Come see Team Bimini Big Game Club at the Miami Boat Show Feb 17 – 21 and register for a chance to win a 5-day/4-night BBGC getaway, which includes a complimentary stay in a luxury suite as well …
Lobster Mini-Season Tips from Capt. Ned Stone
24 Jul 20133:07 AM
Surviving Lobster Fever?
Many of us have been chomping at the bit to get some BUGS… For those of us who love to dive and love lobster we wait all year for “Mini-Season.” Some divers “Are on a mission.” In “Mission” mode we sometimes lose sight of other priorities. No lobster is worth someone’s life or injury. Please dive safely. Please drive safely; the diver you save could be me.
Here are a few basic safety tips:
Double check your gear before you leave the house. Double check your VHF radio.
Use your Diver Down flag. Better still use a really BIG FLAG or THREE. Remember the other guy is an idiot. Make your divers and snorkelers take floating dive flags with them.
If you have lots of snorkelers keep a lookout in the boat with an air horn to ward off unwary boaters. There are plenty of clueless boaters who have no idea it is Lobster Season nor what that funny red flag means.
Bring a first aid kit.
Bring a thermos of hot water (not scalding) for stings.
Bring spare O-rings, snorkels, fin and mask straps.
Bring water and stay hydrated.
BONUS LOSBTER, Want 33% more lobster? Eat the sweet meat in the legs and antennas. Cook them separately in a steamer; pull them out as soon as they change color. Add some melted butter and your appetizers are ready. You will be surprised how much meat is hidden here. It takes a bit more work but it is worth it once you get the knack.
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![](mailto:?subject=Lobster Mini-Season Tips from Capt. Ned Stone&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/380014_10151204897640966_475752933_n1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-1552" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/380014_10151204897640966_475752933_n1.jpg?w=650" /></a>Surviving Lobster Fever?Many of us have been chomping at the bit to get some BUGS... For those of us who love to dive and love lobster we wait all year for “Mini-Season.” Some divers “Are on a mission.” In “Mission” mode we sometimes lose sight of other priorities. No lobster is worth someone’s life or injury. Please dive safely. Please drive safely; the diver you save could be me. Here are a few basic safety tips:Double check your gear before you leave the house. Double check your VHF radio.Use your Diver Down flag. Better still use a really BIG FLAG or THREE. Remember the other guy is an idiot. Make your divers and snorkelers take floating dive flags with them.If you have lots of snorkelers keep a lookout in the boat with an air horn to ward off unwary boaters. There are plenty of clueless boaters who have no idea it is Lobster Season nor what that funny red flag means.Bring a first aid kit.Bring a thermos of hot water (not scalding) for stings.Bring spare O-rings, snorkels, fin and mask straps.Bring water and stay hydrated. BONUS LOSBTER, Want 33% more lobster? Eat the sweet meat in the legs and antennas. Cook them separately in a steamer; pull them out as soon as they change color. Add some melted butter and your appetizers are ready. You will be surprised how much meat is hidden here. It takes a bit more work but it is worth it once you get the knack. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/lobster-mini-season-tips-from-capt-ned-stone/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Somewhere Under the Rainbow&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3433 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/rainbow.jpg?w=300" alt="rainbow" width="300" height="202" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
[Dunnellon, FL--] Drifting at a speed of 1 1/2 knots downstream in west-central Florida's Rainbow River, I am blown away by the clarity of the water, the shimmering kelly-green eelgrass dotting the bottom and, most of all, by the antics of a cormorant.
Through my dive mask, I watch raptly as the black water bird with the curved yellow beak plunges ten feet deep, churning up the sand and parting the thick grass blades in a hunt for food. To my left, a terrified sunfish darts away unharmed, and a few seconds later, the cormorant returns to the surface empty-beaked.
Two feet apart, we look at each other and the unperturbed hunter makes another dive, still unsuccessful. I drift with him for a good eighth of a mile, but he never spears a fish. Maybe the black shadow of my thick wetsuit is scaring away his prey, and he leaves me behind. But watching him was fun while it lasted.
