Bonfire Beach Bash and Tournament at Old Bahama Bay, a combination of pirates, junkanoo, beach bonfires and fishing

Burning wahoo on the beach at Old Bahama Bay, West End, Grand Bahama Island. PHOTO CREDIT: Guy Harvey Outposts.
Burning wahoo on the beach at Old Bahama Bay, West End, Grand Bahama Island. PHOTO CREDIT: Guy Harvey Outposts.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]artying pirates, a junkanoo celebration topped with a burning wahoo beach bonfire, fisherman hoisting catches, checks and trophies, and more than $4,000 donated to a local school and business artisans is just how Guy Harvey would describe a successful fishing tournament.

“This is what the Guy Harvey Outpost brings to its unique collection of waterfront properties—adventure mixing with education, sustainability and community outreach,” said Mark Ellert, President of Fort Lauderdale-based Guy Harvey Outpost. “The Bonfire Beach Bash & Tournament at Old Bahama Bay this past weekend touched on all of the above.”

Fun fish tournament winners were:

  • First Place: Bahama Papa with Captain Kyler Doran from Palm Beach Gardens.
  • Second Place: Loose Cannon with Captain Joe Basile from Lantana; and Mango Tango with Captain Chip Romp from Riviera Beach.
  • Biggest Tuna: Bahama Papa
  • Biggest Dolphin: Constant Carving
  • Biggest Wahoo: Mango Tango

As part of the “Travel With a Purpose” mission, which combine a unique celebration at Outpost Destinations while promoting conservation, awareness and education to future artists and ocean enthusiasts, Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts has partnered with The Bahamas and Old Bahama Bay to benefit the West End All Age School and two local West End artisans.

With a percentage from the tournament and winnings donated by two of the teams competing in the tournament, some $3,000 was raised for the West End All Age School.

Artist Bobby Little, who created the larger-than-life Burning Wahoo sculpture for an earlier tournament on West End, was on hand demonstrating his recycled Trash to Treasure artwork techniques. Little, from Rum Cay, worked with two local artisans to recycle conch shells into jewelry forms shaped as marlins, sailfish, turtles and other sea life native to the Bahamas.

Through tournament guest donations some $1,200 was raised and a portion was targeted for the purchase of special saws and equipment that the local artisans can apply towards creating unique, locally crafted conch jewelry for their shops.

Old Bahama Bay, a member of the Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts Expedition Properties portfolio, hosted its inaugural Bonfire Series in February 2015, with the ceremonial burning of Bobby Little’s wahoo sculpture as a tournament highlight.

“Our hope is to be back with Beach Bonfire events in the fall with another wahoo tournament and another fun fish tournament next summer,” said Ellert.

Tournament sponsors include Loggerhead® Marina, Ocean Club Marina at Port Canaveral, Costa Sunglasses, Tito’s Vodka, Bahamian Brewery, Boathouse Marine Center, Bacardi, Yankee Captains, LMR Tackle, Connley Fishing, Boat U.S. and Boatsetter, Balearia Bahamas Express, Gainesville Coins, Bost Lures, Treasure Bay Casino, Reef Safe Sunscreen and Bobby Little. The tournament action was captured by Loose Cannon Fishing and will be aired on the World Fishing Network, Untamed Sports and Carbon TV in the fourth quarter of 2015.