The tropical weather is becoming less of a threat to us but there are signs that things are shifting into the more wintry weather pattern. Probably not too much angling time left. There will be occasions but now is that time of the year when it pays to watch the longer range weather forecasts in advance of the weekend and to be ready to change plans, either to go or not to go, at short notice.Having said that, there is still some good fishing to be had as the pelagic wanderers make their way south to warmer climes as the northern hemisphere starts its annual cool-off. Moving fish are usually feeding fish and fish that are feeding are much more likely to take a bait than fish that are either spawning or in a lethargic mode, often brought on by the summer doldrums.Wahoo are still plentiful enough to justify putting in some considerable effort for this species. Many of the specimens that have been caught have been of good size and there is every reason to make “hay while the sun shines” because it won’t be all that long before the idea of sport fishing is knocked out of most people’s heads by the onset of the winter gales.Making the wahoo fishing even more attractive are the “frigate” mackerel that are still around although their average size is increasing rapidly. These little creatures have very high metabolic rates, eat voraciously and grow quickly. This is probably a strategy of surviving by rapidly getting to a size that not every fish in the sea can eat. In fact, they actually attain a size where they are less than first-choice as live baits and this usually happens within a month or so of their appearing on the offshore grounds.The alternative bait, although never anywhere near as numerous as the “frigates”, are the juvenile blackfin tuna that usually appear just after the little mackerel put in an appearance. These are caught in the same way, using a daisy chain and can be rigged up in the same manner as the little mackerel. Best of all, they seem to be hardier and will last alive longer, if there are no predators are in the area.Yellowfin tuna will continue to please but they too often shift off to find warmer water. Dolphin show up from time to time particularly if a southerly flow of water brings in some debris. Although it is not yet totally safe to travel across the deep water with lighter tackle rigs out, the likelihood of a marlin attack should be significantly reduced. So, there is still some good sporting action to be had.Older anglers and some of the more observant frequenters of the water may have noticed the reappearance of a species that was common inshore years ago but which has apparently been notable by its absence for a decade or so. The fish in question is the round robin. At least, that is the Bermuda name. As is so often the case, it is all wrong, compared with the rest of the world where it is known as a mackerel scad. It is called that because of its superficial resemblance mostly through body shape to the mackerel. To even confuse the picture more, what most other places on both sides of the Atlantic call a mackerel is not what Bermudians call a “mackerel”.To try to clear up the murky waters that such names create, let’s say that the round robin/mackerel scad is not a mackerel at all or even really related to the tunas and mackerels. It is, in fact, a Carangid, meaning that belongs in the family that includes all the jack species. The physical giveaway is the presence of the scutes, or horny scales, that run along the fish’s lateral line. Most, but not all, of course nothing is ever simple, jack species have this characteristic. Members of the tuna and mackerel families lack this feature, so “mackerel scad” probably isn’t the best choice of name anyway.The “round robin” occurs in small schools and can sometimes be found right up against the shoreline along some of the harbours and bays. Just recently, there have been fair numbers of these bait fish in and around Harrington Sound. It is probably fair to say that they move in and out of Flatts Inlets and along the North Shore.The robins found inshore are generally something like 6-8 inches long and “bibble” along the surface. They will respond to a handful of fry or other bait tossed in the water. This generally appears to be a hectic flurry of activity as the little fish zip in and out eating the bait in some kind of mad competition with each other. As such they readily take a baited hook; just remember to make sure that the hook is small but strong. They may only be small but they are vigourous swimmers and put up a spirited fight, considering their size. Most people trying to catch them use hand lines but the inexpensive spinning rods that are available are also suitable.Although they do have some food value, they have never really been used too much here. There have been instances though where there were members of the Portuguese community that quite liked them as they were not too dissimilar to some of the fish that were eaten in the Azores. They were usually sold as six or eight in a bag, rather than individually.They also made reasoanable hook bait for bottom fishing, not unlike using a single anchovy in the hope of having one of the grouper family or an amber or bonita inhale it. Again, their seemingly unexplained absence means that there is probably a whole generation of anglers who have never had these baits, so have never tried to use them. But, as is so often the case, the best thing about these little fish has been saved for last.Where these fish really do come into their own is as live bait. They are almost “sure-fire” with larger snappers and other predators. Catching a big “grey dog” that hangs around a dock or moves in and out of a cave in the rocky shore around Harrington Sound is always a challenge but if a live robin appropriately hooked is sent out, then the sea-lawyer has been known to make a fatal mistake. This has worked often enough to make this a worthwhile tactic, now that the robins seem to be available again.Some fishermen have managed to catch these robins inshore and then to keep them alive as they travel offshore where the robins make unbelievably good tuna or amberjack/bonita bait.If you think that you are beginning to see the light when it comes to fish names, stumble more on into the darkness. A related species to the Bermudian round robin that usually occurs offshore is called an ocean robin. This is another jack species that resembles its inshore relative quite closely even though there are some anatomical differences. It is greatly sought after as live bait for everything from wahoo to tuna to amberjack with barracuda all too often being the predator that takes the live offering. Unfortunately for those of us indulging in the various arts of nomenclature, the official name for that species is “round robin”. The important thing for anglers to know is that at just about any time, the deployment of a live robin of either variety is highly likely to result in some Tight lines!!!