By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com Help a dolphin paint a picture; get a stair-climbing workout like no other; eat great seafood; take a walk in the woods; light …
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium Set for Nov. 11th & 12th
29 Aug 20112:41 PM
The Fourth International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2011 at the International Game Fishing Association Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, FL. Representatives from Guy Harvey Outpost will be in attendance.
Held every third year, this Symposium promises to be the largest and most informative to date. Two full days of presentations on cutting edge scientific research of bonefish, tarpon and permit from fisheries scientists around the world is scheduled, as well as panel discussions, fly casting seminars and tying clinics by some of the world’s noted flats anglers. On the final night an “Evening with the Legends” banquet will be emceed by author and angler Andy Mill, participants include; Joan Wulff, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Sandy Moret, Rick Ruoff, Mark Sosin, Ralph Delph, Steve Huff, Bill Curtis, Stu Apte and George Hommell.
Leading up to and as part of the Symposium, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust will be auctioning multiple guided days of fishing and special one of a kind fishing adventures with expert guides who have donated their time to benefit BTT. For more information on these auctions and to submit your bids please go to the “Symposium Auctions” button on the BTT web site.
Space is limited, so be sure to register early. All interested anglers are welcome. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the BTT web site, or call 239-283-4733.
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![](mailto:?subject=Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium Set for Nov. 11th & 12th&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vaughfred-bonefish.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-830 " title="Bimini Bonefish" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vaughfred-bonefish.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="329" /></a>Fly fishing guru Vaughn Cochran and Bimini Big Game Club guide "Eagle Eyes" Fred enjoy a bountiful day bonefishing on the Bimini flats.
The <a title="2011 BTT Symposium" href="http://www.tarbone.org/component/content/article/318.html" target="_blank">Fourth International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium</a> will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2011 at the <a title="IGFA web site" href="http://www.igfa.org" target="_blank">International Game Fishing Association Hall of Fame</a> in Dania Beach, FL. Representatives from <a title="About GHO" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/aboutus.htm" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> will be in attendance.
Held every third year, this Symposium promises to be the largest and most informative to date. Two full days of presentations on cutting edge scientific research of bonefish, tarpon and permit from fisheries scientists around the world is scheduled, as well as panel discussions, fly casting seminars and tying clinics by some of the world’s noted flats anglers. On the final night an “Evening with the Legends” banquet will be emceed by author and angler Andy Mill, participants include; Joan Wulff, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Sandy Moret, Rick Ruoff, Mark Sosin, Ralph Delph, Steve Huff, Bill Curtis, Stu Apte and George Hommell.
Leading up to and as part of the Symposium, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust will be auctioning multiple guided days of fishing and special one of a kind fishing adventures with expert guides who have donated their time to benefit BTT. For more information on these auctions and to submit your bids please go to the <a title="BTT Symposium Auctions" href="http://www.tarbone.org/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26&zenid=b7til449h12ti6cs07e6lv3gb5" target="_blank">“Symposium Auctions”</a> button on the BTT web site.
Space is limited, so be sure to register early. All interested anglers are welcome. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the <a title="BTT web site" href="http://www.tarbone.com" target="_blank">BTT web site</a>, or call 239-283-4733. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/bonefish-tarpon-trust-symposium-set-for-nov-11th-12th/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=The Most Wonderful Season of All to Visit St. Augustine&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3089 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/staxmas.jpg?w=300" alt="StAXmas" width="300" height="180" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
Help a dolphin paint a picture; get a stair-climbing workout like no other; eat great seafood; take a walk in the woods; light up the night; and tour one of the oldest standing structures in North America.
These are just some of the experiences awaiting you in St. Augustine -- one of America's oldest cities-- located on the northeast Florida coast. Beach, history, natural wonders, art, and lots of opportunities to eat and drink distinguish the First Coast from the rest of the Sunshine State.
Here's just a small sampling of what you can see and do in a couple of days:
<a href="http://www.marineland.net" target="_blank">MARINELAND DOLPHIN ADVENTURE</a>
I stumbled into this venerated attraction without reservations on an afternoon when the staff was setting up for a wedding. Wandering around, I came upon a large open tank where several dolphins were making jaw-clapping noises on the surface. I stopped to snap a photo and one of them came right up to me and grinned into the camera. Then I got yelled at by a volunteer who said I was in a restricted area.
