NEWS RELEASE: Guy Harvey and Vaughn Cochran Team to Create Black Fly Bimini at the Bimini Big Game Club

Vaughn Cochran to create Black Fly Bimini at the Bimini
Big Game Club, Bimini, Bahamas.

Guy Harvey has annouced he is teaming with fellow artist, conservationist and fly fishing personality, Vaughn Cochran, to launch Black Fly Bimini.

Opening in late October 2010, Black Fly Bimini will operate out of the newly reopened Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort and Marina.

Black Fly Bimini will organize all of the Big Game Club's backcountry fishing programs, with on-site staff, operations and merchandising support.

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Cochran and his fly fishing wife, Jean, oversee Black Fly Inc., a collection of enterprises featuring fly fishing merchandise, art and travel. The couple has recently opened Black Fly Bonefish Club, their newest lodge, located on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.

"Bimini is one of those rare locations where you can have world-class back-country and offshore fishing just minutes from the dock." said Cochran. "Hands down any day, for a pure adrenaline rush, the Grey Ghosts of Bimini can hold their own against the Man in the Blue Suit," Cochran added referring to the Blue Marlin that is synonymous with Bimini's reputation among off-shore anglers.

About Vaughn Cochran: A Florida native, Cochran grew up in the art community of St. Augustine and earned art degrees in ceramics and painting at the internationally known and respected Art and Printmaking Department of the University of South Florida. Arriving in Key West in 1972, he started his fishing career, teaching Jimmy Buffet how to fly fish while playing the washboard, banjo and bass guitar for his Coral Reefer Band. Becoming one of the most respected fly fishing guides in the Florida Keys, Cochran later managed some of the legendary fishing lodges of the Caribbean and Central America, including Parismina Tarpon Rancho in Costa Rica and Turneffe Island Lodge in Belize. Along the way, he nurtured his artistic calling, and today his works are found in numerous private and corporate collections, including a recent one-man exhibition at the IGFA¹s main gallery.

With his quick wit and entertaining laid back style, Cochran is a frequent host and guest of various fly-fishing TV shows including the popular 'Spanish Fly' with fishing pal, Jose Wejebe.

What started out as Vaughn Cochran's marine art gallery years ago has turned into a unique destination fly shop in the U.S., Black Fly Outfitter, a full service technical fly shop specializing in saltwater flies, custom fly kits, fly rods, fly reels and clothing for tropical fly fishing destinations around the world.

About Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort and Marina: Founded as a dinner club in 1936 in Alice Town, by Nassau entrepreneur and bon-vivant, Neville Stuart, the Big Game Club has over the last 74 years hosted world-class fishermen, major tournaments, international celebrities and tens of thousands guests looking to bask in the unique 'Islands in the Stream' mantra made famous by author Ernest Hemingway who fished and lived in Bimini in the mid 1930s.

Today, the Big Game Club's Outpost concept is designed to take the resort beyond that of a 'fishing lodge' to create an eco-destination attracting both fishing and diving enthusiasts while focusing on adventure travel, sustainable tourism and marine conservation. The Club features a 51-room resort and a 75-slip marina capable of accommodating boats up to 145 linear feet. By Spring 2011, a full service fuel dock will be operational. Phase II plans include a Guy Harvey Theater, guest lecture series and interactive sessions with Dr. Harvey and the Guy Harvey Research Institute at NOVA Southeastern Oceanographic Center and day trips to the Bimini Biological Field Station¹s world-famous shark lab.

Bimini Legends and New Beginnings

There is nothing like Bahamian hospitality, especially on the island of Bimini!  This week as the preshow noted, the Talkin' Tourism crew was hosted by the management team of the new Bimini Big Game Club/Guy Harvey Outpost Resort during a two day media event.  Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond) was part of the A-list media invited to participate.  Media representatives who were on hand for grand opening festivities included Coastal Angler Magazine, Sportfishing Magazine, In the Bite, Passage Maker, Southern Boating, Marlin Magazine, Reel Adventures, Saltwater Ventures TV, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, freelance writers and more.  However, Talkin' Tourism was the only media that recorded a radio program to be aired on the Treasure Coast and distributed world-wide via the Talkin' Tourism blog.

The program was seeped in history as co-host Robin Hicks-Connors talked about the influence of Ernest Hemingway, and Michael Lerner, Ansil and Ashley Saunders and a host of other Biminites who have shared in the island's legendary history.

