Last Sunday saw the western channel remain undisturbed by the passage of a flotilla as the 40-odd boats set to take part in the Bacardi Tournament went into standby mode pending the “go-no go” decision which came late on Saturday afternoon, giving entrants a chance to make alternative plans as postponement seemed the inevitable outcome.

There was little issue taken with this decision because although conditions were due to moderate, this process took somewhat longer than originally predicted and any foray offshore on Sunday would have been uncomfortable at best, and near foolhardy on some of the smallest craft registered in the event.

Quite apart from the paramount safety aspects involved with such undertakings, there is a real intention on the part of the sponsors to make this a fun, pleasurable event for the participants. Competition has a lot to do with it but, as everyone knows, not everyone can be a winner every time.

This Sunday looks far more promising despite the likelihood of a low bringing some less than clement weather into the area as the week draws to a close. The fact that the seas have been calm for most of the past week is an indication that rough waters are less likely to result from a few hours of moderate breezes.

With the offshore showing signs of settling down, a number of boats started experimenting with techniques largely unused during the early stages of the season. Although some chumming from both anchored and while on the drift had yielded mixed results, things gave the impression of starting to stabilise themselves into what is normally expected during the summer months.

This is especially true of the ever-popular offshore venue, Challenger Bank, where traditional chumming methods saw the usual summer miscellany of fish tear through the chum slick: rainbow runners, mackerel, jacks and robins. Of course, it is the latter that offer the best option with live baiting almost always proving to be the method of catching a trophy fish. Fished down deep, any hefty amber or bonita in the vicinity is unlikely to turn its nose up at such an offering.

Fished from a kite, there are all sorts of predatory interests at work, with large tuna being the most likely although the slicing attack of a wahoo should not be unexpected.

Among the week’s success stories is an account of a 75lb yellowfin tuna being caught on a live robin as well as numerous blackfin tuna in the 20lb range. Although this species seems to be putting in a real effort at making its way into angler’s fish boxes, it simply does not attain enough in the way of size to offer a realistic shot at the tuna category of the tournament.

Even a small yellowfin is likely to be larger than a blackfin. In fact, a world record blackfin is only just comparable to a mid-sized yellowfin. What is less apparent is that the blackfin gives a better account of itself than a yellowfin, on a pound-for-pound basis.

However, because tournaments are won by size, don’t expect a blackfin to make it into the winner’s circle. Concentrate instead on some of the larger yellowfin that are now being seen offshore with regularity. They are not always inclined to feed, but they are there and that is a huge step in the right direction. Chumming is the preferred method at this juncture but large yellowfin do have a habit of attacking natural baits trolled a good distance behind the boat and live baits, both robins and mackerel, also make for success with larger fish.

Trolling will be primarily aimed at wahoo with numbers of these fish still lurking around the edge of the drop-offs all around the Island. Schoolies offer little chance at winning a category but the occasional larger fish can surprise. Baits fished on deep trolls are the usual favourites, but large wahoo take just about everything in the angler’s arsenal and; as an ace in the hole, if all else fails, putting out artificial lures and upping the trolling speed often gets results from cruising wahoo that would otherwise ignore offerings.

It is the “other” category that offers the challenges. With a 20lb minimum weight stipulation, it takes an exceptional dolphin, barracuda or rainbow runner to warrant a trip to the weigh station. Just about the only other eligible species that routinely better the minimum weight are the amberjack and the Almaco jack. Live baits fished down deep over reefs, or other structure, are the best bets although fresh cut bait, especially something oily like mackerel, can also get results.

In the absence of any of those baits, chunks of octopus or whole squid will sometimes elicit a strike.

As they are not eligible, it is best not to waste time on sharks, and happily it’s a little early for the behemoth tigers, or billfish in the deep water and go directly to locations that are proven to hold the right kind of Tight Lines!