It was a damp one, but the fish were already wet. Teams in the VBBT will be trying to give some of them a taste of air in today's finale.

Lights at the docks twinkled in the wet residue of Friday night’s rainfall.

But hey, the boats sit in the water anyway, so everything being soggy is no big deal.

Besides, nothing was capable of dampening the excitement of the remaining fleet competing in today’s finale of the 23rd annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament.

Some teams - the five leaders included - had used up their allotted two days of angling. Some had chosen to fish in today’s special Lay Day Tournament for a shot at a little more cash and a lot more fun.

Eight teams are out for the lay day event competing for a total purse of $49,500. The team on Sea Four was leading as of 9 a.m. with two sails and a blue.

Conditions today are just about made to order, with the National Weather Service’s marine report forecasts southeast breezes up to 15 p.m. coupled with 2- to 3-foot seas.

But there also is a high potential for thunderstorms throughout the fishing grounds.

That leaves the fish as the last factor for a potentially chaotic end-of-the-day finish.

The 61 team fleet is competing for a total purse of $943,450.

Leading the pack is the Kurt Ward-captained Sarah Jean with 830 points on a blue marlin and nine sailfish.

The team is followed by The General, with apt. Max Weaver, in second with 690 points on a blue and seven sails.

Bi-Op-Sea and Capt. Jesse Granitzki sits in third with 490 points on seven sails - taking the position on time of catch.

Freestyle and Capt. Kenny Sexton holds fourth, also on seven sails for 490 points.

On Time with Capt. Camryn Morrow rounds out the top five with 470 points on a pair of blues and one white.

All five are fished out.

On Friday, the 47 teams that competed registered 81 billfish - five blue marlin, 63 sailfish and 13 white marlin.

In the combined two days of competition, the fleet has 134 billfish - 11 blues, 98 sails and 25 whites.

In the gamefish categories, John Roberts on Welder’s Ark has a 35.4-pounder to lead the dolphin division; Robert Whelan on Fender Bender leads the tuna race with a 65.9-pound yellowfin; and Randy Abbitt on Saga has the largest wahoo with a 54.5-pounder.

For the individual honors, Michael Jones on On Time currently is the overall top angler with three billfish for 470 points, while Shelley Smith on Triple “S” leads the lady’s division with 140 points; and 12-year-old Bruce Ash on Stronkin’ is the top junior with 70 points.

There was a little excitement late Friday, but it never will be known if it would have changed the leaderboard.

The team on the Capt. Alan Neifird-guided Mister Pete had hooked a blue marlin in the beginning of the afternoon and was still fighting the fish as of the 3 p.m. call for lines out.

Tournament rules covering the first two days allowed that fish to continue to be fought.

But minutes before 9 p.m., it broke off.

Where it would have stood in the standings is anybody’s guess.

But with baits in the water for today’s finale, one thing is for sure - there’s more to come.