A cornucopia of wonders awaits just about anyone who snorkels or dives this scenic watercourse. The Rainbow emanates from a second-magnitude spring in the state park that bears its name that, together with numerous smaller springs, generates more than 450 million gallons per day of nearly invisible, 72-degree water. With a maximum depth of 25 feet, it flows for about 5 1/2 miles before joining the larger, tannic-brown Withlacoochee River.
My friend Kyle Stewart and I began our snorkel float about a half-mile downstream from the park-- (boats are not permitted in the headspring)-- guided by captain Ross Files on a pontoon boat from the dive shop at Plantation on Crystal River. Files kept the boat ahead of us as we drifted, flying a dive flag to warn approaching boaters-- of which there were very few.
What fun! We passed fat largemouth bass and colorful bream hovering around numerous tiny spring vents that look like miniature geysers erupting on the sandy bottom.
At the major spring heads, I could feel the warmth of their deep underground sources as I drifted overhead. At one spot, at least a dozen pointy-nosed alligator gar hovered. And we floated over a sunken palm tree that Files said was reputed to have been used by actor Johnny Weissmuller as a diving platform in the "Tarzan" movies of the 1940s.
Just before the take-out site at the K.P. Hole Park boat ramp, we spied a gigantic alligator snapping turtle sitting placidly in the eel grass.
Unlike many spring-fed rivers in this region, no manatees show up in the Rainbow seeking refuge from cold Gulf waters in the winter. That's because an old lock system in the waterway between the river and Gulf block their access. In four trips here, I've seen exactly one alligator and it was very small and swam away in terror.
Winter is the best time to do a drift dive or snorkel because the wildly-popular practice of tubing is prohibited from October through March.
Befitting its jeweled status, the Rainbow is designated a national natural landmark, an aquatic preserve and an outstanding Florida waterway.
Plan to visit now before the springtime crowds arrive.
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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/somewhere-under-the-rainbow/){kind=link}
 and Scuba Radio. Everyone seems to be enjoying him- and herself as the drinks flow and an acoustic salsa band energizes the crowd. My entree is served in a lobster shell arch stuffed with lobster meat, fish, and chopped vegetables-- delicious! I order another daiquiri to prep for the taxi ride back to the Hotel Quinta Avenida-- a white-knuckled repeat but otherwise safe.
In daylight, I take in the enigma of the Caribbean's only Communist-ruled island: 1950s American cars beautifully repainted and humming along on diesel engines alongside dilapidated 1970s Russian Ladas; newly-repainted storefronts near museums and apartment buildings that look like they haven't been pressure-cleaned in 50 years; the Acuario Nacional Cuba (national aquarium) opened in 1961 with now-crumbling cement fish tanks but still housing a robust coral restoration program and fisheries research center; revolutionary slogans in fading paint on concrete walls next to cutting-edge medical research labs.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/P6110651.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4129 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/P6110651.jpg" alt="P6110651" width="1000" height="750" /></a>
Later, touring the Pinar del Rio province on Cuba's southwestern tip, we got an in-depth tour of the San Juan y Martinez tobacco plantation-- maker of internationally-acclaimed cigars. Cuba is very proud of its cigars, which start with specially-grown seeds from a lab in Havana that are planted in September and harvested during the winter months. The leaves are dried over a period of several months, then undergo a multi-step fermentation process and later are hand- rolled, cut and pressed. We watched a worker at his rolling table who told us he could turn out 100 per day. But by the time you buy one of these fine cigars, it is probably four to five years old. Several members of our party eagerly purchased samples.
On our last night in Cuba, many of the group dined at Club 21-- a small Havana restaurant serving everything from roast pork to grilled snapper. I ordered a plate of shrimp pasta -- scrumptious, but so large I couldn't finish it. Later we visited the Hotel Nacional where the grand dining room and outdoor plaza reminded me a lot of the posh Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. A must-see is the celebrity wing decorated with photographs and memorabilia of American movie stars, pop musicians and political leaders from around the world. We attended a music and dance revue in the hotel theater featuring elaborately-costumed performers in feather headdresses and jeweled bodices. The show opened by re-enacting Latin America's early history in song and dance, but then veered off in a helter-skelter of narrative directions. Nonetheless, it was dazzling to watch.
