Event Combines Fishing, Conservation, Research & Marine Science Scholarships FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – What do you get when you combine world-class fishing, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) …
"Whale Sharks Are Our Friends" at Guy Harvery Outpost
13 Aug 20147:41 PM
Plankton eating Whale Sharks do not have the teeth that give some sharks that “Over Bite” reputation. These gentle giants grow to 40 feet long and have a sense of curiosity. They have been known to hang around and almost study divers and snorkelers.
On some levels Whale Sharks may be the most “User Friendly Sharks:” big, no teeth, warm waters, frequently at snorkel depth, and curious enough to interact with divers. There is still much we do not know about them but one thing we do know is that they can be seen by Guy Harvey Outpost divers at the Iguana Crossing Galapagos, Bimini Sands, Bahamas, but almost guaranteed at Hotel Playa Media Luna at Isla Mujeres, Mexico. For more info on our Whale Shark Encounters at Isla Mujeres (scroll to the bottom of the page).
To learn more about our Whale Shark Encounters call our Reservations line at 800-513-5257 or reservations@guyharveyoutpost.com
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![](mailto:?subject="Whale Sharks Are Our Friends" at Guy Harvery Outpost&body=Plankton eating Whale Sharks do not have the teeth that give some sharks that "Over Bite" reputation. These gentle giants grow to 40 feet long and have a sense of curiosity. They have been known to hang around and almost study divers and snorkelers.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/whaleshark2-large.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2140 size-large" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/whaleshark2-large.jpg?w=660" alt="Isla Mujeres Whale Shark Photo: Guy Harvey PhD." width="660" height="418" /></a>
On some levels Whale Sharks may be the most "User Friendly Sharks:" big, no teeth, warm waters, frequently at snorkel depth, and curious enough to interact with divers. There is still much we do not know about them but one thing we do know is that they can be seen by Guy Harvey Outpost divers at the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/beyond/isabela-island/property-overview.html">Iguana Crossing </a>Galapagos, <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/bahamas/bimini-bahamas/bimini-sands-bimini.html">Bimini Sands</a>, Bahamas, but almost guaranteed at <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/beyond/isla-mujeres-mexico/overview.html">Hotel Playa Media Luna </a>at Isla Mujeres, Mexico. For more info on our <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/beyond/isla-mujeres-mexico/dive.html">Whale Shark Encounters at Isla Mujeres</a> (scroll to the bottom of the page).
To learn more about our Whale Shark Encounters call our Reservations line at 800-513-5257 or reservations@guyharveyoutpost.com https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/whale-sharks-are-our-friends-at-guy-harvery-outpost/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Nova Southeastern University & Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts Present Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3028 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/blazmako.jpg?w=202" alt="BlazMako" width="202" height="300" />
Event Combines Fishing, Conservation, Research & Marine Science Scholarships
FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – What do you get when you combine world-class fishing, <a href="http://www.nova.edu">Nova Southeastern University</a> (NSU) and world-renowned conservationist and artist Guy Harvey? A one-of-a-kind marine conservation festival and tournament in the Florida Keys!
NSU is proud to be part of the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival, to be held in the sportfishing capital of the world – Islamorada – in the Florida Keys. The three-day event is scheduled for June 16-19 2016, with management provided by <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com">Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts</a>. Formerly named the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Tournament, the event has been moved to the historic Islander Resort for 2016, a Guy Harvey Outpost destination in Islamorada.
The event will include a premier, not-for-profit fishing tournament; innovative art exhibits featuring recycled materials, conservation organization displays and local vendors, all showcased in a 100 tent “Conchservation Village; cyber on-the-water release documentation for research using the IGHOfish App; and watersport demonstrations and competitions.
While there will be a fishing tournament as part of the event, like other Guy Harvey Outpost Bonfire series events, there is much more to the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival. Community engagement is at the heart of the weekend’s activities. The event will also aid in raising funds for marine sciences scholarships at the <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/index.html">NSU’ Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography</a>, which is home to the <a href="http://www.nova.edu/ghoc/">Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center</a>.
“Once again NSU and Guy Harvey are teaming up to help today’s students become tomorrow’s marine researchers and scientists,” said Richard Dodge, Ph.D., Dean of NSU’s Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography. “We have a long-standing relationship with Dr. Harvey, and I am continually amazed at how much he wants to help students follow their dreams. This tournament promises to be fun, while at the same time continuing to add to Dr. Harvey’s legacy at NSU.”
The Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival, managed by Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts, has targeted a fundraising goal of $100,000. NSU's <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/index.html">Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography</a>, home to the <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/ghri/index.html">Guy Harvey Research Institute</a> (GHRI), the Center of Excellence in Coral Reef Ecosystem Research and the <a href="http://cnso.nova.edu/save-our-seas/index.html">Save Our Seas Shark Centre</a>, will administer scholarship funds donated through the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF).
