Wintertime, and the fishing can be breezy in the Florida Keys. Or it could be flat-calm and still bountiful. Whatever. There is always something available to catch if you pay close attention to the …
Southern Cross Club in Little Cayman Joins Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts as an Expedition Property
4 Feb 20149:50 PM
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—FEBRUARY 4, 2014 – Cayman Island’s iconic hideaway resort, the Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman, has joined the Expedition Collection of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts. The announcement was made today by Mark Ellert, President of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts.
Established in 1954, Southern Cross Club is a recipient of the World Travelers Award for Leading Boutique Resort in 2013 and is rated #1 by TripAdvisor as the top B&B in Little Cayman. The resort today becomes the eighth member of the elite Expedition Collection of Guy Harvey’s rapidly growing Outpost system, which currently covers Florida, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Galapagos Islands.
“As a resident of nearby Grand Cayman, the Southern Cross Club is my favorite place to relax, “ notes Guy Harvey, Outpost Chairman. “The diving is truly extraordinary; the best the Caymans has to offer.” Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Grand Cayman with fewer than 200 residents, Little Cayman is also home to the acclaimed Central Caribbean Marine Institute, whose Chairman is Peter Hillenbrand, owner of the Southern Cross Club. “Peter is a very close friend and a dedicated steward of the institute’s work in the conservation of coral reef ecosystems”, adds Harvey. “The Club’s commitment to conservation through education is matched only by its superior facilities, excellent service and attentive management.”
Featuring spacious and colorful ocean-view beachfront bungalows, the casually comfortable Southern Cross Club offers top-of-class in-house diving and sport fishing operations. Little Cayman is one of three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands.
“The Southern Cross Club sits on a powder white sand beach that stretches to a horizon dotted with palm trees and sapphire blue water,” comments Outpost President, Mark Ellert. “The club has the feel of an elegant safari camp, where beach and bonefish are the tropical substitute. Here you hunt with a 9 weight flyrod and a GoPro camera. ” With its tropical seclusion, miles of shallow flats, and deep ocean canyons just offshore, Little Cayman is the sport fishing destination of choice in the Cayman Islands. “We’re honored to have the Southern Cross Club as a member of Guy Harvey Outpost,” Ellert adds. “Sustainable tourism is on full display at this outpost, and it’s so well executed here, you’ll just never want to go home.”
The Guy Harvey Outpost program earlier this month welcomed Dominica’s premier hotel, Fort Young, to its Expedition portfolio.
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![](mailto:?subject=Southern Cross Club in Little Cayman Joins Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts as an Expedition Property&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/scc1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-1856" alt="Image" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/scc1.jpg?w=650" /></a>FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—FEBRUARY 4, 2014 – Cayman Island’s iconic hideaway resort, the Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman, has joined the Expedition Collection of <a title="GHO web site" href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts</a>. The announcement was made today by Mark Ellert, President of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts. Established in 1954, Southern Cross Club is a recipient of the World Travelers Award for Leading Boutique Resort in 2013 and is rated #1 by TripAdvisor as the top B&B in Little Cayman. The resort today becomes the eighth member of the elite Expedition Collection of Guy Harvey’s rapidly growing Outpost system, which currently covers Florida, the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Galapagos Islands. “As a resident of nearby Grand Cayman, the Southern Cross Club is my favorite place to relax, “ notes Guy Harvey, Outpost Chairman. “The diving is truly extraordinary; the best the Caymans has to offer.” Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Grand Cayman with fewer than 200 residents, Little Cayman is also home to the acclaimed <a title="CCMI web site" href="http://reefresearch.org/" target="_blank">Central Caribbean Marine Institute</a>, whose Chairman is Peter Hillenbrand, owner of the Southern Cross Club. “Peter is a very close friend and a dedicated steward of the institute’s work in the conservation of coral reef ecosystems”, adds Harvey. “The Club’s commitment to conservation through education is matched only by its superior facilities, excellent service and attentive management.” Featuring spacious and colorful ocean-view beachfront bungalows, the casually comfortable Southern Cross Club offers top-of-class in-house diving and sport fishing operations. Little Cayman is one of three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands. “The