Guy Harvey Enterprises is supporting hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas by donating 100 percent of net profits from a newly designed t-shirt to Convoy of Hope: Anglers for the …
Fly Fish for Dolphin for Fun & Prizes in the Keys
7 Jul 201710:06 AM
So you think dolphin fish are easy to catch in the Florida Keys? After all, they are plentiful this time of year and don’t often refuse a bait– live, dead or artificial. So now let’s see what you’ve got: test your fly fishing skills against this colorful and tasty species in the inaugural Islamorada Dolphin Fly Tournament.
Held July 10-12 out of the Islamorada Fishing Club, a fleet of up to 20 boats with teams of three anglers each will vie for cash and prizes for both weighing and releasing offshore fishing’s most popular species.
The top prize will be awarded to the team weighing the six heaviest mahi over two days of fishing. Awards also will be presented for the highest total number of releases and for top junior angler. You may fish in your own boat or hire from your choice of Keys charterboats.
Tournament director Dianne Harbaugh says it’ll be fun— and a little tougher than just trolling baits.
“You don’t have to be a great fly fisherman,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not as technical as tarpon, but you still have got to be able to cast the fly. There are big fish out there.”
Entry fee is $1,200 per team. For a complete rundown on the rules and schedule, go to: www.islamoradaclassic.com/fly-dolphin-tournament/.
To book a room during the tournament at the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost in Islamorada visit GuyHarveyOutpost.com or call 1-800-513-5257 for reservations.
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![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey to Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief Efforts in the Bahamas&body=
Guy Harvey Enterprises is supporting hurricane relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas by donating 100 percent of net profits from a newly designed t-shirt to <a href="https://www.convoyofhope.org/donate/anglers-for-the-bahamas/">Convoy of Hope: Anglers for the Bahamas</a>.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bAHAMAS-sTRONG-sHIRT.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5422" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bAHAMAS-sTRONG-sHIRT.jpg" alt="" width="578" height="721" /></a>The Bahamas Strong t-shirt, which features an iconic Guy Harvey sailfish design with the Bahamian flag, is priced at $25 and available at <a href="https://www.guyharvey.com/bahamas-strong/bahamas-strong-t-shirt.html">https://www.guyharvey.com/bahamas-strong/bahamas-strong-t-shirt.html</a>.
“Hurricane Dorian left an unprecedented path of destruction through the Bahamas, causing unimaginable loss of life, property and security,” said Dr. Guy Harvey, world-renowned artist, conservationist, scientist and entrepreneur. “I was born in the Caribbean and lived here all my life, so I am particularly heartbroken by the devastation in the Bahamas. We sympathize with our island neighbors and will help in any way we can.” https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-to-raise-funds-for-hurricane-relief-efforts-in-the-bahamas/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Go RV-ing on the Lake O&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3241 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/lakeo3.jpg?w=300" alt="LakeO3" width="300" height="225" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
[Okeechobee, FL.--] About 9 million people in the U.S. own recreational vehicles-- motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers, 'toy haulers', and others. And a lot of them make their way to Florida's Heartland -- Lake Okeechobee.
You can hardly skip a pebble on the lake's north end without hitting an RV park. They start filling up around Christmas time and stay pretty full through the end of March. That's because the appeal of the Big O region is many-faceted, extending way beyond the pleasant winter weather, according to RVers.
"A lot of activities at most of the campgrounds," said Michel Goulet of Quebec, Canada who plays guitar and accordion and bicycles with wife Martine.
The couple towed their 39-foot "5th wheel" RV with a pickup for three days from Canada to Okeechobee in mid December, planning to stay for several months. They could afford a hotel or a rental house, but prefer the RV lifestyle.
"It's like being at home," Michel said. "You have a little space."
Likewise for fellow Canadians John Duchesne and wife Mitch from Ontario. The couple--now retired-- began tent camping together nearly 40 years ago, then bought pop-up camper trailers and now have a 33-foot 5th wheel. They've been traveling to Okeechobee every winter for six years.
"We RV'd on both sides of Florida -- the east coast and the west coast. We found all of it was way too busy for us-- expensive, crazy," John Duchesne said. "If you look around here, it has a small town atmosphere. People are friendly, traffic is low and it's cowboys. I don't have a country-western bone in my body, but this has character. We feel secure here."
The Duchesnes plan to stay for 4 1/2 months, attending potluck dinners with their campground neighbors, hitting golf balls and riding motorcycles. John enjoys bass fishing on the big lake, but doesn't have a boat. He hopes to meet some fellow anglers to wet a line this winter.
Another Ontario resident who we'll call "Joel", 82, is spending his second winter season in Okeechobee with his wife in their 38-foot Winnebago motorhome-- the couple's sixth RV. When they play golf or go shopping, they use the mid-size sedan they towed here.
"Basically the freedom, " the retired auto dealer said of his preference for the RV lifestyle. "Parking where you like. Having your own rig, your own bed every night is pretty nice."
Tommy Miller from North Carolina and his wife drove their 45-foot motorhome to Okeechobee to help set up his mother-in-law in her winter residence. They planned to spend a week, then head home and return in February. But Miller said he'd like to become a permanent RVer.
