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surferman
03-04-2009, 03:06 PM
IGFA Trustee Ralph G. Christiansen Jr.
dies in plane crash at sea
http://www.igfa.org/2009_stories/christiansen1.JPGRalph G. Christiansen, Jr., an IGFA International Representative since 1978 and member of the Board of Trustees since 1996, has been lost at sea. On Sunday, February 8, 2009, Christiansen was returning to Puerto Rico from a fishing trip to La Romana, Dominican Republic, when his plane went down.
Son of Ralph G. Christiansen, Sr., a pioneer blue marlin fisherman who helped encourage government officials to develop the sport in Puerto Rico and a founder of the Club Naútico de San Juan, young Ralph started fishing at age four. It was his father’s close friend and fishing companion, Esteban “Chilo” Bird, who became the young man’s mentor (his father remained a light-tackle angler). While fishing with Don Chilo, Ralph increased his knowledge and perfected his technique, caught his first five blue marlin, and learned the importance of keeping meticulous records on every fish.


http://www.igfa.org/2009_stories/christiansen2.JPGRalph was also a founder of the Puerto Rico Game Fishing Association and, at age 30, was the youngest Commodore of Club Naútico de San Juan. During his fishing career he caught more than 600 Atlantic blue marlin, releasing and tagging most of them. Dedicated to conservation and the sporting ideals of the IGFA, he implemented a catch-and-release policy on his boat in the mid-1970s that continued throughout the remainder of his life.













In Memoriam
Ralph G. Christiansen, Jr.
1942-2009
Club Náutico de San Juan and Marsh Saldaña, Inc. invite you to a
religious service in honor of our Past Commodore,
beloved brother and friend, Ralphie,
to be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009
at 4:00 p.m. at the Club.


After the service, and leaving from the Club,
a Nautical Boat Parade in his honor
will be held at the San Juan Bay.


Thanks for keeping us company.

dogfish
03-07-2009, 07:01 PM
IGFA Trustee Ralph G. Christiansen Jr.
dies in plane crash at sea
http://www.igfa.org/2009_stories/christiansen1.JPGtagging most of them. Dedicated to conservation and the sporting ideals of the IGFA, he implemented a catch-and-release policy on his boat in the mid-1970s that continued throughout the remainder of his life.











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I read about this on another site also. This guy did a lot to promote catch and release billfish tournaments. RIP