The Chum Line March 2009
In this issue of the Chum Line we focus on getting ready for the 2009 game fishing season, as well as providing updates on Club events, the ILTT and Gene DuVal's nomination for the IGFA Hall of Fame.
Gearing Up for 2009 Sports Fishing
With February's wild weather behind us, there is a general feeling spring is not too far away now. Certainly the water temperatures seem to be heading in the right direction. And there seem to be more days where the weather forecast looks like it might even be fishable out wide.
February's mid-month storm on 16 February caused a few problems for boat owners around the island with several boats breaking or slipping their moorings under very high sustained winds. This unlucky vessel came to rest on the rocks right outside the entrance to Fairyland Creek!!
Offshore the fishing seems to have been a bit sporadic. Some boats report some good catches of Wahoo with the occasional tuna sprinkled in for good measure, but in general the weather has conspired to keep many of the weekend warriors at home.
Some Club members who have not been able to get out wide to the Banks have focused instead on filling the bait freezer. Now is a good time to target gars at night... a spotlight and a dip net are essential to your success! And you'd be pleasantly surprised how many Mackerel you can catch in the harbor by trolling a few small lures... you just need to have the Mackerel in the mood to bite!
March is a great time to make sure you have your boat and tackle all ready for the first offshore adventure of 2009, as soon as the weather and your schedule permit. On the tackle front now would be an opportune time to check:
- The integrity of your downrigger cable and the operation of the braking system on the downrigger - the cable can corrode and the braking systems can wield themselves in the locked position after a few months of no use.
- Rod roller guides - even when cleaned regularly roller guides are susceptible to corrosion and a roller guide that is not working properly could spell disaster on a big fish. Disassemble the roller guides, clean out any corrosion, lubricate and reassemble!
- Check and, if necessary, replace top shots - some Cub members use Dacron as backing on their reels and splice this to a 100-200 yard top shot of monofilament. The mono may need replacement before the new season and now is a fine time to get this pre-season chore out of the way.
- Hook sharpening - it is amazing how many times anglers will put a lure in the water without checking whether the hooks are sharp. Hooks need to be razor sharp to do their job properly. Half an hour and a small file are all that is required to sharpen the hooks on the lures you'll reasonably use in the first part of the season. And keep that file handy too - many times a hook needs a touch up after it has landed a Wahoo or two.
Regular Club Nights
As we mentioned in the February newsletter the Club will be holding regular Club nights on the 3rd Wednesday of each month (other than June and December, being the ILTT and Christmas respectively).
The first Cub night was held at the Spanish Point Boat Club on the 18th of February where Dean Rea gave a 30 minute presentation on the fishing opportunities available in the Kingdom of Tonga.
The turnout for that event was a little on the uninspiring side (unlike the presentation!).
We are hoping for a better turn out of Club members at the next Club night scheduled for 7.30pm on 18 March, again at the Spanish Point Boat Club where we will be holding the Club's AGM.
ILTT Update
The ILTT remains scheduled for June 14th to 20th 2009. However, just recently we have been struggling somewhat to confirm teams for this event. We understand other tournaments in North America are also having similar problems. Earlier this year we had six teams lined up for the ILTT. But we are not immune from the impact of the current economic recession with one visiting team having recently withdrawn. We are also having difficulty assembling a Bermuda Anglers Club team this year. The long standing BAC team of Peter Mitchell, David Skinner and Francis Patterson will not be able to fish together as a team this year due to other commitments.
If you are interested in representing the Club in this event then please contact Cindi Pearman (cindipops@ibl.bm) as soon as possible. We urgently need a team of three keen Club members to fly the BAC banner at the ILTT!! After all we are the host club for the event!!
Gene DuVal - Nomination for IGFA Hall of Fame
All but our most recent Club members will know Gene DuVal, a great friend of our Club, who passed away in 2007. The Club has recently sent to the IGFA a letter supporting Gene's nomination into the IGFA Hall of Fame. If that nomination is successful it would be a fitting tribute to Gene's angling legacy.
Hilton Smith
We have just heard long time Club member Hilton Smith has been in hospital at John Hopkins for heart surgery. We all wish Hilton the best for a speedy recovery.
Club Catch Records
Finally remember to email Francis Patterson with your catches as they come to hand over the coming months. Francis needs to know the species, the line class, and the weight of the fish, the date and the boat on which the fish was caught, along with any method of catch (fly, spincast or spinchum) other than conventional. Francis' email is fhpp@northrock.bm.
Contacting the Club
If you need to contact the Club just email us at bermudaanglersclub@bermuda.com.