It's a Pre-Season Kick-Off!

Soon, the Treasure Coast will witness a migration as consistent as that of the annual return of the sailfish to Treasure Coast waters each year. That’s right, the trickle of valued seasonal residents will soon begin and before you know it, the trickle will turn to a steady stream of those returning to their second homes and condominiums or filling hotels and vacation villas.

Often overlooked, but as important is the return of valued seasonal boaters. As a major maritime region, the Treasure Coast plays host to thousands of seasonal boaters each winter. So if a condo is where people sleep, would not a slip be where a boat sleeps?

While seasonal residents, landlubbers or yachties, are not truly considered “tourist” in the classical sense, they do contribute to our region's hospitality stakeholders in a big way. So, just how big an economic impact does this group make? We'll discuss that, as well as other contributions they bring to the Treasure Coast.

This week's guest include Todd Doss, Jeannie Baron and John Smith.

Todd  is a Realtor with ReMax of Stuart, and a three generation Floridian. He specializes in rental properties in the Stuart area. Jeannie is a Realtor with Beach Front Mann Realty has been involved in her industry on Hutchinson Island for over 20 years. And, John is the current president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the general manager of River Forest Yachting Centers of Stuart and LaBelle, Florida. He'll share his insights on marketing the Treasure Coast as a major seasonal boating mecca for valued seasonal boaters.

In case you were thinking the word “snowbird," think again. This week, we'll let you know exactly what a snowbird is or is not.

Tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM this Friday at 10:05 a.m. or your computer browser to www.wpsl.com for the live stream and enjoy the show. One thing for certain, the crew and guests on Talkin' Tourism on the Florida's Treasure Coast (and Beyond!) will certainly have a blast!

Old Things New, Conch Fritters and Reel Candy

Frances Langford and Bob Hope
USO performance.

Arts, cultural and historic tourism are all key elements in the grand scheme of today’s global tourism and destination marketing. The Treasure Coast is certainly not at a loss for historic treasures and activities. With October being designated as Historic Preservation Month in Martin County, Florida what better time to talk about old things becoming new again.
Leading the conversation will be guest Sally Dadko, vice-chairman of the Martin County Historic Preservation Board. From the kick off ceremony at the Jensen Beach Christian Church on October 1st, to the closing event—USO, Letters from Home Ball—at the Flagler Recreation Center, there will be plenty to do for both visitors and residents alike. History Lady is going to love this show!

FLAHAMA Free Radio keeps the Bahama spirit alive with a preview of the upcoming Bahamian Connection Festival to be held October 2nd in the New Monrovia community of Port Salerno. Celebrating its 13th year, this fun filled festival gets everyone’s toes tapping with great Junkanoo music, great Bahamian cuisine, fun and an introduction to visitors and locals of our community’s rich Bahamian heritage. Kherri Anderson, the festival's communications director, and board president Gloria McHardy fill us in on all the great "happenings” of this signature event.

Now that summer is behind us, sportfishing enthusiast from everywhere will be focusing in on the great sailfish action headed our way, as well as planning trips to the Bahamas for some big game fishing angling. Marvin Steiding, owner and captain of the Martin County based sportfishing charter boat Reel Candy will be in the house talking about his ongoing success catching big blue marlin and monster wahoo in San Salvador, Bahamas. So what does a trip like this entail? Can you go to school to learn how to fish for wahoo? Where do I sign up?

So folks, it looks like we have the bases covered for this week. Join us this Friday for more fun, infotainment and good times from the Elliott Museum.

Enjoy the Junkanoo action from last year's Bahamian Connection Celebration below! See you Friday at 10:05 a.m. on WPSL 1590 AM or http://www.wpsl.com/!

Killer hits the airwaves to kick off summer tournament fishing season

The Harborage Yacht Club & Marina Reel Sassy
fishing team at last year's Frances Langford Memorial
Tournament, comprised of Heather Oblaczynski,
Dierdre Murray, Robin Hicks-Connors and
Desiree Mufson

It seems like just a couple of weeks ago we were getting ready for the 2009-2010 sailfish tournament season on the Treasure Coast.

But summer is just around the corner, and that means Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast is ready to hit the waters for this summer's inshore and offshore tournaments.

It sure feels like the summer season is kicking into gear earlier and earlier, especially with the number of tournaments added year-by-year. For decades, tournament fishing - and fishing in general - has been able to reel in both local and out-of-town fishermen who want to land some local catches. Martin County and the Treasure Coast are blessed with some of the most diverse fishing holes in this part of the country. With the Bahamas just a hop, skip, and a jump from most of the Treasure Coast and South Florida, the fishing crowd can't go wrong stopping by our area to try their luck.