"I'm tired of owning real estate and mowing my lawn," he said.
RVers and other visitors will have another destination soon on Lake Okeechobee. Guy Harvey Outpost RV Resort and Marina is slated to open in spring 2017 at the site of the Okee-Tantie Campground and Marina. The project-- to be developed in conjunction with Elite Resorts-- calls for 125 RV pads, 70 rental cabins, a waterfront lodge, expanded marina, boat barn, swimming pool, restaurant, tiki bar, and tackle shop.
It will provide a dizzying array of activities-- or not. As one Michigan couple, who've been spending winters at the lake for years, put it: "We come down here for the sunshine and warm weather. We used to own a boat and fish in the lake. Now we just like to relax."
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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/go-rv-ing-on-the-big-o/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Hosts Their 5th International Symposium&body=<a href="http://www.bonefishtarpontrust.org/">Bonefish and Tarpon Trust</a> hosted their 5th International Symposium at the <a href="http://igfa.org">IGFA Hall of Fame and Museum</a> in Dania Beach, Florida. Hundreds of conservation minded attendees turned out for the educational and event packed weekend, all with a focus on raising awareness about the conservation of bonefish, tarpon, and permit.
Scientists from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Belize, the Bahamas, and Cuba were on hand to present their latest findings on a variety of topics concerning the three slam species. A number of fly and spin fishing clinics were held for the attendees to enjoy and there were also panel discussions with some of today’s most knowledgeable fishing guides and angling legends from around the world, sharing their insight and stories about bonefish, tarpon, and permit.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-flies.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-2387 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-flies.jpg" alt="BTT 2014 Flies" width="640" height="427" /></a>
Friday evening saw the inaugural BTT Art and Film Festival, where some of the biggest names in saltwater art and photography displayed their work and helped raise funds for BTT. The festival also featured screenings of many excellent short films, all competing for a chance to win prizes from <a href="http://www.orvis.com">Orvis</a> and <a href="http://costadelmar.com">Costa</a> and the title of Viewer’s Choice. In the end, “Knockin’ On The Door” by WorldAngling took home the win. The winner of BTT’s Best Conservation Message went to Marc Montocchio for his trailer of the film “Origins Of The Sky.”
The highlight of the film screening was the world premier of "90 Miles", in which filmmaker Will Benson of WorldAngling highlighted his recent trip to Cuba with BTT scientists and showed the world that although the US has had differences with its neighbor to the south, we also share many commonalities including a love for fishing and a passion for the conservation of our environment.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-bill-tom_mcguane.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2389 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-bill-tom_mcguane.jpg" alt="BTT 2014 Bill Tom_McGuane" width="640" height="509" /></a>Bill Klyn presents Tom McGuane with the Curt Gowdy Media Memorial Award, photo: Pat Ford
Capping off the two-day event was a Saturday evening silent auction followed by the “Passing The Torch” Banquet. The banquet celebrated some up and coming members of the saltwater fishing community in a short “Passing The Torch” film. The film highlighted Paul Puckett, Jorge Martinez, <a href="http://flatsclass.com">Captain C.A. Richardson</a>, Captain Will Benson, Meredith McCord and Oliver White for their support of BTT and their efforts to promote conservation of bonefish, tarpon, and permit.
During the banquet, BTT awarded three Conservation Stewardship awards to deserving members of the fishing community. The Flats Stewardship Award went to former <a href="http://myfwc.com">FWC</a> commissioner Ken Wright for his tireless efforts in securing the catch and release status of bonefish and tarpon in Florida, as well as the banning of the “Boca Grande Jig”. The Lefty Kreh Sportsman of the Year Award was presented to <a href="https://www.costadelmar.com">Costa Del Mar</a>’s VP of Marketing, Al Perkinson, for his immense support of BTT through Project Permit, and the Curt Gowdy Media Memorial Award went to legendary author and <a href="http://outdoorchannel.com/buccaneers-and-bones">Buccaneers and Bones</a> star Tom McGuane.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-al_perkinson-aaron_adams.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2390 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/btt-2014-al_perkinson-aaron_adams.jpg" alt="BTT 2014 Al_Perkinson Aaron_Adams" width="640" height="612" /></a>Al Perkinson receives the Lefty Kreh Sportsman of the year Award from Dr. Aaron Adams. Photo Pat Ford
The <a href="http://fisheries.org">American Fisheries Society</a> also presented Bonefish and Tarpon Trust with the prestigious Conservation Achievement Award for the Fisheries Management Section. This annual award recognizes an organization’s outstanding contributions to fishery conservation or fishery science. Upon receiving the award, BTT’s Director of Operations Dr. Aaron Adams noted, “BTT is extremely flattered and proud to receive this award from the American Fisheries Society. This award confirms the validity of our approach to fisheries conservation, and provides encouragement moving forward.”