Whatever. If you make advance reservations, you can touch and feed the animals; swim with them; and hold a canvas over the water while the dolphin paints a picture-- among other adventures. You can also check out the sea turtle and shark tanks holding clients from the University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience headquartered right across the street.
I bet that wedding was a doozy.
<a href="http://www.blackflytherestaurant.com" target="_blank">BLACKFLY, THE RESTAURANT</a>
Hungry after my impromptu dolphin encounter, I visited Blackfly, the Restaurant on St. Augustine Beach, operated by Vaughn Cochran and partners and renowned for delicious sushi and other seafood.
Cochran-- an artist, former flats fishing guide, lodge operator and now owner of the top fly shop in nearby Jacksonville-- has helped create the region's only saltwater fly-fishing-themed eatery. Incorporating elements of prized recipes from the various lodges Cochran ran in the Caribbean and Central America, Blackfly specializes in local fish with creative touches.
I dined on local sheepshead in a tasty tomato-bacon beurre rouge sauce accompanied by mashed potatoes and bok choy. Yum. And even better, I got to go fly -fishing with Cochran and guide captain James Dumas the next day and we all caught and released redfish on the flats.
<a href="http://www.staugustinelighthouse.org" target="_blank">AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM</a>
If you think your Stairmaster workout at the gym is tough, check out what the 19th century lighthouse keepers had to do to keep this beacon going and prevent ships from running aground: climbing 219 stairs carrying a 30-pound can of lard oil four times a day every day. Heck, I was winded walking to the top toting nothing heavier than my purse. But once there, you will be treated to panoramic views of the ocean and Old City.
If you don't feel like making the climb, you can tour the lighthouse keeper's home and boatbuilding shed, walk a nature trail, or take your kids to the shipyard-styled playground.
<a href="http://www.nps.gov/casa/" target="_blank">CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT</a>
One of the oldest standing structures in North America, this Spanish fortress took 84 years to build, completed in 1756. It's spectacular to see from both St. Augustine Inlet and the Old City, and equally breathtaking to tour.
The fort is built of more than 400,000 blocks of coquina stone-- all cut and set entirely by hand-- and it still looks a lot like it did in the 18th century. You get to explore cannons and watch towers, and visit the ancient rooms where soldiers slept, ate and stored their ammo.
Though the fort changed hands many times over several centuries, it never fell in battle. Rather its transfer from country to country was accomplished through treaties and peace agreements.
Now it's a hugely popular historic site managed by the National Park Service.
<a href="http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/wmas/lead/Guana-River" target="_blank">GUANA RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA </a>
Located on A-1-A about halfway between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, this 9,800-acre region of forest, fresh- and saltwater ponds, and marshes is a haven for the outdoors enthusiast.
Visitors can fish from shore or wade in the redfish- and flounder-rich waters of Lake Ponte Vedra, hunt ducks from November through January, and go paddling, hiking, biking and horseback riding.
I took a short hike on one of the miles of trails that loop through the area, enjoying the quiet and shade of an oak hammock.
This hunting/recreation area abuts the 2,400-acre Guana Tolomato Matanzas Estuarine Research Reserve, designated in 1999. Take time to visit the reserve's Environmental Education Center located just before the entrance gate.
<a href="http://augustine.com/event/nights-lights" target="_blank">NIGHTS OF LIGHTS</a>
This truly is THE most wonderful time of the year to visit St. Augustine, especially after dark when the entire city-- buildings, homes, parks, monuments, street lamps and vehicles-- are strung with millions of tiny white lights to observe the holiday season. Named one of the top ten holiday lighting displays in the world by National Geographic, it stems from an old Spanish tradition of placing a single white candle in the window of each home. The light fest runs through Jan. 31.
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Sue Cocking chronicles the Guy Harvey Outpost travel and adventure experience in regular blog posts on GuyHarveyOutpostNews.com/. For 21 years, Cocking covered the full spectrum of outdoors adventure opportunities in South Florida and beyond for the Miami Herald, including fishing, diving, hunting, paddling camping, sailing and powerboat racing. She is a certified scuba diver and holder of an IGFA women's world fly fishing record for a 29-pound permit.
