Sport Fishing Championship casts final lines of the season in San Juan

San Juan International Billfish Tournament © Sport Fishing Championship

Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), the governing body of saltwater tournament fishing, is beginning the final event of the 2023 season, the San Juan International Billfish Tournament, which will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Team Quantified is on track to make it two straight years as SFC Season Champions. Last year, Capt. Justin Drummond and his team made their first appearance at the San Juan International Billfish Tournament and placed second with two blue marlin releases, cementing their first SFC Championship and $1 million. Their three first-place finishes this season constitute a perfect score so far, and Team Quantified has already secured the SFC Gulf Championship, earning them $100,000. They are in an excellent position to "Kiss the Crystal" once again at this season's end-of-year celebration.

This week's tournament is also the final stop for the four SFC Championship Fish Divisions, and their winners will be crowned at the event's conclusion. Current leaders include Jordan Sanford of Team Gypsea for the Bigeye Tuna Division, Jaselyn Berthelot of Team Rising Sons in first place for the Wahoo Division, and Gus Rantz of Team Just Looking leading both the Yellowfin Tuna and Mahi Mahi Divisions. Winners of each will take home $50,000.

The San Juan International Billfish Tournament celebrates 70 years this year and is the longest consecutively running big game fishing tournament in the world. The event prioritizes conservation and sustainable fishing practices and was the first to adopt the "tag and release" format in 1987.

The tournament will take place off the coast of Club Nautico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. More than 60 boats are expected to compete this year, including San Victoria, last year's champions. Competition will get under way on Thursday, August 24, and will wrap up on Saturday night for an awards ceremony and banquet beginning at 7 p.m.

Fans can watch the exclusive coverage of the final tournament on CBS Sports Network from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 6 to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Viewers can also tune into YouTube from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 4 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

SFC tournament points accrue based on a team's placement in the final tournament standings, with the first-place team earning 3,500 points, the second-place team 3,000 points, and so forth. Placements in the tournament standings are determined from tournament-only points based on species of fish caught and released, with the highest consideration given to blue marlin, then white marlin and spearfish, and finally sailfish and swordfish.

To learn more about the Sport Fishing Championship Season, visit sportfishingchampionship.com.