The International Billfish Tournament (IBT) turns 65.
The IBT is the longest consecutively held big game fishing tournament in the world.
The tournament is hosted by Club Nautico de San Juan in Puerto Rico, takes place October 15-21. Longevity is far from the IBT’s only claim to fame.
Over the past decade alone, organizers have maintained a cutting-edge vibe to this event by introducing elements like hotspot metrics to identify water qualities consistent with a good bite, critter cams in coordination with the National Geographic Society for research purposes, conservation conscious rules for 30-pound test line only, and most recently, a mobile app to track real-time bites, hook-ups and releases during the tournament.
This year, the new twist is a date change. The October IBT dates were purposely chosen to take advantage of a trio of plusses. Those include a perfectly full moon, warm water temperatures and a diversity of billfish. This time of year, fish swim through the world famous “Marlin Alley,” a mile-and-a-half deep trench located off the island’s north coast.
“In October, anglers will be able to hook different billfish species such as blues, whites, and sails, rather than just blue marlin, which are more prevalent in September,” says Salvador Egea, Jr. He’s the IBT chairman for the third year. Visiting anglers have a unique opportunity to fly in and fish on a different boat each day. There are also nightly parties, all for one set price.
Sample traditional Latin flavors and rhythms at Fiesta Típica, the signature shore-side event part of Club Náutico de San Juan’s six-decade-old International Billfish Tournament set for September 24-30. On the water, organizers aim to add an exciting new challenge as well as a bold conservation move by setting the regulation weight of fishing line at only 30 pounds instead of the customary 50 or 80 pounds. “We hope to increase participation from world-class anglers around the globe with a change to lighter line,” says tournament chairman Ricky Jaen. The September full moon signals the peak of the marlin season in Puerto Rico’s famous Northern Trench known as Marlin Alley. In addition to Fiesta Típica there is a full program of land activities for non-fishing spouses and spectators. sanjuaninternational.com
The team aboard Picara fights a blue marlin in the IBT., Photo: Richard Gibson
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
BVI-Trellis Bay, Courtesy of BVI Tourist Board
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
Aruba’s music festival
Go “below the belt” out of hurricane reach to Aruba for the 9th Annual Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival Aruba. Set for September 25-26 at the Renaissance Festival Plaza adjacent to the 158-slip Renaissance Marina, this two-day, open-air concert will welcome groups such as Earth, Wind & Fire; the Mike Stern Band; Jessy J; and the Ploctones. If you’re not into Jazz, there’ll be a good music mix of Latin, Blues, Funk, Soul, and Salsa. “The Festival is not only about great music. We also have an outstanding food court with eight different restaurants, numerous bars, an art gallery, and a tantalizing atmosphere on site,” says Friso Veenman, the Festival’s executive producer. New this year, Eat Local Aruba Restaurant Week follows from September 28th to October 9th. Sample the island’s national dish, Keshi Yena, a spicy mix of beef, goat or chicken stuffed into a round of Gouda or Edam cheese and baked. Participating restaurants offer prix-fixe lunches for $15 and dinners for $30-40. Both events are within walking distance from the Renaissance Marina in Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital city. caribbeanseajazz.com
B.V.I.’s iconic full moon parties
Full moon parties—in reality, hedonistic affairs complete with pain-killing drinks, pulsating music and rumors of psychedelic mushrooms—are an iconic way to celebrate monthly in the B.V.I. This pleasurable practice began back in the early 1970s when Bomba Smith Callwood cobbled together some driftwood, plywood boards, old tires, broken surfboards, and whatever else he could scavenge to build a beachside bar in Capoons Bay. Bomba started his full moon parties soon after, creating a boom in business that landed his namesake Bomba Shack on AOL’s Top Ten list for best beach bars in the world. Today, this full moon tradition has spread to Trellis Bay on Beef Island and to Foxy’s Bar in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke. Mark your calendar now! All three will happen on September 27th.
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine September, 2015