Heading back to our hotel, we passed the Malecon-- Havana's signature seawall where it looked like thousands were just hanging out and enjoying the simple pleasure of the cool ocean breeze.
Cuba is about the world's hottest destination right now among American tourists forbidden from traveling there for the past 50 years and hungering to visit a living time capsule of the previous century free of fast-food chains and strip shopping malls.
Guy Harvey Outpost will be conducting another guided expedition to Cuba soon. Visit guyharveyoutpost.com for upcoming details. And check out part two of my Cuba blog on July 7 to learn about the wondrous scuba diving opportunities at Maria La Gorda in the Pinar del Rio province.
***************
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.
**********
Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/vamos-a-la-habana-with-guy-harvey-outpost/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Open Letter to the Lauderdale Yacht Club&body=<a href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-65" title="Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/final-resort-logo2.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="159" /></a>
Dear LYC Members,
On behalf of <a title="Guy Harvey Inc. web site" href="http://www.guyharvey.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a> and the entire Guy Harvey Outpost team, I want to thank you for participating in this year's Bimini Blast at the <a title="Bimini Big Game Club web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina</a> - or Outpost Bimini, as we like to call the Club.
As a resident of Fort Lauderdale for 25 years, and as a longtime member of the LYC, I am particularly proud of our efforts to bring the Big Game Club back to life and reestablishing the Club's relationship with the LYC. It will be my personal agenda to ensure we have continuing programs and promotions for LYC members.
Some of you may know that Guy spent many years living in the Las Olas Isles area and, like me, puts significant weight in the opinions and goodwill of the LYC membership base. As a result, we welcome any comments you might have regarding this event, or any future visit.
We are excited to know that LYC has already made plans to return to the Club again next year. We have some exciting plans in store for the LYC in the near future, and we are certain next year's event will be even more enjoyable. Until we see you again in Bimini, remember -
From the Oceans, Comes Life - enjoy the Journey!
Mark Ellert
President, Guy Harvey Outposts Ltd.
<a title="2010 Bimini Blast Photo Album" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bimini-Big-Game-Club/127094040665962?v=photos&ref=ts#!/album.php?aid=13362&id=127094040665962" target="_blank">2010 Bimini Blast Photo Album</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/63-2/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Okeechobee: Hunters’ Paradise&body=A dwindling number of regions in fast-growing Florida have the vast open stretches of pasture, forest, prairie and swamp of Okeechobee in the Sunshine State's heartland. Though dedicated mostly to agriculture, those thousands of acres of undeveloped land represent Shangri-La to the outdoors enthusiast-- a haven for wild hogs, deer, turkey, alligator, ducks, quail, and other game.
A mandatory vacation stop for increasing numbers of hunting tourists is Little Lake Lodge-- a remote camp located about a half-hour's drive north of Lake Okeechobee operated by outfitter Bob Hayes. It is highly possible here on the lodge's carefully-managed acreage to bag a wild hog and a trophy Osceola turkey on the same day. I know this because I was here a couple weeks ago when it happened.
Well before dawn that morning, Hayes had escorted Tim and his nine-year-old son Hunter-- both of Chapel Hill, N.C.-- to a blind adjacent to a gobbler travel route in a nearby pasture that the guide had discovered during pre-season scouting.
While Hunter sighted his 20-gauge and the three listened to the woods' melodic waking sounds, Hunter's mom Julia and I boarded a swamp buggy back in camp with hog hunter Jesse of Rhode Island, his wife Elle and their guide, Logan.
Jesse, a lifelong hunter, wanted to celebrate his 30th birthday by harvesting his first wild hog which he hoped to turn into pork tenderloin, bacon and sausage for the freezer. Unlike Jesse's native New England where there are no hog hunting opportunities, Florida is riddled with the animals. Descendants of livestock brought here in the holds of Spanish galleons in the 16th century, the wild porkers are considered a nuisance by farmers and ranchers because they tear up pastures and destroy crops in their insatiable rooting for food. They are also very prolific.