“This will be an event as much as a fishing tournament,” said Mark Ellert, president of Fort Lauderdale-based Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts. “Like our other Bonfire series tournaments in the Bahamas, community engagement is a key and we have planned quite a weekend of activities that will stage an innovative ‘Conchservation’ Village to highlight ‘trash-to-treasure’ art exhibits and conservation efforts in the Florida Keys, live music, a trivia event and beach and wastersport competitions, a Rum Village and Kids Pier Fishing Tournament, fishing seminars and our traditional burning sculpture bonfire—this time a 15’ mako shark design beachside at the Islander Resort.”
The bonfire sculptures themselves have a conservation theme given that they are created out of recycled metal by various local artists. Each sculpture is designed with a specific fish species unique to each destination. Well known Islamorada artist Pasta Pantaleo will design the Blazing Mako sculpture for the tournament and festival. Pantaleo, recognized around the world as a gamefish artist, operates a popular gallery, Pasta Pantaleo’s Signature Gallery, at mile marker 81.5.
The Blazing Mako tournament, named for NSU’s mascot — the mako shark — will encompass an inshore and offshore division. Corporate team registration (offshore) for the non-profit tournament is $5,000 per team (six anglers). Inshore registration is also available for $2,500 (three anglers). Larger boats (26’ and up) will be accommodated by the Post Card Inn Marina and smaller (25’ or less) by the Islander Bayside Townhomes. Internationally renowned sculptor Kent Ullberg, who designed the mako sculpture at the NSU main campus, has been commissioned to create a similarly designed perpetual trophy for the tournament.
Ellert said more than 100 vendor tents will be onsite along with fishing seminars provided by professional and local guides, and free downloads of the iGHOFish app powered by iAngler that will allow anglers to log their catches, which can be used a valuable information for fisheries management. In the case of the Blazing Mako tournament, the IGHOFish app will be used in documenting inshore and billfish catches along with photos and measurement before releasing the catches.
For more information on the Blazing Mako Tournament & Festival please visit <a href="http://www.blazingmako.com">www.blazingmako.com</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/nova-southeastern-university-guy-harvey-outpost-resorts-present-blazing-mako-tournament-festival/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Congratulations to Hubbs- SeaWorld Research Institute for IGFA Conservation Award&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hubbs-swri-logo-expanded1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1819 aligncenter" alt="Hubbs SWRI-logo expanded" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hubbs-swri-logo-expanded1.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="220" /></a>
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in California to Be Awarded the International Game Fish Association's Annual Conservation Award for Organizations
Hubbs-SeaWorld officially celebrated 50 years of its mission "to return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it" on June 3, 2013. To this end it is fitting that just two months later, in August, HSWRI released its two millionth white seabass – a testament to the success of their vision and the support of the California recreational angling community.
Science and Conservation are important elements of the Outpost experience. Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI), is an independent non-profit 501(c3) organization. Bill Shedd, Co-Founder of <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> and President of <a href="http://www.aftco.com/">Aftco</a> manufacturers fine fishing tackle, is Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hubbs-SeaWorld. All of us at Guy Harvey Outpost are proud of Bill's leadership and commitment to Conservation.
For more information on <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> or Join us on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GuyHarveyOutpost?fref=ts"> FaceBook</a>
For more information on <a href="http://www.aftco.com/">Aftco</a> or Join Aftco on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AftcoFishing?fref=ts"> FaceBook</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/congratulations-to-hubbs-seaworld-research-institute-for-igfa-conservation-award/){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}
![](mailto:?subject=Hunting Not Always Ducky on Lake Okeechobee&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3060 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lakeoduck.jpg?w=225" alt="LakeODuck" width="225" height="300" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
[Okeechobee, FL--] A blast of cold weather and flocks of ignorant ducks from the north are high on the holiday wish lists of duck hunters on Lake Okeechobee when phase two of the harvest season opens Dec.12.
The first phase Nov. 21-29 found hordes of hunters and plenty of birds flying over the marshes of the Big O on the first cool front of the fall season. But after numerous rounds of sky-blasting from legions of 12-gauges, the ducks learned to cruise the stratosphere as they made their way south across the 730-square-mile lake.
Still, the skittish birds and constant bursts of small-arms fire were no excuses for not bagging a limit of six, according to Sam Heaton of Jensen Beach, FL. In a half-day of hunting on the north end of the lake, Heaton managed only three ducks-- two ring-necked and a gadwall.
It wasn't for lack of preparation; Heaton had scouted the secluded lily pad slough weeks before the season opened aboard his 15 1/2-foot Gheenoe-- a flats boat/canoe hybrid powered by an outboard with an extra-long shaft. A veteran hunter, fisherman and all-around outdoorsman, he had discovered plenty of ducks alighting, feeding and hanging out in the area. All he had to do was set out some decoys, conceal his camo-painted boat in a nearby stand of cattails, cradle his 12-gauge, and watch for the flare of approaching duck wings.
He was armed with a variety of duck calls ranging from quacks to whistles and had his trusty yellow Lab named Finn aboard to fetch fallen birds. But none of it seemed to matter when his quarry flew in. He fired and missed at least four times.
"Son of a gun," Heaton muttered. "This is the worst I've ever shot."
