Register now! Internationally traveled anglers are already marking their calendars for the three days before the September full moon and one day after, also booking their flights to Puerto Rico. These incredibly productive marlin fishing dates is when Club Nautico de San Juan hosts its prestigious 59th International Billfish Tournament (IBT). Set for September 23 to 30, 2012, anglers need not bring boats or pack tackle. Visiting anglers are treated to a VIP spot on one of the Club’s ‘Armada’ of over forty 50-plus-foot fully-equipped air-conditioned sport fishing yachts. This is just one welcoming feature that has long made the IBT a ‘must do’ tournament for the world’s top anglers.
“International anglers receive VIP treatment at our tournament,” invites the 59th IBT chairman, Miguel Donato. “Anglers simply need to arrive to the Club each morning, enjoy a complimentary breakfast, head out to their assigned yacht for the day’s fishing and return to the nightly parties. International anglers have the opportunity to rotate to a different boat in the fleet each day, offering a great chance for camaraderie as well as fantastic fishing!”
Hooked yet? If not, here are a few more reasons to register now!
The IBT is a definitely a ‘must do’ for the best anglers in the world which last year traveled from as far away as South Africa, Scotland and Australia to fish. The big draw is ‘Marlin Alley’, a mile-and-a-half deep trench off the north coast of San Juan where blue marlin swim in abundance.
Club Nautico de San Juan’s IBT also bears the dual distinctions of being the longest consecutively held big game fishing tournaments in the world and one of the top 10 favorite tournaments in the world as ranked by Marlin magazine. In fact, Marlin named the IBT “one of the most successful contests in the Americas. San Juan’s legacy is beyond compare,” in its October 2011 issue. The IBT is also a qualifier for the prestigious IGFA Offshore World Championship that takes place each year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
What’s more – it was the conservation-minded IBT that launched the inaugural IGFA Great Marlin Race last year. Spectacularly, one of the Pop-up Archival Transmitting Tags (PATs) placed by late Puerto Rican Captain, Mike Benitez, popped-up 4,776 nautical miles away off the coast of Angola, Africa, nearly four months later. Four additional PATs placed by last year’s IBT anglers surfaced from less than 200 miles to nearly 600 miles away, thus providing researchers with invaluable information.
“Join us!”, says Donato. “There are fabulous prizes for men and women anglers, plus a full program for partners who accompany anglers. There’s the traditional ‘Fiesta Tipica’ with its unique Latin rhythms and flavors and an IGFA Auction and elegant Awards Banquet. What are you waiting for! Register now!”
For more information please contact Donato at: (787) 722-0177 or chairman@sanjuaninternational.com. Or, visit: www.sanjuaninternational.com for more information and to register online.
Virginia de los Reyes, Media Contact
Tel. (787) 409-8465
Club Náutico (787) 722-0177
virginiadelosre@yahoo.com
Carol Bareuther, Media Assistant