On Friday, we'll get together with local fishing guru Ed Killer, whose headshot and byline are probably pretty familiar if you're a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers subscriber. As the area's outdoors reporter, Ed is one of the best resources for the area's angler history and current fishing climate. Ed will hit on the key fishing happenings coming up, including the Frances Langford Memorial Inshore Tournament, the world-famous “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing” seminar this weekend, and a host of terrific tournaments hitting our shores in the next few months. Ed will shed some light on how the summer tournament scene shapes the area's marine and related tourism. And, per usual, no fishing topic is sacred when Ed's in the house.

Ever wonder how the fastest fish in the sea became know as a wahoo? Maybe Ed knows.

The man behind a 24-year Memorial Weekend staple, Greg McCampbell, will also stop by to talk about the Treasure Coast Builders Association's 2010 inshore and offshore tournament. Be sure to check it out what the chairman has assembled with his committee for the May 28-30 event at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina.

As always - well, most of the time - History Lady will be in the co-host seat with all of her regular segments, and Radio Man, a.k.a. Caribbean Cowboy, has your Bahamas update. Tune in Friday, 10 a.m. on WPSL AM 1590, or at http://www.wpsl.com/ and help Talkin' Tourism ring in the new fishing season!

Off to the Amazon this week!

This week Talkin’ Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast takes a walk on the WILD SIDE as we take a tour of the Amazon River, the most biologically diverse river in the world. Listeners will be introduced to amazing creatures includin notorious piranhas, enormous anacondas, beautiful stingrays, and mysterious pink dolphins.

Doug Noble, PH.D., Assistant Director of Exhibits, Public Programs and Assistant in Museum Administration at the Florida Museum of Natural History, is this week's scheduled guest (and tour guide). Dr. Noble will describe in full detail the museum’s current exhibit: “Amazon Voyage; Vicious Fishes and Other Riches.”

In addition to his Talkin’ Tourism appearance this Friday, Dr. Noble is in town to visit museum and cultural arts facilities in Martin County.

Co-host Robin Hicks-Connors (aka History Lady) wants listeners to know the Florida Museum of Natural History will be loaning artifacts—one, possibly two dugout canoes—to exhibit in the new Elliott Museum. Hopefully Dr. Noble's Martin County fieldtrip will be the beginning of a long collaborate cultural relationship between the Treasure Coast and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The Florida Museum of Natural History, chartered in 1917 and located at the University of Florida, is Florida’s state museum of natural history, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. The museum has the largest natural history collection in the Southeast, and is one of the nation’s top ten natural history collections.

If you're headed north in the next month, don't miss “Amazon Voyage; Vicious Fishes and Other Riches.” The exhibit is on display at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville until January 17, 2010.

Also on Friday, get the latest on the sailfish tournament season. Who won the Finest Kind Quickie? How many boats are fishing the Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic? And much more this week on Talkin Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast. There may even be two special guests direct from the Amazon in the studio! Curious? Tune in this Friday, December 4 at 10 a.m. to find out who or what? Find us on your radio dial at WPSL 1590 AM or on your computer at http://www.wpsl.com/.

Is Stuart the "Sailfish Capital of the World?" Just ask Captain Scott Fawcett of the Boneshaker.

Are we or are we not the “Sailfish Capital of the World”? After today’s show there should be no doubt.

Captain Scott Fawcett, captain of the local charter boat Boneshaker, left no doubt that on any given day Stuart and the Treasure Coast can be the best of the best.  Example, on the opening day of the 1997 Light Tackle Tournament, 38 boats released 382 sails. The week finished with a total of 538 releases. And, last year, 17 boats fishing the Pirates Cove Sailfish Classic put 275 releases on the board in only 3 days of fishing. Now that’s SAILFISHING!

Captain Scott threw out some numbers to substantiate the claim that tournament fishing impacts our local tourism economy. If you missed his run down, download today's show--Let the (Sailfish) games being--listen, and do the math. You'll be blown away!

Captain Scott also shared the primary reason he loves the business of being a charter boat captain helping guests pursue the “Adventure of a Lifetime." His story would make a great plot for a movie.

Unfortunately, technical problems interfered with regular co-host Robin Hicks-Connors planned “Black Friday” in the field report. Talkin' Tourism's guest co-host Ed Griffith suggested it's hard work to hold a cell phone and dozens of shopping bags. He and Talkin' Toursim host Gary Guertin also joked around about Robin being at the Lakeland Mall and doing her best to not use her shopping cart as a weapon. Next show, expect a full report from Robin.

