The first days of autumn indeed. The equinox may have come and gone but it seems more like high summer than anything else.

There are so many who are reckoning that this past week has been the hottest of the year; with nary a puff of wind to ease the scorching. But, be that as it may, the calendar moves relentlessly onward and soon the cold fronts from more northern climes will be making their presence felt, and there will be those who will roam the streets resembling Nanook of the North.

And that is actually something to be wished for because it is a return to a sense of normalcy rather than having to put up with some tropical system that can cause all sorts of mayhem and damage.

There is evidence that the fish are on the move, both here and elsewhere, and this suggests that it is something more than just temperature that dictates migratory patterns. Perhaps it is day length or maybe some subtle change in the currents.

The whales leave the rich waters off Nova Scotia and head for the Caribbean, the sought-after pelagic species abandon the canyons off New York and New Jersey. Obviously they know something that the rest of us are not truly party to.

Bearing that in mind, the fishing here has been OK this past week or so. Nothing really outstanding in terms of numbers but there have been some nice mixed bags, consisting of wahoo and tuna.

While the predominant tuna species has been the yellowfin, now is also the time when large blackfin come into the picture. A few dolphin have provided a splash of colour and the commercial operators have had enough to augment their lobster catches to make their efforts worthwhile.

Although numbers have been mostly in the three-to-five range for wahoo, many of the fish have been really nice; bettering the 50lb mark and with one boat apparently catching a couple of fish said to weigh 90lbs. Wow!

A 90lb wahoo is a magnificent specimen and getting on for world class on anything that might be described as “light” or even “medium” tackle.

Many line class records are held by fish smaller than that. The largest record is presently held by a fish that came in at 184lbs from the Pacific coast of Mexico but there are other large wahoo from all over the tropical and subtropical world.

Realistically, while the species probably tops out at around 200lbs, anything heavier than 50lbs is noteworthy. In fact, in many areas where wahoo are commonly encountered (not that there are too many of these), most fish are small; often less than 20lbs.

Years ago, the pundits reckoned that the average Bermuda wahoo was around 40lbs. This was probably a bit on the high side, but then numbers were not as great as they are now and the effort was considerably less but it is probably safe to say that the average is near 30lbs.

Given the late stage of the season, another useful ploy for anglers is to concentrate on bottom fishing on the Banks. Tossing a bit of chum into the water while drifting will occasionally lure some desirable species to the boat, and leaving a line out on the surface can reap rewards.

However, using circle hooks and tough bait like octopus and squid will see hinds, coneys and the very occasional monkey rockfish latch on. Also at their best should be ambers and bonitas, both of which are not only game fish but also welcome captures.

These exceptionally calm days allow for long drifts and when a good vein of fish is encountered, working quickly can results in a respectable haul in a very short period of time. Such tactics also minimise fuel consumption which, in this day and age, affects just about everybody.

The shore bound angler also has some good possibilities open up, although it seems that everyone has decided to let bonefish have free rein of the sandy bottoms, the palometa or pompano are also at their best.

Schools of larger fish can be easily chummed up off the South shore beaches and these almost voracious feeders are easy to catch on even light spinning gear and make for top quality fillets.

In fact, they are a well-kept secret even from many who routinely work the offshore grounds. When there is a bit of a northerly bluster the near shore waters on the southern side can still play host to sufficient numbers of these fish to justify spending an hour or two there either side of high tide.

It may be late in the season, but the fat lady isn’t singing just yet. There are still some days ahead that will be conducive to heading offshore and some that even the landlubber can take advantage of. Just don’t leave it too long, winter will inevitably show up and put a downer on anyone’s Tight Lines!