Southern Cross Club sits on a powder white sand beach that stretches to a horizon dotted with palm trees and sapphire blue water,” comments Outpost President, Mark Ellert. “The club has the feel of an elegant safari camp, where beach and bonefish are the tropical substitute. Here you hunt with a 9 weight flyrod and a GoPro camera. ” With its tropical seclusion, miles of shallow flats, and deep ocean canyons just offshore, Little Cayman is the sport fishing destination of choice in the Cayman Islands. “We’re honored to have the Southern Cross Club as a member of Guy Harvey Outpost,” Ellert adds. “Sustainable tourism is on full display at this outpost, and it’s so well executed here, you’ll just never want to go home.” The Guy Harvey Outpost program earlier this month welcomed Dominica’s premier hotel, Fort Young, to its Expedition portfolio. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/southern-cross-club-in-little-cayman-joins-guy-harvey-outpost-resorts-as-an-expedition-property/){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}
![](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=Florida Wildlife Federation Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Annual Boating Sweepstakes&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/blue-wave-2-bw_20pb_0045-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2920 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/blue-wave-2-bw_20pb_0045-2.jpg?w=300" alt="Blue-Wave 2-BW_20PB_0045 (2)" width="300" height="200" /></a>TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Wildlife Federation is excited to be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of our Annual Boating Sweepstakes. Instead of four boats, the Grand Prize winner will choose ONE of five fabulous prizes: two top-selling, family-friendly fishing boats with low emission engines, a hybrid car, an A-frame RV that’s easy to tow with many of todays fuel-efficient SUVs, or $25,000 in cash. The prizes are: the Sea Hunt Triton 188 nearshore boat, the Blue Wave 2000 Pure Bay boat, the Prius Three hatchback, and the Aliner Expedition camper.
New boat choice for 2015 is the Blue Wave 2000 Pure Bay, a high performance fishing boat, ideal for a family outing or the serious angler. With its 8-foot beam, this boat can float in 11-inches of water. Standard equipment includes a leaning post with fold down footrest plus ice chest underneath, multiple live wells, 100% hand-laid hulls, rod lockers, two rear flip seats with storage, stainless steel hardware, unsinkable foam flotation, dry floor drain system and a 10-inch manual jackplate. Package includes a fuel-efficient Suzuki 115 HP fuel injected four stroke outboard engine and a Magic Tilt aluminum trailer.
For second prize, ten winners will receive a $75 Gift Certificate to Guy Harvey Sportswear which features Guy Harvey short sleeve pocket t-shirts and fish tees, dry-release performance shirts, hats, and offshore fishing jackets.
The drawing will take place on December 17, 2015, at 3:00 pm at Federation Headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida. FWF will randomly select one (1) Grand Prize winner from among all eligible entries received, with the drawing supervised by Carroll and Co., Inc., Certified Public Accountants. Florida Wildlife Federation, Inc. is the source of funds used to award cash prizes or to purchase prizes.
Chose your Sweepstakes prize and get outside with your family and friends and enjoy all the marvelous outdoor opportunities that only Florida can offer.
To enter the Florida Wildlife Federation’s Boating Sweepstakes or for details, photos of the prizes, and official rules, click on <a href="http://www.fwfonline.org/Sweeps-Archive/Boat/2015-Boating-Sweepstakes.aspx">http://www.fwfonline.org/Sweeps-Archive/Boat/2015-Boating-Sweepstakes.aspx#</a>
About the Florida Wildlife Federation: “The Federation strongly advocates protection for the headwaters of Florida’s streams and rivers as they are critical in providing clean drinking water and to ensure the health of fish and wildlife,” says Manley Fuller, Florida Wildlife Federation President. “The health of the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern Atlantic is directly related to the health of our rivers which in turn depends on keeping our headwaters pristine.”
This fall, the Federation is actively working on Gulf of Mexico restoration to see that RESTORE Act funds are spent on projects that provide longstanding benefits to the Gulf and watersheds all along Florida’s Gulf coast and lowlands. With the recently announced proposed settlement between BP and the State of Florida, county and state officials now have a clear picture of what they will spend for the next 15 years. Helping them find ways to leverage every dollar will be critical to success. As to fisheries, FWF and our allies are pleased that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently adopted a proactive resolution recognizing the need to conserve and monitor marine forage fish populations. We look forward to working with the FFWC in support of the resolution’s goals.
The Florida Wildlife Federation is a nonprofit, statewide conservation organization established in 1936. For more information visit the <a href="http://www.fwfonline.org" target="_blank">FWF web site</a>.