For those who have sent in Treasure Coast vacation photos for this month’s Getaway Giveaway promotion, thank you! If you haven't sent one in yet, what are you waiting for?? The winner of this tourism photo contents receives a great hotel package compliments of Caribbean Shores Resort in beautiful Jensen Beach!

Tune in next week (Friday, December 1 at 10 a.m.) for more interesting tourism talk!

Let the (Sailfish) games begin!

This weekend marks the beginning of the legendary sailfish tournament season on the Treasure Coast. As most of us know, Stuart has long had the moniker of 'Sailfish Capital of the World' and for good reason. Historically, sportfishing has long been a tourism draw for the Treasure Coast region. How long? This year marks the 56th annual Stuart Sailfish Club Light Tackle Tournament! Over five decades of the best captains and anglers in the world coming to Stuart to fish this prestigious event. What other tournaments are on the horizon? Believe it or not, between the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches, there are 12 sailfish tournaments from December 1 through January 23.

Scott Fawcett, captain of the charter boat Boneshaker, a top placing boat for many years, joins host Gary Guertin and guest co-host Ed Griffith, who is the general manager of the Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside/Jensen Beach, in the Captain's Lounge of Harborage Yacht Club for an exciting update on this season’s tournaments. Captain Scott has lived in Stuart since 1983. He has fished professionally off the Treasure Coast, Bahamas and Mexico since 1991. And, he has logged over 2,000 days in local waters--he knows the local fishing spots well!

Where’s co-host Robin Hicks-Connors this week? Out in the field, or mall that is. Robin will be connecting with the show “on location somewhere out there” providing listeners with a live call in report on BLACK FRIDAY. Will she clue us in on best practices for getting the best shopping deals?
As always the show will be entertaining, informative and most importantly FUN. See you on Friday!
 
PHOTO CREDIT:  Boneshaker Charters.

"Picture City" and Sailfish Lead to Tourism

On February 27, Talkin' Tourism welcomed Gary Scott and Ed Killer to the show.

Gary Scott is the head of production at New Vision Productions, Inc., which is based in Stuart. He talked about film and television production and the enormous potential that exists for the industry here on the Treasure Coast. Gary's first introduction to the area came through work on an Outboard Marine Corporation commercial. Gary shared that productions brings dollars. A wide array of services are needed, including accommodations, catering, talent, support staff, and more. In addition, the industry can help showcase an area.

Listeners learned film and television production is not new to the area. In 1913, the original Robinson Crusoe was filmed along the banks of the St. Lucie River. Other productions filmed in the area include Gentle Giant, filmed in the 1960's mostly in Port Salerno starring Vera Miles and Dennis Weaver; MoonRaker; BL Stryker, a television series starring Burt Reynolds; Empire of the Ants, released in 1977, filmed largely on Hutchinson Island and in the Everglades and starring Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, John David Carson, and Pamela Shoop.

Show co-host Robin Hicks-Connors also provided some history about a proposed 1900's development planed for the Hobe Sound area called 'Picture City.' The intent was to have a city built for the production of film, movies and the like. Unfortunately the Florida Land Boom turned into the Florida Land Bust and the project never really got off the ground. The gas street lamps on Dixie Highway in the Hobe Sound area are testament to that early effort.

Ed Killer, outdoors writer for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, reflected on the history of the Stuart Sailfish Club, and more specifically the history of sportfishing as a tourism generator on the Treasure Coast. In the early days, local folks realized the opportunity to take visitors out for a day of fishing. The fish sought were primarily meat fish—cobia, kingfish, grouper, and more. Toly Englebretsen was recognized as one of the earliest charter boat captains, taking guest out for $15 per day.

Sailfish became a sought after species in the winter months and the billfish were caught in large numbers with very unsophisticated tackle. Ernie Lyons, working for the then Stuart Messenger, would send telegrams to sports and outdoors writer across the nation when the “bite was on” and would invite them (early FAM trip) to come fishing with captains like Curt Whitaker, who at 98 is now writing his memoirs. Of course the journalist from New York, Chicago, St. Louis and other major cities would later write about it and 'tourists' would flock to the area to fish.

The Stuart Sailfish Club was formed in 1935 and incorporated in 1941. The club initiated the conservation effort of catch and release to “protect” the species. In 1938, a reporter from the Miami Herald told Ernie Lyons the area should be named the Sailfish Capital of the World. The rest is history!

Ed also reflected on the importance of all of the fishing tournaments that occur in the area, which bring anglers to the area from all over the country, who spend money on hotels, marinas, food, bait tackle and much more.

Learn more by listening to the show. Download it HERE.