Welcome to CNSJ Fishing

Committee Official Page

INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT, TRADITION AND EXCELLENCE.

The Club Nautico De San Juan was founded on June 30, 1930, to develop the sport of sailing, and saltwater sportfishing, among its membership local and international communities. Seventy years ago, we hosted the first”Club Nautico de San Juan International Blue Marlin Tournament,” Which has been held consecutively, without interruption since its inception; The IBT #70 will be held during August 2023.
As early as 1956, the San Juan International Blue Marlin Tournament began exceeding records. That year Allen Sherman set a first record by catching a 756-pound billfish on the Sea Queen II. In 1959 Joseph Widdowson pushed the record higher by capturing a 780.5-pounder.
In 1979 on board the vessel; Gin Paul, Mr. Jean Burks captured the first Blue Marlin of over 800 pounds (814) in Puerto Rico.
In 1988 the IBT set a world record with 190 Marlin caught in a four-day fishing tournament, a record which remained unbeaten for 11 years until 1999. And so, the records continued to climb until 1997 (one of the last years when marlins were allowed to be boated) when Luis Viyella caught an 895.5-pound marlin, the largest ever captured during the IBT. That same day E. Read and A. D’Alessandro also captured another biggie, a 714-pound marlin. What a day

The Fishing Committee of Club Nautico de San Juan was established to promote sportfishing among its members, family, and guests; chosen by the Commodore who is part of such committee. This committee foresees, regulates, and controls all activities related to fishing in the club, except for the international tournament, which its chairman and its group run, having run it every year most successfully and efficiently.

Therefore, the committee will promote all the activities during the year and keep records of all catches during the year using a digital scoreboard. These records will be used to award the yearly winners of the Club Nautico Annual Fishing Tournament. Furthermore, multiple tournaments will be held during the year for our members, family, and Guests; There will also be fishing clinics and tournaments exclusively to develop the participation of ladies and young adults. We will encourage these two groups to participate and create teams within Club Nautico and invite other Clubs to participate in this team competition. Aside from the normal Pelagic Tournaments, where billfish and tunas are included,we will be holding, in the very near future, possibly in February, a Swordfish Tournament. The Fishing Committee is chosen by the Commodore, with the recommendations of the President

The following criterias select the committee:

  • Honesty
  • Experience in Fishing
  • Interest in working
 

The members of the fishing committee of Club Nautico de San Juan are:

  • Carlos Ramirez
  • Rafael Nido Jr -Secretary
  • Rafael Terrassa
  • Rafael Marti
  • Jose Garcia
  • Piro Hernandez
  • Alberto Fuertes
  • Jorge L. Torruella

They are all fishermen, among the best honest, capable of interpreting the rules correctly, and the preservation of marine species.

I want to mention a few members of a previous Fishing Committee from the 60 and 70s; many are no longer with us.
But still missed dearly with great affection:

  • Roberto Homar
  • Carmen Perez Agudo
  • Leroy Camero
  • Gustavo Benitez
  • Luis Hernandez
  • Boy Blanco
  • Geño Garcia
  • Geño Miller

By Jorge L. Torruella

WELCOME to the

CNSJ Fishing Committee

Since its founding in 1930, Club Náutico de San Juan has championed Puerto Rico’s nautical life through eight decades of meaningful history. Some highlights include creating and expanding the International Billfish Tournament, hosting famous personalities, and investing in the Club’s infrastructure to continue growing and reaching new heights.