Keeping the Wild in Florida since 1936! https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/florida-wildlife-federation-celebrating-25th-anniversary-of-annual-boating-sweepstakes/){kind=link}
 to double black diamond (most difficult). Instead of a guide clipping your cables and demonstrating each element, you do everything yourself. If you have a problem or a question, just call out to a staffer for advice or --if you're really too scared to swing through the trees--someone will climb up and escort you down.
Even though I stuck to the green and yellow courses during my visit, I found the experience exhilarating and fun. I could understand why a 12-year-old from the neighborhood who the staff calls an unpaid intern visits here twice a week for his three-hour workout.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Treehoppers3-e1492097028812.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4675" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Treehoppers3-e1492097028812.jpg" alt="" width="3264" height="2448" /></a>
After airborne exercise, I headed back to Tarpon Springs-- stopping en route for a little refreshment at the Florida Estate Winery in Land O'Lakes, not far from TreeHoppers. It's a popular waypoint for many wannabe Tarzans and Janes.
For more information about TreeHoppers, visit <a href="http://www.treehoppers.com">www.treehoppers.com</a> or call 813-381-5400.
On the day after my swing through TreeHoppers, I visited a very different kind of park--Key Vista Nature Park in tiny Holiday near Tarpon Springs. This quiet, 100-acre reserve of mostly sand pine uplands is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and Rocky Creek, inviting visitors to fish, swim, hike, and picnic. I walked most of its 1 1/2 miles of trails and climbed the observation tower for a scenic view of the lighthouse at Anclote Key Preserve State Park.
Key Vista is best known for bird watching; with more than 220 documented species, it's a must-stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.
Save for a nesting osprey cheeping in the pines, I saw few birds on my afternoon walk, but I did get to eavesdrop on an amorous gopher tortoise trying to get lucky with its partner in the scrub.
For more information on Key Vista Nature Park, call 727-938-2598. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/a-tale-of-two-parks-near-tarpon-springs/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Diving the Grouper Moon&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3275 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/grouper.jpg?w=300" alt="Grouper" width="300" height="222" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
Marine artist/conservationist/cinematographer Dr. Guy Harvey this week is scuba diving at one of the most exciting and ecologically-important sites in the Caribbean-- a coral wall about 100 feet deep near Little Cayman Island recognized as one of the largest spawning aggregation sites for endangered Nassau grouper anywhere.
Harvey plans to gather more video footage for "The Mystery of the Grouper Moon"--a documentary he first produced with George Schellenger in 2011. The aim is to help build a groundswell among Caymanians to continue protection for Nassaus that use the site for reproduction each year around the full moons in January and February.
Harvey's efforts paid off when the Cayman government extended a harvest ban in the area through 2019. But he said that's not enough to ensure a sustainable Nassau population.
"Our goal is to get the population here in Cayman up to 10,000 and repopulate the other islands and bring this fishery back to its former glory," Harvey said.
Not so long ago, tens of thousands of Nassau grouper-- a beautiful, slow-growing, and unfortunately very tasty reef-dweller-- reproduced successfully at five sites around the Cayman Islands in winter. But fishermen quickly figured this out and so decimated the aggregation that the only spawning site left in the area is off Little Cayman.
This pattern of overfishing also occurred at some 50 other spawning sites in the Caribbean and Bahamas, rendering between one-third and one-half of them inactive.
Today, the harvest of Nassau grouper is banned year round in the U.S.; prohibited December through February in the Bahamas, but open everywhere in the Cayman Islands except off Little Cayman.
Harvey would like to see all Nassau harvest closed in the Cayman Islands from November through March, and he's not alone.
The Key Largo-based Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the Cayman Department of the Environment have been researching the "Grouper Moon" for the past 13 years-- counting fish; implanting them with acoustic tags; collecting larvae and performing other research.
Harvey said it's fascinating observing the scientists working with the fish.
"The area is spectacular-- a wall on the western side of Little Cayman," he said. "They spawn at dusk in about 100 feet in the current. They turn black and white as they spawn-- one to two dozen males with one female. One of the wonders of nature. Very exciting,"
Harvey said efforts to protect the aggregation-- while not as comprehensive as he would like--have achieved some benefits. In 2010, he said, researchers counted about 2,500 spawners. Last winter, he said, about 5,000 were found reproducing at the site.
"I get first hand the feeling on how the spawning population has improved from previous years," he said. "It really is working."
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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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