There seems to be trouble in paradise. The fishing is exceedingly poor and there is precious little effort being put in.

The weather is always the first thing to be blamed and this year is no different. The northerly breezes have dropped the temperature to 68ºF or so during the daytime, and that has sent landlubbers dashing for jackets and hoodies, signifying the end of summer and onset of winter.

Although there are supposed to be four seasons here, the switch really does seem to be between summer and winter. The ocean temperature is a little more subtle in its changes, but present conditions are probably not too inviting for any of the remaining tropical systems.

This is a good thing in one sense, but also suggestive that the summer pelagic visitors are also abandoning the area.

Just this combination of circumstances is usually enough to deter all but the hardiest souls from any further fishing this year. And, truth to tell, there are very few sportsmen, or women, who persevere in the so-called off-season.

Back in the heady days when Bermuda angling was seriously promoted, the season was not considered done until the end of November, however, the reality is that the final tournament of the season is usually the end point.

Certainly the onset of the lobster season marks a major turning point for commercial operators, shifting their attention from finfish to crustaceans.

So what does this leave for the inveterate angler who cannot rid the thrill of the hunt from their blood?

Well, there are a few options for those who have that inclination. A real advantage is had by those few who can elect their days, and have the luxury of being able to head out any time the weather is agreeable. To this end anyone who has kept track of the weekend weather through the course of a year will be sadly surprised by just how few weekends are conducive to casual angling.

Happily, wahoo are present all year-round, but it does not take long before trolling for them becomes a bit of a luxury, because fuel consumption may exceed the value of the fish.

Having said that, just about every angler has a story about a real nice pick of a half-dozen or so prime specimens made just before Christmas. Given most anglers’ memories and their prowess for exaggeration, this means a nice haul of fish in the 35lbs to 50lbs range sometime during November or early December.

Supporting evidence for this comes from the fact that the 12lb test line class world record was indeed set here a few days before Christmas, but that was more than 20 years ago and things do change.

Blackfin tuna remain here all year-round and yellowfin tuna, while not particularly numerous at the moment around here, are noted for enjoying quite a wide temperature range, especially for a species that is generally considered tropical.

They can be found with regularity in water as cool as 65ºF, so often persist in local waters through mild winter months. The same cannot be said for the skipjack tuna, which has been uncommon here in recent years anyway, as that species is truly a warm-water fish.

Other summer species such as rainbow runners also seem to disappear although, in reality, they may not venture off far away physically. Pelagic species are often swept away in eddies or bellies of warm water and stay within such bodies even if they are totally surrounded by cooler temperatures. This is one of the reasons that East Coast boats fishing in and around the Gulf Stream keep track of eddies, and plan their fishing around the movement of these bodies of water.

Almost contrary to thinking, the species that come inshore into the harbours and bays during the summer head offshore as things cool down. This puts paid to some desirable options such as the snappers, jacks and mackerel,

For these reasons, to ensure at least a modicum of success, it is best to revert to the classic concept of reef fishing, even though the reefs may be rather deeper than normally thought.

Popular areas for this include Sally Tucker’s, Long Point down north and numerous locations off the East End. The latter offer some variety as the drop-off is situated so close to land. The downside is the lack of lee from just about any direction that can make a day afloat uncomfortable.

The Banks can also be classified as such, so that chumming on, or near, the crowns will produce true reef species such as yellowtail snapper, jacks, amberjack and bonita, but the proximity to deeper water will lure tunas and the odd wahoo as well.

Include the fish associated with the bottom structure: hinds, coneys and the very, very occasional monkey rockfish and you are giving yourself the best of all possible worlds at a time when there is little else on offer.

With any sort of luck you should at least be able to manage a few Tight Lines!