normally takes place here. One suggestion is that it is general flotsam rather than floating seaweed that attracts them. Many tales of oceanic survivors recount how dolphin sought shade in the middle of the ocean and took to hanging around their rafts or boats. While it is well known that floating material is attractive to this species, among others, it was thought that it was not the shade but that smaller fish and crustaceans sought some form of shelter in the open sea, and the dolphin took advantage of that concentration of bait in an otherwise pretty desolate ocean.

Stemming from this is the suggestion that the fish make their way here following some of the floating material that finds its way into the ocean as a result of the hurricanes and other heavy weather to our south. Much of what ends up in the western North Atlantic finds its way into the gyre that is the Sargasso Sea. That phenomenon and its proximity to Bermuda mean that some of it ends up in this general vicinity, and if there are fish associated with it, then they arrive in the local area as well.

Who says that an ill wind may blow no good.

Something else making the news is the provision of more protected marine areas. Historically, Bermuda was in the forefront of this form of conservation and now it is being reviewed in the light of more recent findings. Once thought that overfishing was the only culprit to the reduction in fish numbers, modern science has shown that there are other contributing factors as well. Truth to tell, the ocean is an incredibly complex system with physical and chemical parameters in addition to the biological, all combining to produce an ecosystem.

A reduction in fish numbers may be a symptom rather than simply the result of exploitation. An interesting example is the Atlantic cod. This fish stock, once thought to be inexhaustible, came close to collapse in the 20th century. Overfishing was immediately to blame, although additional evidence has pointed to warming conditions that have led to the melting of the ice masses, thereby releasing more fresh water into the areas where the cod were known to spawn. A change in spawning success would, of course, show up in the size of future populations.

What role can the angler play in all this?

Keeping it simple may be the best answer. Avoid wasteful practices, take only what is needed and limit any environmental damage that may occur. It is all too common to hear someone say that they hit a reef and then think nothing of it. In other places, that may involve a measurement of the damage done and a fine based on the extent of that damage. No laughing matter. Angling is indeed more than a mere matter of Tight Lines!!!