:: NEARLY 200 ANGLERS FROM 12 COUNTRIES SET TO FISH CLUB NAUTICO DE SAN JUAN’S 58TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT ::
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2011
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Some of the world’s best anglers will put their fishing skills to the ultimate test when Club Nautico de San Juan’s prestigious 58th International Billfish Tournament (IBT) kicks off with the first day of fishing on Wednesday September 7. One-hundred and ninety-five anglers from 12 countries – Australia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, USA, U.S. Virgin Islands – will fish aboard 52 boats.
“You can feel the magic in the air,” says Frankie Mirandés, chairman of the 58th IBT. “Everybody is excited. The weather is cooperating, the seas are flat and there is every indication that the marlin are biting in the alley.”
‘Marlin Alley’ is a mile-and-a-half deep trench off the north coast of San Juan where blue marlin swim in abundance.
The IBT is the longest consecutively held big game fishing tournament in the world and as such it attracts fishing’s elite. For example, the trio of anglers representing the South African Deep Sea Angling Association each outranked some 20,000 other anglers in their country for the opportunity to fish in the IBT.
“You could say we’re representing our country like an Olympic team,” says Marius Vermeek, who is fishing with fellow South African anglers Chris Rothman and Eric Visser.
“We’ve been out fishing with the local captains and crews the past two days in order to gain local knowledge,” says Vermeek. “We’re not use to such large boats, it’s nice. We’re really looking for to the start of the tournament.”
Similarly, Javier Pira and his teammates representing Club Nautico de Guatemala have earned the right to fish the IBT through a series of qualifying tournaments in their home country.
“This is my first time in Puerto Rico,” says Pira. “I’ve been following the stats here and I’ll be glad to release 2 to 3 blue marlin in one day. That, or more, seems to be the average.”
This marks the sixth year that Jamie Resor, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has fished the IBT. In fact, he was a member of the winning USA angling team in 2010.
“The chance to win isn’t the top reason we come each year,” says Resor. “It’s the prestige of the tournament. The friendship. The camaraderie. The fun. That’s what keeps us coming back.”
Resor’s wife, Vickie, has fished in the past, but what she enjoys just as much is the tournament’s special Ladies Program.
“We’ve visited museums, enjoyed private tours of the Governor’s mansion, and the rainforest in El Yunque,” says Vickie Resor. “But I think the most popular activity of the week is the fashion show and this year it’s in-store at Salvatore Ferragamo.”
It’s not just highly skilled anglers that are drawn to fish the IBT. This year welcome’s a first-time entry from Scotland.
“My fiancé’s father lived in South Africa when he was younger and he enjoyed marlin fishing,” says Malcolm MacDonald, from Inverness, who traveled to Puerto Rico with his future father-in-law, Trevor Somny. “He came across this tournament on the internet and it looked like fun so we came across. For me personally, I’ve never caught a blue marlin and I’m hoping to do so here in San Juan. That would be a personal win for me.”
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.
The tournament kicks off with an official ‘Shoot Out’ of the fleet past the majestic El Morro fort. Fishing takes place September 7, 8, 10 and 11, with nightly parties and a Gala Awards Ceremony on September 11. The IBT is a qualifier for the prestigious Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship that takes place each May.
Follow all the action by visiting www.nauticodesanjuan.com. This website offers exciting videos, photos, Facebook links and Twitter feeds.
Virginia de los Reyes, Media Contact
Tel. (787) 409-8465
Club Náutico (787) 722-0177
virginiadelosre@yahoo.com
virginiadelosreyes@pharmaconpr.com
Carol Bareuther, Media Assistant
High-resolution photos and video clips are available on request.