"One hog will breed once every two months and have five to six pigs each time," said Logan. "They are multiplying faster than we can shoot them."
The five of us bumped along in the swamp buggy on a rutted dirt path into a pasture and Jesse loaded his rifle.
"Take your best opportunity," Logan told the hunter.
Good thing Jesse was ready because about ten minutes into the ride, we all spotted a black hog trotting along a fence line about 100 yards away. Logan gunned the engine to close the distance but, despite the noisy pursuit, the animal for some reason began running toward the buggy.
Jesse aimed and fired, dropping his quarry in its tracks: a sow about 150 pounds.
"I love hunting," Jesse said. "A lot of meat and you don't have to go shopping."
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/buggy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4658" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/buggy.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1920" /></a>
After posing for pictures with his prize, Jesse and Logan loaded it onto the buggy and we headed back to camp where Logan would dress it.
Jesse seemed not quite able to believe the brevity of his hunt.
"I'm used to sitting in a tree stand and not seeing anything for days on end," he said.
Julia kept shooting anxious glances toward the camp's entrance gate. She had tried texting her husband and son to check the progress of the turkey hunt but had heard nothing.
Julia explained that this wasn't just ANY turkey hunt: the family has been spending all their vacation time for months to help Hunter accomplish his dream of a wild turkey grand slam-- bagging all four U.S. subspecies in a single year. The youngster, who's been involved in the sport since he was a pre-kindergartener, had so far taken two of the four: the eastern and the Rio Grande. The family was here to check off the Osceola-- found only in Florida-- and would then head to Nebraska to complete the slam with a Merriam.
A little while after we bade goodbye to a smiling Jesse and Elle, Hayes' pickup pulled up to the lodge and Julia rushed over to greet the party.
At first Hayes and his clients acted like they were disappointed, but then they began to smirk as Hayes opened a large cooler to reveal a hefty gobbler with at least a 12-inch beard-- a trophy by any measure.
"Oh Hunter, I'm SO glad!" Julia said, hugging her son.
Recounting the hunt, Hayes said they never had to use any calling devices to summon the bird. It just ambled by the blind on a well-worn travel route, and Hunter shot it from 20 yards.
The family drove back home that afternoon, planning to get the Osceola mounted and confident of completing their nationwide quest.
*********
Little Lake Lodge has no more openings for the 2017 spring gobbler season, but hunters are invited to reserve for next year. There are plenty of hog hunting slots open now. Call 954-448-0015. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/okeechobee-hunters-paradise/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Big Game Club Sold Out for Labor Day Weekend!&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bgclaborday-heli.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-849 " title="Arriving by Air!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bgclaborday-heli.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="316" /></a>Guests are arriving by any means necessary for the Bimini Big Game Club's sold-out Labor Day Weekend celebration!
With the Labor Day Weekend on hand, the historic <a title="BBGC web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.comn" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club</a> is attracting guests by air, by sea and with a unique tasty menu featuring a Caribbean specialty - Lionfish Nuggets!
General manager Mike Weber said the 51-room resort is completely sold out for the Labor Day Weekend, a good sign for the iconic resort and marina, which returned as a <a title="About GHO" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/aboutus.htm" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> last year.
"We are looking good with several bookings for 2012 already in place," said Weber. "The property is really spectacular and we currently rated very high in customer reviews on <a title="BBGC Reviews on TripAdvisor" href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147426-d147623-Reviews-Bimini_Big_Game_Club-Bimini_Out_Islands_Bahamas.html" target="_blank">TripAdvisor</a>."
Closed for two years, the BBGC reopened last year following a multi-million-dollar renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Bar & Grill, the Outfitter Shop and the Gulfstream Conference Center and adjoining Hemingway Rum Bar & Social Lounge.
Located on the main navigation channel in Bimini, the BBGC has again become the epicenter of water-oriented pursuits, including offshore game fishing, backcountry fishing and diving. The resort features a 75-slip marina capable of accommodating boats up to 145 feet in length. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/big-game-club-sold-out-for-labor-day-weekend/){kind=link}
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