The summer drones on; the beaches are busy, the marinas full and there is a general hazy buzz about the island, fuelled largely by those on holiday — the schoolchildren and the tourists.

Not so light-hearted are the crew of the sportfishing battle wagons, proudly raising their outriggers and towers above the rest of the craft sitting contentedly at their moorings. There is nothing quiet, nor to be taken likely, about the quest for monster marlin.

Just consider last weekend: the Bermuda Big Game Classic, the centrepiece of the Bermuda Triple Crown had drawn a fleet of 40 boats, all determined to finish up in the winner’s circle. With the full moon already a thing of the past, the proceedings started slowly and then picked up in intensity. In the final analysis, 107 billfish were caught, with the honours well spread throughout the competitors. This consisted of 83 blue marlin and 24 white marlin: a tally comparable to the Bermuda Blast’s 108 blue marlin and 31 white marlin.

The competition had started with high hopes of a world-class fish after Captain Bull Tolson’s Sea Toy had released a large fish estimated at more than 1,000 pounds the day before the tournament. Some local charter craft had also reported encounters with large fish in excess of 800 pounds, so it seemed that the stage was set for a big fish to be weighed in. As it happened, the two fish actually weighed in, each winning a daily prize and the larger one the overall largest blue marlin jackpot, coming in at 510lb and 573lb respectively. The former fish was caught by local angler Joseph Vieira on board Captain Chris Osborne’s UnWined, while the larger fish was caught by David Denbow on Captain Brad Schoenfeld’s Amigo.

As is the nature of these modified release programmes, the competition was stiff with the lead changing several times over the course of the three-day event. When all was said and done, it was Captain Rocky Hardison’s Wolverine that topped the standings with 3,100 points. In second was Captain Dave Grubb’s Grand Slam with 2,600 points, just beating out Captain Michael Farren’s Just A Dog on time, as they also had 2,600 points.

For once the competition for the largest game fish was a really torrid affair. Generally, this category draws two or three entries with most either wahoo or a yellowfin that weigh something like 60lb. This year was nothing short of incredible, as there were eight entries ranging from a 90.6lb yellowfin all the way up to a 175.9-pounder caught by angler Gunner Moore, which beat out two other fish that had bettered the 150lb mark. Some real quality yellowfin tuna! And the action had to be fast and at least a bit furious as well since Captain Bryce Garvey’s Flyer effectively boated a triple-header with the winning fish alongside two others ranging from 128.7 to 138.3 pounds.

This weekend sees the final leg of the Triple Crown as the grand old lady of Bermuda billfish tournaments moves into the limelight. Celebrating its 50th such occasion, the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament can be the jewel in the crown and the making or breaking of many a competitor in the Triple Crown as they ply the deep briny over the next few days. Those wishing to follow the fray can do so online at https://www.bermudatriplecrown.com/sea-horse-anglers-club-billfish-tournament/.

For those not involved or interested in the madness that is the marlin mania-infused pandemonium, more mundane fishing also continues.

This is not to say that marlin do not occasionally take offerings meant for other species or even provide the excitement allotted the limited time that most local fishers dedicate to their pursuit.

More to the liking of local anglers and not a few visitors is the excitement of catching wahoo or tuna, or even any of the plethora of small game that is abundant on the Banks and in many a chum slick. For some, even the onset of the heavyweight tiger sharks that come on the scene in August are the stuff of which grand tales can be spun for years to come.

In any case, if the present scene is anything to be looked at, they will not be disappointed. Although wahoo are less frequent than they were weeks ago, a few remain on tap through the warmer months and the use of deep trolls will help to ensure some success. Live baits, as well, will often get the attention of a wahoo lazily cruising through the chum line.

Trophy yellowfin continue to maraud just off the Banks, feeding on schools of small fish that serve as bait for hungry tuna. On the Banks themselves, there will be numbers of blackfin tuna. Never as large as their yellow-finned relatives, they are, pound for pound, as good a fighter in the tuna family that anyone can hope to come up against.

Dropping down a line somewhat deeper will move the bait into the domain of jacks, bonitas and amberjack, all valued both as food and as game fish. Right on the bottom, there will be hinds and other bottom dwellers that will provide some fillets for the fisherman less interested in scoring points than he is in scoring something for supper from his Tight Lines!!!