Finn, waiting impatiently for something to do, whined in agreement.
"I know, I know, buddy," Heaton soothed the dog, stroking its ears.
When Heaton shot his first 'ringer', Finn literally leapt into action -- bounding over the gunwales into the marsh and swimming straight for the floating duck. He quickly returned with it clamped in his jaws, looking immensely pleased with himself.
Over the next four hours, Heaton shot one more ringer and a gadwall-- both retrieved by Finn. As the sun rose higher, the birds mostly flew by high out of range. Despite the futility, several nearby hunters blasted at them anyway, prompting them to reach new heights. By late morning, fewer and fewer flocks appeared.
"We need some more ducks. These ducks have been shot hard this weekend," Heaton said.
Around noon with no more prospects on the horizon, Heaton decided to pack up his decoys and head back to the boat ramp. He had enough duck breasts for hors d'oeuvres and was buoyed by hopes of a new wave of targets during phase two of the season which runs through Jan. 31.
"We'll get more ducks since the weather is getting cold up north," he said.
Here is Heaton's recipe for grilled duck breast:
Butterfly duck breasts. Prepare a mixture of sour cream, chives, garlic, cilantro, and red pepper flakes, ladle it onto the breasts, then roll each one up in a slice of apple-cured bacon and secure with a toothpick or skewer.
Cook on the grill until the bacon is sizzling. Dive in.
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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/hunting-not-always-ducky-on-lake-o/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Galapagos: Islands of Eye-Popping Photo Ops&body=Sea lions sprawled on park benches barking at human passersby. Hundreds of marine iguanas standing around spitting salt. Tiny baby booby birds only inches from a walking trail.
Just a few of the images from the highlight reels of a handful of avid wildlife photographers who joined Guy Harvey Outpost's inaugural May photo safari to the Galapagos Islands.
"I'm gonna go again for sure," said country music star Ronnie Dunn of the Brooks & Dunn duo. "It was super fun. Full of surprises."
The expedition was led by veteran Sports Illustrated photographer Ron Modra who served as both guide and mentor to the group. But Modra said he didn't have to do too much mentoring.
"Everybody we had on the trip was fairly well accomplished," Modra said. "I think they got some really great stuff. I didn't let them leave a location until everybody had what they wanted."
Unlike guided cruise ship expeditions to the Pacific islands about 600 miles off Ecuador, this itinerary was land-based and covered five islands in eight days. The photographers stayed in hotels at night, traveled by boat to the islands, and hiked and snorkeled at their own pace to obtain the images they wanted.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Booby-babies.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4801 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Booby-babies.jpg" alt="" width="2100" height="1400" /></a>Photo: Diana Calleja
Naples, FL photographer Diana Calleja got many great shots of boobies, frigate birds, iguanas, and sea lions, but one image she coveted eluded her: the tropicbird, noted for its bright red bill and long, white-feathered tail.
"It's just magnificent. They are so fast. I'd like to go back maybe next year and get that shot," Calleja said.
Calleja's trip got off to an unfortunate start; on the second day, a broken strap plunged her camera into the ocean. Only the memory card was spared.
"I was just devastated," she said. "But everyone said, 'no, no' -- we have equipment for you."
And for the remainder of the trip, using borrowed gear from her fellow shooters, Calleja scored nearly everything she wanted--lying flat on a path between lava rocks to get photos of baby boobies; swimming with sea lions "just doing this ballet around you"; tripping over her own feet when a mama sea lion scolded her for getting to close to a baby.
"I was well clear," she said. "We all had a good laugh."
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steve2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-4802 size-full" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/steve2.jpg" alt="" width="1680" height="1120" /></a>Photo: Steve Martine
The Galapagos revealed itself in different ways to all the photographers. Dunn was flipping through some images one night and nearly deleted one he had shot from a cliff while trying to capture birds in flight. But upon closer examination, he discovered he had captured a superb image of a large rock covered with marine iguanas, including one he said looked like Godzilla.
"There's stuff hidden in the rocks all over the place," Dunn marveled. "You almost need a spotter when you're looking through the lens: 'Hey! Coming in at 2 o'clock!'"
Dunn was enchanted by the rich diversity of wildlife -- from the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs perched on the rocks to the sea lions reclining on park benches.
"I thought I'd sneak over by one and he jumps up and barks at me," Dunn said. "The big males are doing that alpha thing all the time. They look like they're trying to kill each other, but they're not."
Dunn owns a warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee's arts district where he's putting together the Lensmen Project-- a gallery of nature photography by travelling shooters. He said the Galapagos trip spurred him to get serious about it.
Improving his skills with Modra, he said, is "like getting to paint with Picasso. And Ron is great fun."
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Guy Harvey Outpost will mount a second land-based Galapagos photo safari led by Ron Modra October 29-Nov. 5. For complete details, pricing and reservations, visit <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com">www.guyharveyoutpost.com</a> or call the travel desk at 800-513-5257. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/galapagos-islands-of-eye-popping-photo-ops/){kind=link}
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