What a thriller that was!As is so often the case with these big bucks billfishing competitions, it is really never over until the Fat Lady has sung. With less than six minutes left to fish, it looked like Capt. Allan Bean's Paradise One had the tournament in the bag. They had 1,456 points; an unlikely number made up because of the 556-lb blue that they had entered in to the Blue Marlin World Cup. It was the extra 56 points that came from the landed fish that slipped them ahead of Rum Bum and Fish On which each had 1,400 points based on releases.So, with minutes to go, Capt. Brooks Rans' Mattanza was in fourth on 1,300 points just 100 points ahead of Bree.Crews were getting ready to wind the lines in for the day when Mattanza calls in a hook-up. Five minutes later, it is all history as Mattanza releases a white marlin, rocketing them into top place with 1,500 points.The High Point Angler was Luis Bacardi, with 1,400 points, on Rum Bum with the Top Lady Angler being Elaine Jones on Mama Who.Glen Astwood's 768-lb capture not only secured the 2012 Blue Marlin World Cup cash but also made sure that Capt. Peter Olander's Queen of Hearts took both the Blast's Blue Marlin jackpots.All told, there were 38 teams comprised of 229 anglers that competed in the Blast. A total of 64 billfish were caught; only two of which were boated. Most surprising, for Bermuda in July, the catch was made up of 40 white marlin and just 24 blue marlin. The hook-up conversion rate was 79 percent which basically means that four out of five fish that are hooked are caught.More information is gleaned from the catch per boat per day statistics. This works out to 0.56 fish per boat per day. Although this is dealing with averages and they are just that, averages, what this is saying is that each boat should catch a fish every two days.The Blast's figures are not particularly high although one of the main attractants to Bermuda is the quality of the fish. Having to wait a couple of days for a shot at a really big fish is well worth it and that is why so many foreign boats cross the Gulf Stream to come here. That is where the sheer number of white marlin is a bit perplexing.The dominant marlin species here during July in the past has been the blue with the white taking a definite second fiddle to the larger fish. A possibility is that the influx of white marlin is a bit later than usual this year and that they will ease of as the month progresses. In any event, they are eligible for the tournaments and do provide some action.And action will be the focus of the next few days as the 12th Bermuda Billfish Big Game Classic gets under way.This was the tournament that firmly set Bermuda on the Atlantic big game tournament circuit. This year's main feature event of the Bermuda Triple Crown has drawn 39 teams comprised of 297 anglers into the fray as both local and foreign boats jostle for the bragging rights and the cold hard cash that is up for grabs.Early reports from the tournament had whites and blues being caught in roughly even numbers, a bit of a departure from the previous week's event that saw the former dominating the proceedings.A couple of interesting observations can be made from the mix of fish. One is that it is more likely to be foreign boats catching the whites simply because they vary their tactics more than the local boats. While many of the Bermuda-based boats go out with a spread consisting of big lures, waiting for a real trophy fish, the foreign boats are more likely to employ dredges and to pitch baits to any fish that is raised.The use of dredges is relatively new and not much used by Bermuda boats.A dredge is simply a form of spreader that allows the boat to tow what will appear like a school of baitfish or squid behind the boat. If a fish is raised a baited line is dropped back (pitched) at the fish and the dredge pulled away.The idea is that if the fish was interested in the school of bait, then it should pretty much grab at the offering placed right in front of it. Accepting the fact that white marlin, in particular, are notorious for window shopping through a spread, they are especially susceptible to this method of baiting. Thus the techniques employed more often than not by foreign boats increase the likelihood of catching white marlin.In any case, whatever the tactics and techniques, as always the Big Game Classic is at a finally balanced point. With a day left to fish and the potential for a boat way back in the pack to suddenly come good is never to be discounted. There is a real lesson to be learned from the old adage of “counting your chickens before they hatch”.Capt. Kyle Line's Bree was an early front runner with two blues and a white on the first day.Local boat, Over Budget, skippered by Ricky Sousa Jr. was also among the first to catch more than a single fish. If the statistics of around 0.5 fish per boat per day are anything to go by (and they may or may not), getting a good jump start can make a difference later on in the game.The final leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown, the Sea Horses Anglers Club Billfish Tournament is slated for July 18-22nd and may well hold the key to an exciting finish. It will also conclude the heavy finance portion of the season; although you can rest assured that the billfish will remain on the offshore grounds for another six weeks or more.If chasing after marlin isn't your bag, there are some other piscatorial options available as well.There are enough tuna and wahoo and smaller game species on the Edge and Banks to keep just about anyone amused but there are fish closer to home as well.Over the reefs, mackerel, bonitas and yellowtail snappers are all willing to please. Just remember to have lots of bait and don't be afraid to put a live robin out even if the water is only 15 or 20 fathoms deep.Big fish sometimes occur in the least likely places and even some hefty wahoo have been caught in much shallower water than you might think.For many small boaters, the channels are the place to be on calm summer's evenings. This is home to the white water or Lane snapper and while they are by no means giants, they can provide some fun and good action without having to venture too far from home.They are delectable and even the daily bag limit will allow the amateur to stock up on some white meat fillets. Match them to the right sort of tackle, a light spinning outfit or thereabouts and enjoy the simple pleasure that comes with the knowledge of having a tasty snapper at the other end of your Tight lines!!!