From Bahama islands info

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — The inaugural Guy Harvey Outpost Beach Bash, Bonfire and Tournament came to a close on June 29th with Captain Bouncer Smith guiding Victor Bermudez to a first place finish and award of the Burning Marlin Trophy. The weekend’s closing ceremonies included a sky diving performance and the lighting of a 30-foot-tall Blue Marlin steel sculpture designed by acclaimed artist Bobby Little before a crowd of more than 300 at the Bimini Sands Resort & Marina on South Bimini. Proceeds from an on-line auction of weekend fishing charters with Captain Bouncer Smith benefitted Bimini marine conservation programs.

Made from recycled rebar, the Burning Marlin sculpture will be dropped next Spring into the Bimini waters where it will function as Biorock®. This will enable species of coral to grow faster within the sculpture than they would in natural reef structures. “I am always looking for ways to give back to the islands that have given so much to me,” noted sculptor Bobby Little.

“Sustainable tourism is always at the heart of what we do,” commented Outpost President Mark Ellert. “Bimini is in our DNA and we’re thrilled to be back. We also know a few things about art, and with our plans to create an annual Burning Marlin festival for artists, anglers, families and friends of Bimini we intend to start of a new tradition on South Bimini.” Guy Harvey Outposts celebrated its return to Bimini after two years of growth throughout the Caribbean, Central America, the Galapagos and elsewhere in the Bahamas.

The Beach Bash opened with Jesse Cors of Outpost Extreme Sports leading a sky diving team that parachuted into the Friday night beachside cocktail party, setting up a second jump the following evening to light the Burning Marlin. Days were filled with family-friendly beach and watersport activities organized by the Bimini Sands Activities Center, including scuba diving with world record-holder Neal Watson of Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center and excursions to Honeymoon Harbour to snorkel with wild stingrays, tours of the mangrove lagoons, Bimini Nature Trail, and the Bimini Sharklab.

Photo: The inaugural Guy Harvey Outpost Beach Bash (Ned Stone/Guy Harvey Outpost).

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