The two day event saw roughly 350 registered attendees come through the doors and went on to gross nearly $117,000 for Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. Symposium Chairman Chris Peterson of <a href="http://www.hellsbayboatworks.com">Hell’s Bay Boatworks</a> commented, “The scientific presentations were astronomically enlightening, the instruction sessions legendary, and the fellowship among like minded anglers...priceless.” BTT President Matt Connolly added, "Like me, I suspect that nearly all 350 Symposium attendees left inspired by the "Legends", encouraged by the exciting scientific breakthroughs, and energized knowing their investment in BTT has delivered such dynamic returns in but three years! The many inspiring discoveries shared with us at the Symposium made it apparent that we must transform this emerging scientific knowledge into enlightened management of flats ecosystems throughout the Caribbean. It is a challenge BTT is now, more than ever, well prepared to meet!"
Photos courtesy of <a href="http://www.patfordphotos.com/home-static.cfm">Pat Ford</a>
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 in Orange Beach, Alabama){kind=link}
 in Orange Beach, Alabama&body=[Orange Beach, Ala.--]Scuba diving 90 feet deep on the sunken coastal freighter "The LuLu", I was completely surrounded by a curtain of fish: shimmering minnows; fairly large amberjacks chasing them; gray, red and vermillion snapper; and convict-striped spadefish. The shifting schools covered much of the surface of the 271-foot ship. A few lurid-colored exotic lionfish lurked around various ambush points, but unfortunately none of us aboard the Down Under dive charterboat had brought a spear gun.
Too bad, because we could have carried our catch over to the popular restaurant SALT at SanRoc Cay Marina in Orange Beach where the dive boat docks. Chef Chris Sherrill and Chef Landon Benton would have prepared the lionfish in multiple creative dishes like they do with just about any other kind of fish their customers bring in. (More on that later.) Meanwhile, we simply enjoyed the swirl of colorful marine life populating the wreck.
"The LuLu" is the largest shipwreck in Alabama's vast array of artificial reefs, which include (but are not limited to): Army tanks, culvert pipes, bridge rubble, oil and gas platforms, big ships, small boats, and planes. Despite claiming only about 53 miles of coastline, Alabama boasts more than 14,000 manmade structures deployed in the Gulf from right off the beach to about 60 miles offshore, covering about 1,200 square nautical miles. In and around Mobile Bay lie another 30 smaller structures. The state plans to deploy another 600 reefs from the shore out to 70 feet deep, and it's almost ready to sink another big ship perhaps as early as this winter-- a 250-foot retired oceanographic survey vessel called the Fairfield New Venture--in about 125 feet of water.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LilaHarris2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4946" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LilaHarris2.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1367" /></a>
"We consider ourselves to have the largest and most productive artificial reef program in the country," said Craig Newton, a biologist who serves as Alabama's artificial reef chief.
For Newton, the artificial reef program is all about creating a diverse set of habitats for a wide range of marine animals-- as well as diving and fishing destinations for the state's residents and visitors.
"The more diverse you can make the artificial reef program, it's better able to withstand fishing pressure and produce large numbers of snappers each year," he said.
For example, Newton said, species like amberjack and snapper prefer larger, taller structures like ships and oil rigs while other species tend to favor smaller, shallower havens. And he plans to create "stepping stone" reefs to establish connectivity between near-shore and offshore regions. Some species such as gray snapper spend their early lives in inshore estuaries, then head to deep water to reproduce.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LilaHarris4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4947" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LilaHarris4.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1399" /></a>
A big reason Alabama has so many man-made diving and fishing reefs off its shores is that in addition to its own deployments, it permits private individuals to sink their own -- just as long as they are properly inspected to ensure they don't pollute the waters or pose a safety hazard. While these serve as private honey holes whose locations are not published on Alabama's artificial reef website <a href="http://www.outdooralabama.com/artificial-reefs/">www.outdooralabama.com/artificial-reefs/</a>, anyone who stumbles across them may fish or dive them.
On my second dive of the day with Down Under, we visited the Captain Shirley Brown, a 128-foot ferro-cement ship that once served as a waterborne club before being sent to the bottom about 85 feet deep two years ago. On that dive, I saw more amberjack and snapper and even larger lionfish than on the LuLu, and my dive buddy Chandra Wright spent her safety stop 20 feet deep fending off a pesky remora that tried to stick to her wetsuit, then gave her a kiss on the cheek before swimming off.
That evening at SALT, Sherrill prepared a delicious feast for Wright and me and our party including a charcuterie of meats and cheeses, quail gumbo, and crabmeat-stuffed grouper with fresh vegetable succotash. He told us to bring him lionfish the next time we dive, and said he could have created something from the remora if Wright had let it stick to her! He wasn't joking; he has whipped up culinary treasures from supposed 'trash' fish at other Alabama eateries. And I bet it would have tasted great.
(Photos courtesy of Lila Harris)
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If you plan a visit to the Orange Beach, Alabama area, a great place to stay is the Hilton Garden Inn, located on the beach. Visit <a href="http://HiltonGardenInnOrangeBeach.com">HiltonGardenInnOrangeBeach.com</a>. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/dive-dive-dive-and-fish-in-orange-beach-alabama/){kind=link}
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