The sudden disappearance of the forest of towers and outriggers at the premier marinas herald the end of one of the most productive periods for this island’s tourism.

Essentially, the July billfishing has come to an abrupt end as the visiting boats head back to the tournament circuit and to escape the soon-to-be hurricane season. With them go a lot of happy memories, successes, many dozens of marlin releases and a few notable captures, all of which combine to make Bermuda a high spot on their travel lists.

It is also notable that a few other eco-sensitive countries such as Costa Rica and Guatemala have built economies on the catching and releasing of not just billfish but many other species of gamefish as well.

In the final leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown, Capt. Chris Weeks’ Pescaria stormed into first place of the Sea Horse Anglers Club Bermuda Billfish Tournament on the second day with 2,100 points from four blue marlin releases and a single white marlin release. After that there would be no catching the leader. They got close though with Inconclusive and Viking 82 each managing 2,000 points from the three days of fishing.

Despite a slow start to this tournament, things did pick up but the real feature was the seemingly sudden arrival of the big fish. Several captains reported having raised or hooked large blue marlin while the four that were weighed proved their presence.

Apart from the many releases, the fish weighed in were all qualifiers ranging from the 548lb fish caught by Sodium all the way up to the fine 838lb blue marlin that sealed the win for Capt. Nicholas Froelich’s Linda Gale.

It was not just the marlin that turned out to be big. On the second day of the tournament, Bobojo’s Patrick Byrd caught a fine 111.5lb wahoo that looked to be the tournament’s largest gamefish. It was certainly a magnificent wahoo, especially given the time of year when most wahoo are running at their smallest locally. But even this was not to be. Late on the third and final day, Juben came to the dock with Henry Pardue’s hefty yellowfin tuna boasting yellow streamers reaching almost to its tail and tipping the scale at 162.3lb, claiming the gamefish honours.

With the Sea Horse Anglers event done and dusted for another year, it was time to tally up the standings in the Bermuda Triple Crown, which involved all three July billfish tournaments. This has always been a hugely competitive event, especially because fortunes can vary widely between events and it takes a marked degree of consistency to finish on top.

Two boats especially have spent the last few years swapping bragging rights in the Triple Crown and, once again, it came down to these same two boats trading punch for punch until Capt. Sean Dooley’s Viking 82 finished on 6,700 points narrowly ahead of Capt. Brent Gaskill’s Builder’s Choice, which was in hot pursuit on 6,500 points. The rivalry continues.

On the other end of the scale but by no means any less was the Blue Waters’ annual junior tournament. The angling club undertakes to provide some 70 junior anglers with the opportunity to go out on a boat and to try their luck.

This came good for the youngest female angler, Nya Sommer, who caught a pair of snappers to win her class. In the 8 to 10 year old category, Denver Phillips collected 17.5lb of mixed species to take the honours while Tikoa Russell collected a similar selection winning the 11-13 age group. In the oldest age group, Israel Woolridge weighed in a 20lb wahoo along with various species to win.

Not only did all the winners and runners-up walk away with prizes but all participants received a backpack containing some fun items and back-to-school essentials.

Blue Waters are to be commended on doing a great job of trying to keep the sport of angling alive here in Bermuda by not only exposing youth to offshore fishing but also working to heighten their awareness of the marine environment and its value as a resource.

With marlin back in the realm of the more elite charter boat operators, the local fishery will again concentrate on wahoo, tuna and the other species that have traditionally fed the Island.

Just lately there have been some really fine amberjack and Almaco jack (bonita) caught by boats working the bottom on the Banks. There are good supplies of tuna with the blackfin proving dominant on top of the Banks and down along the northern Bermuda’s Edge. The yellowfin tuna are usually encountered in slightly deeper waters such as those immediately surrounding the two offshore banks. The water and overall conditions are really getting too warm to expect the best from this species with effort early and late paying off best.

Two tournaments hoping to get off this weekend: the Royal Bermuda Regiment Tournament and the Blue Waters Bacardi Open. Both will be watching the weather quite closely as a front is due to pass through the area. This is always a concern to organisers because most Bermuda boats and rough seas seldom combine to provide much in the way of Tight Lines