DESPITE blustery winds and some rather chilly temperatures, it is clear that the spring is upon us. The weather is slowly becoming dominated by the southerly flow which brings warmer conditions and, with them, humidity. It also helps to bring about a warming of the ocean which is also benefiting from the longer days that give the sun a chance to input more heat into local waters.

What does this do for the fishing? Quite possibly not a lot because fishing only takes place when the angler can actually get out. While a windy weekend may preclude this, the fact of the matter is that the warming trend will rapidly improve the whole scenario.

On the basest level, you can expect the plankton to multiply with the rest of the food chain rapidly following suit. Eventually this will mean increased numbers of fish both in terms of numbers and variety. Experienced anglers may recall that many fish, particularly mackerel, often have large amounts of red shrimp-like organisms in their stomachs at this time of the year. It seems that these creatures are somewhat seasonal with that time being about now. Coincidentally, the whales show up and everyone is convinced that it is spring. Meanwhile, the fish reiterate their migratory paths and the first thing that the angler recognises is the wahoo run. It is probable that a whole lot more goes on behind the scenes but that is of little concern to those who merely want to catch fish. Just rest assured that it won't be long now.

Happily, there are some options available to those who can get out but who, for whatever reason, can't get right offshore. One such option, and a great one at that, is to concentrate on the porgy holes.

Just about everyone can find the porgy holes, those white sand pockets that occur between the coral reefs on the inner bottom. Aptly named, they are deeper areas and they do harbour porgies. Best of all, they are also home to barbers, coneys, the odd hind and even such luxury species as hogfish and rockfish. Chumming really gets the action going although for best results, you need to get it to the bottom. This is best accomplished by stuffing the chum into a weighted tin or onion bag which is then attached to a line that allows you to pull it back to reload and jiggle it about so that the chum gets spread. You might well be amazed at who shows up.

To really indulge in this sort of fishing a water glass is essential. This will allow you to see who is down there and even let you actually see the "bite".

Although not sporting, a hand line is very effective and can make for a lot of fun making this is a great way to take children fishing. Best of all, just about everything that you catch has great value in the kitchen and some fresh local fish will make a nice change for many.

If the opportunity to get out in a boat is really not an option then you can start to get into fishing mode by cleaning up the rods and reels and the tackle box which is probably a disgrace now anyway.

With most offshore rods utilising roller guides, usually of the Aftco variety, now is a good time to service these. This is because it is highly unlikely that anyone will pay them any attention at all during the course of the season unless while hooked up to a good fish you suddenly notice that the line seems to be stressed at the point where it meets the roller. All too often the first sign of this is a loud report followed by much bad language, albeit from a different source.

There is no need to take the rods to a service centre. Roller maintenance is easy and only requires a pair of screwdrivers, some lubricant and a bit of patience.

Using the two screwdrivers, loosen the screw that holds the roller in place. Although it looks like there is a screw on either side, one side is in fact a sleeve into which the screw fits.

Once the screw is removed the sleeve can be pushed through with any instrument that will fit. The roller proper will then drop out, hopefully into your hand and not onto the floor where it will immediately seek a hiding place that will have you on your hands and knees looking for it.

The mechanism appears fairly simple. The hole in the middle of the roller revolves around the screw/sleeve axis. Well, it is almost that simple. The trick is that there is an additional sleeve (usually of Teflon) that usually stays within the roller and which should also be pushed out. Each piece (sleeve, screw, roller and bearing can then be cleaned, lubricated with some light oil and then easily re-assembled.

Apart from losing any of the bits, there are very few pitfalls for the amateur to fall into. Occasionally, the Teflon sleeve will have worn away or become so gummed up that the act of removing it damages it. Replacement parts can be obtained from tackle shops or scavenged off old rods that are no longer in use.

When putting the roller back together be careful not to over tighten the screw as it is possible to actually bend the guide frame and this will often prevent the roller from turning. Once all the guides have been serviced, all the rollers should turn freely with just the smallest bit of pressure from the line. Surprisingly, there is little difference between even the lightest guides and those intended for heavier tackle.

A quick note on the lubricant. The silicon-based ones are usually more water resistant than the petroleum (oil) types. Beware of some of the heavier "long lasting" protectants as these can go gummy in the long run. Although once used widely, WD-40( has the drawback that it actually attracts cockroaches which seem to be able to dine on it. Most boat owners go to great lengths to discourage these critters from stowing away and certainly no one wants them invading the house if the rods are stored at home.

Another useful exercise is to take the reel off and to clean out the reel seat. This will also allow a cleaning of the feet of the reel which because they are out of sight tend to stay out of mind but end up collecting salt all the same.

If the rod is a two piece assembly, the butt should be separated form the tip end and the coupling cleaned out as well. It is amazing just how much salt and grime can infiltrate these areas, often leading to corrosion. A good clean out will extend the life of the rod as well as making it more presentable.

Although far from exciting, getting the gear ready is at least proactive and the reality is that very few weekend warriors are going to head offshore in the next few weeks. That time will come and when it does it will help to be properly prepared for the Tight lines!!!