Bimini Big Game Club General Manager Christopher Pollock took time out of his busy day to share his reflections on the reopening of the resort and described its many amenities in great detail.  Dr. Guy Harvey, renowned conservationist, scientist, artist, diver, angler and explorer was on hand to personally welcome guests and share his passion for the environment.  

This is one show we know you will enjoy.  So, sit back, pour your favorite “boat drink” and take a one hour trip to Bimini and share the excitement of the reopening of the Bimini big Game Club/Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. Later mon!

Later this week we'll be offering you two choices to enjoy this show! You can either enjoy the audio of the show (avaialable now), or (when the streaming is finished) you can view a video file of the live remote from the Bimini Big Game Club, which we captured on Hi-Def video.

• Download the Audio file here.
• See and hear video streaming of the show below.

Bimini Big Game Club Grand Opening from Talkin Tourism on Vimeo.

Here are some photos from the event as well. Enjoy!

The Big Game is On!

Sometimes, the sun, the moon, and planets align to bring karma and good things to great people and places. This week, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast (and Beyond) was part of very special occasion. The Bimini Big Game Club, a hallmark big game sportfishing destination for decades, is officially re-opened and Talkin' Tourism was there. Certainly Ernest Hemmingway made his mark on the island of Bimimi as literary scholars will attest. Whether you are a sportfishing enthusiast, fascinated by Bahamian history or part FLAHAMIAN, the Bimini Big Game Club holds a very special place in the hearts and minds of thousands.

History Lady Robin will be immersed in Bimini history and lore. Radio Man is looking forward to seeing the staff in action and the marina operating. The attendees of this special media event will be the A-list of the fishing, boating and history media industry.

Join Gary and Robin as they share their impressions of the newly re-opened resort and marina, located a mere 50 miles from the coast of Florida. Despite all of the action, it is hoped that the team will be able to spend time speaking with Christopher Pollock, general manager of the Bimini Big Game Club/Guy Harvey Resort. Tune in tomorrow (Friday, July 23) to WPSl 1590 AM or on the web via http://www.wpsl.com/ and learn what is happening in Bimini that will make you want to head to an 'island in the Stream' to experience a new generation of Bahamian hospitality and fun.

And yes folks, there is a Treasure Coast connection!

Best of mARTin and Travel World News in Martin County, Florida

Larry Waterman, show guest Joan Gonzales,
and Joan's son Dan Gonzales

The Martin County Arts Council is getting pretty creative with grant funds to help provide local attraction packages to guests of area hotels.  Nancy Turrell, executive director of the Martin County Arts Council, made another appearance on Talkin Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast to let fans and listeners know about the Best of mARTin Discount offer. Local participating hotels are providing their hotel guests with FREE admission tickets to several area attractions as an added value for their guests. This is also helping drive attendance to some of Martin County’s most popular museums.  If you missed the live show and want to know what museums are participating and how the packages are being publicized, it's all contained on this week's Talkin'  Tourism audio-cast.

Also up this week, Talkin' Tourism had a very, very special guest, veteran travel writer Joan Gonzales.  Ms. Gonzales shared some of her insights as a travel writer, who now writes for internationally known Travel World News.  This online publication, geared to travel planners and travel agents, is considered the bible for the latest and hottest travel information.  Joan's primary focus is Latin America, so why was she on the Treasure Coast?  Our own Martin County Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director Rozeta Mahboubi, connected with Joan at a recent travel industry trade show. Rozeta invited Joan to visit the area, in hopes of her  writing a piece on Martin County.  Accompanying Ms. Gonzales was her son Dan and friend Larry Waterman.  Dan, a former Miami-Dade firefighter moved to the Treasure Coast a few years ago.  An avid sportsman, Dan calls this area an “Outdoorsman’s Paradise” and for good reason.

So, radio Man WAS in the Bahamas after all!  Were there more Treasure Coast connections involved?  Who spied radio man in Pisces Restaurant in Port Lucaya?  Who did Radio Man run into that he had not seen in 15 years?  Is the cruise ship Discovery a good way to get to Grand Bahama for a couple of days?  All this and more on this week's Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast. If you missed the show's radio or Internet broadcast, download the  audio-cast here.

See you next week, when we bring you a very special show from the grand opening of  the Bimini Big Game Club, which has reopened as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort and Marina. Get your cow bells and Bahama Mamas ready!

Thanks for listening and keep those guest and show topic suggestions coming to us at talkintourism@gmail.com.