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Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/the-most-wonderful-season-of-all-to-visit-st-augustine/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Fish Panama This Spring and Summer!&body=Yellowfin tuna greater than 200 pounds; both blue and black marlin; and all the sailfish you want to release.
These are among the sport fishing highlights you can enjoy on Panama's Pacific coast from late March through the end of July with Captain Hennie Marais and Panama Yacht and Fishing Charters-- an exclusive Guy Harvey Outpost Expedition.
In the remote Coiba Islands, a national park located off Panama's southern coast, Marais will slow-troll live bonitos along the gamefish-rich Hannibal Bank where the baits get crashed by huge yellowfins and black marlin. Your floating base camp for this adventure is a comfortably-appointed 66' Buddy Davis sport fishing yacht that can accommodate parties of up to six. You have the option of an additional battle wagon too-- a swift 37-foot Strike with top-of-the-line tackle and equipment to hoist huge tuna up from the depths and subdue greyhounding marlin.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_0377adjusted.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4589 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_0377adjusted.jpg" alt="IMG_0377adjusted" width="1739" height="1159" /></a>PHOTO: Your floating base camp - a 66' Buddy Davis luxury sportfishing yacht with the optional 37-foot Strike.
Or Marais can escort your group east to the Gulf of Panama where the waters around the Pearl Islands and Pinas Bay further south provide abundant opportunities offshore for tuna, marlin, sailfish and mahi. Inshore, you'll get shots at feisty species such as roosterfish, snapper, and amberjack. On this expedition, you can stay at a private resort and make day trips, live aboard the luxury yacht, or arrange a combination of the two.
"Fishing in Panama is exotic, with beautiful warm weather and beautiful scenery," Marais said.
Book your adventure now at <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com">GuyHarveyOutpost.com</a>, or call our travel desk at 800-513-5257. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/fish-panama-this-spring-and-summer/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey Outpost’s Popular “Burning Wahoo” Bonfire Series Tournament Returns to Old Bahama Bay For February 2016&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/obb-wahoo.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2923 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/obb-wahoo.jpg?w=300" alt="OBB Wahoo" width="300" height="182" /></a>WEST END, GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND—SEPTEMBER 28, 2015— The Bonfire Fishing Tournament Series, created and managed by Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts, today has announced dates for the Second Annual Burning Wahoo Tournament , scheduled for February 25-28, 2016 on West End, Grand Bahama Island.
Chasing wahoo along West End’s Wahoo Alley and beyond this February will be top anglers looking to take home cash, prizes and bragging rights for the newest edition of the popular “Burning Wahoo” Bonfire Series tournament hosted by Old Bahama Bay Resort and Yacht Harbour.
The two-day tournament will kick off with a Captain’s meeting and barbecue on Thursday, February 25th and will then offer private party events (including a traditional Bahamian Junkanoo), a beach bonfire with a burning wahoo sculpture, and an awards ceremony dinner during the course of the tournament.
This past February, anglers in 23 boats competed for the largest wahoo and aggregate total over the two-day Burning Wahoo tournament off West End. St. Augustine’s Fishin a Loan team emerged as the tournament champion, landing the largest wahoo at 63.9 lb on Day 1 and a 60.5 lb wahoo on Day 2 for a cumulative total of 448 lbs. Cash and prizes totaled $30,000.
For the 2016 edition, Tournament Director Cliff Jensen said early bird pricing (prior to December 31) is $300 per angler with a minimum of four anglers per boat. Also the first 25 boats registered and stay at the hotel will receive a $200 credit.
Jensen said cash, trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top teams. Go <a href="http://www.bonfireseries.com" target="_blank">HERE</a> to register online.
Sixty miles east of Palm Beach, Old Bahama Bay has 70 luxury guestrooms, a 70-slip deep-water marina with fuel and on-site customs, and a full array of resort amenities.
Available for tournament charter will be legendary Bahamas/Walker’s Cay Captain Billy Black and Dutchess, his 50-foot Hatteras, as a Guy Harvey Expedition Fishing Outfitter.
Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts, as part of its “Travel With a Purpose” mission, which combines a unique celebration at Outpost Destinations while promoting conservation, awareness and education, is again partnering with The Bahamas and Old Bahama Bay to benefit the West End All Age School with an end of tournament donation. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-outposts-popular-burning-wahoo-bonfire-series-tournament-returns-to-old-bahama-bay-for-february-2016/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Name That Boat & Win a 3-day Dive Vacation with Dive Bimini!&body=<a href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/boat_name_contest.html"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-75" title="Name That Boat!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/boat-banner1.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="107" /></a>
What’s in a boat name? Hemmingway tackled giant blue marlin on his “Pilar”. Quint pitted his “ Orca” against the legendary great white shark, JAWS, and Columbus had three - the “Nina” the “Pinta” and the “Santa Maria”. By the way, a little known fact is the “Pinta” was the fastest of his three.
It is a serious task, for sure, to name a boat - as it tells of her spirit, and sometimes even her destiny. It’s an even harder job to come up with something unique as there surely are many boat names as there are fish in the ocean. But we have a new 60 foot dive boat, and we have a job to do!
<a href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/boat_name_contest.html"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-89" title="Click Here to Name That Boat!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/diveboat1.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="226" /></a>
<a title="Guy Harvey Inc. web site" href="http://www.guyharvey.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a> and <a title="Neal Watson's web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/boat_name_contest.html" target="_blank">Neal Watson</a>, who have teamed to form <a title="Dive Bimini Press Release" href="http://guyharveyoutpostnews.com/2010/08/21/guy-harvey-and-neal-watson-join-forces-with-dive-bimini/" target="_blank">Dive Bimini</a> at the <a title="BBGC web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club</a>, want your help. They’re looking for a boat name - a name that divers from around the world will immediately recognize and come to symbolize the most famed dive boat in all of the Bahamas.
So true to the <a title="Guy Harvey Outpost info" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/aboutus.htm" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> sporting nature, we’re putting a little competition together to come up with the name of the new boat. It’s a two-part challenge:
First, send us your suggested names by filling out the form at the link below. Send as many as you can think of. There are no rules on the name you wish to submit, although we’re going to favor ones that are clever, entertaining, easy to pronounce and not too long. The others? We’ll toss them out...but, of course, we’re expecting yours will be in the “keeper file” pile!
Then a group of us at Guy Harvey Outpost, including Guy and Neal, will rally up and review the “keepers”, from which we’ll create a shortlist of four names. These four names will then be posted to our <a title="Guy Harvey Page on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/DrGuyHarvey" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a> and <a title="Guy Harvey Outpost Page on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bimini-Big-Game-Club/127094040665962?ref=ts" target="_blank">Outpost</a> Facebook pages and be put to a vote by our fans.
The name with the most votes wins and becomes the new name of our dive boat. And if it’s the name you submitted, not only will you get a personal “high five” letter of thanks from Guy and Neal, we’re going to give you a complimentary 2 night stay at the resort and include a two tank dive on “your” dive boat. Sure, there’s some fine print, but nothing that should stand in the way of entering and having some fun - remember, this is how a legend begins!
<a href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/boat_name_contest.html"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-78" title="Name That Boat!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/boat-banner2.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="107" /></a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/name-that-boat-win-a-3-day-dive-vacation-at-dive-bimini/){kind=link}
 at the <a href="https://business.facebook.com/events/235445656799071/" target="_blank">Blazing Mako Tournament and Festival</a> Father's Day weekend June 16-19 at the Islander, a Guy Harvey Outpost resort in Islamorada.
Here's an advance peek at several of the artists and their creations that you can browse in the tents of the "Conch-servation Village":
CHRIS NICOLAUS, Fort Lauderdale
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_20160213_102841-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4001 size-large" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_20160213_102841-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="IMG_20160213_102841 (1)" width="1024" height="768" /></a>
Several years ago, Nicolaus began organizing trash clean-ups in the Everglades where he and his volunteers picked up more than 500 pounds of spent shell casings. His friends told Nicolaus to just scrap them, but he decided instead to turn them into marine life art.
"I've always been a fan of Guy Harvey and a fan of fishing," he said.
Despite no formal artistic training, Nicolaus forged ahead, sorting the shells by caliber, washing and drying them, gluing them to hand-cut wooden backings in the shapes of sailfish, orcas and other sea creatures, then painting them. Photos of his creations showed up on social media, and he has sold more than 20 for several hundred dollars each over the past few months. He puts the money back into his conservation program.
"I'm taking something that's destroying the Everglades and making something beautiful," he said.
He expects to display as many as 70 pieces at the Blazing Mako.
JOYCE NELSON, Miami
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/VINTAGE-PINK-CORAL-PEARLS-1.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-4000 size-full aligncenter" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/VINTAGE-PINK-CORAL-PEARLS-1.jpeg" alt="VINTAGE PINK CORAL & PEARLS (1)" width="433" height="289" /></a>
This Coconut Grove former advertising executive who taught fashion merchandising and design at the college level didn't originally set out to become an artist. But after taking jewelry-making and gemology classes beginning in 2000, she fell in love with precious stones and pearls and decided to make hand-crafted jewelry a full-time career.
Since 2005, Nelson's one-woman firm Cosmopolitan Jewels has been creating one-of-a-kind, head-turning necklaces, bracelets, and earrings suitable for dressing up or down. Prices range from about $75 to $4,500.
"It's versatile that way," Nelson said of her artistry. "You can wear it anytime and if you do, people will notice you. I can create anything-- just ask."
As lifelong anglers and boaters, Nelson and her husband Ron are excited about coming to Islamorada for the Blazing Mako.
DAVID WIRTH, Islamorada
A well-known and longtime contributor to the Keys art scene, Wirth produces a wide range of wildlife art-- some of it made from the wildlife itself. A lifelong fisherman and hunter, he is fond of saying that he hunts and fishes to make art and makes art to hunt and fish.
At Wirth's Islamorada gallery, visitors might find rich wooden or bronze sculptures of fish with backgrounds of mangroves and sea fans; hardwood furniture with handles made from the antlers of a deer; Hawaiian-style circle hook jewelry; and a variety of creatures fashioned from stone.
Nearly all of the wood the artist uses comes from blown-down trees or remnants from cleared lots. He fashions wreaths from barbed wire discarded in farm fields. A deer skin becomes a throw rug (while the meat goes into his freezer). Works sell for an average of $2,500 to $3,500 apiece.
He won't have to travel far to attend the Blazing Mako.
"The Islander is a great location-- a nice, Keys-y place to do an art show," Wirth said. "We're all about supporting anything Guy does."
ALISON CLAIRE LaMONS, Lakeland.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GULFSTREAMCHARTERS_REV_72DPI_WEB.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4004 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GULFSTREAMCHARTERS_REV_72DPI_WEB.jpg" alt="unknown title" width="432" height="288" /></a>
This seafaring, world-traveling, beach-loving, architectural drafting, married mother of three has longed to become an artist since her childhood in Fort Lauderdale. But LaMons didn't make art her full-time career until about three years ago and she occupies an unusual niche: watercolor portraits of vintage neon signs.
"I want to be the Guy Harvey of vintage neon signs!" she declared.
The hand-painted, original signs may depict anything from sport fishing boats to tropical flowers to blue marlin accented with shimmering neon that immediately catches the eye. Frames are fashioned from salvaged scrap metal.
"It's sexy and at the same time kitsch-y," LaMons said of her work. "I invent a sign to suit what I want to say."
LaMons' larger watercolors sell for upwards of $5,000, but she'll also bring a selection of prints and note cards to the Blazing Mako.
"I have great fun doing these art shows," she said.
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Sue Cocking chronicles the Guy Harvey Outpost travel and adventure experience in regular blog posts on GuyHarveyOutpostNews.com/. For 21 years, Cocking covered the full spectrum of outdoors adventure opportunities in South Florida and beyond for the Miami Herald, including fishing, diving, hunting, paddling camping, sailing and powerboat racing. She is a certified scuba diver and holder of an IGFA women's world fly fishing record for a 29-pound permit.
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Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/full-spectrum-of-original-artwork-on-display-at-the-blazing-mako/){kind=link}
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