[dropcap]J[/dropcap]uly fourth rings in not only another year for us to celebrate our freedom, it also sets the stage to tell the story of America’s recent success story and that of the Coastal Angler Magazine’s national expansion. When Kevin Ogle, a Navy veteran, bought and signed for the Florida Panhandle Edition of Coastal Angler Magazine in July 2009, the magazine was primarily distributed along the east & south coast of Florida. And in September 2009 the first edition was published and distributed along the Forgotten & Emerald Coast’s respectively. Just the following the month later national expansion plans were discussed and later formalized by the defining markets into 4 regions. Florida, Southeast, Gulf Coast and the West Coast; these regions were further developed by drafting lines around counties and parishes offering exclusive markets the co-publishing partners in a franchise like system.. The freshly coined term of being in business for yourself, but not by yourself quickly became the rag tag group’s mantra. And the “phraseology” of sorts was “It’s all about relationships”.
Any organization that can communicate its message and or story is going to achieve a certain level of success, yet those that have others tell their story is the winning recipe for total domination. In relative short fashion the magazine’s development was wildly received along what many consider the outdoor enthusiast’s hallowed ground now known as our Gulf Coast. The Panhandle edition quickly moved over into the most western part of the mini-region with Mo Shaver’s help in Orange Beach, Alabama. Captain Mo beloved by many locals and visitors alike offered his help and advice to represent and appropriately publish relative content that spoke to what his community is all about. This was significant in many ways, because it demonstrated that Coastal Angler Magazine was staying true to it’s roots. As our founder Rodney Smith was a guide himself. Smith a family man wanted to protect his investment and expand his message of “Use Don’t Abuse Our Waterways”. 18 months later Ogle and his lifelong friend and business partner Ben Bloodworth took this message market to market. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas now had their own relative content within each of their own states.
Relationships and marketing partners were the catalyst in many ways for the branding and development of Coastal Angler Magazine’s prominence along the Gulf Coast. These key players who in larger part became integral in national expansion storied rich history can be found through the individuals that were a part of some dynamic productions like the Seafood Showdown, Global Fish Aid, Crab Island Shootout Tournament Series , Hook Line & Dine and now Hook Wine & Dine.
From the Florida Panhandle to theliving marshes of the Mississippi Delta, the Gulf Coast— with it’s thriving fisheries, first-rate seafood and colorful epicurean scene— has been a bestkept secret amongst foodies for decades until now. It was this very backdrop that ‘The Seafood Showdown was inspired in the fall of 2009 The Seafood Showdown held in Destin, Florida. Local top chefs competed with one another to win both the “people’s choice” and “food critics” award. It was then, in the midst of the Showdown, that contestants got the idea to “catch” their ingredients. Notably Stinky’s Fish Camp Executive Chef & Restaurateur Jim Richard was seen coming off a boat with slot redfish for his meal to prepare a salt-domed presentation (It should be noted that this too inspired a similar presentation for this year’s JazzFest VIP party, please look for that in the next edition). This was in many ways a foreshadowing for the Showdown’s fluid evolution.
‘Hook, Line and Dine’ was born, and a chain reaction was ignited: watching chef ’s demonstrate how to use fresh caught, local ingredients, motivated observers to do the same for themselves. Outdoors-entrepreneurs and Gulf Coast natives Ben Bloodworth, Kevin Ogle decided to build on the momentum of the Seafood Showdown. The primary purpose was to bring together local business leaders, entrepreneur’s Into a hand’s on production, which later was dubbed the ‘Hook, Line and Dine’ had become “the hottest Fishin’ Foodie experience of our time.”
They formatted a fun approach by taking a motley crew of Gulf Coast heroes—comprised of champion anglers, award-winning chefs and seafood industry leaders—put them together on a boat for an unforgettable fishing adventure. Out at sea, show participants compete in friendly fishing competitions and discussions on local culture, history and environment. As the day winds down, and everyone comes back on shore, a meal from the “days catch” is prepared by participating chefs in a heightened expertianl treatment that transcends your normal “business dinner” A demonstration also occurred while the participants quickly were made into Sous Chef and assisted on how to create Gourmet meals from the days catch. ‘Hook, Line & Dine’ (“HLD”) aims to demonstrate how accessible it is to “catch” fresh, local ingredients and prepare it into a meal of culinary excellence; and in doing so, we strive to accomplish three things:
1) to promote the abundance of safe, fresh-caught seafood available in the Gulf.
2) to introduce and attract people in becoming Fishin’ Foodies through a fun-filled sport fishing competition. Where everyone wins!
3) bring like-minded people to with a common interest and in so doing build and enrich those relationships.
Who knows how we as a Gulf Coast influence and ignite “neighborhood showdowns” all throughout the country, one community at a time. This year we kicked off Hook Line and Dine series than in New Orleans. South Louisiana’s cultural diversity, rich epicurean scene and “sport fishing paradise” This was demonstrated in this year’s HLD Super Bowl. We will have a competitive sport-fishing event with celebrity chefs, Professional Athletes and leading seafood industry experts throughout the course of a 1-day adventure, guided by recognized charter captains. The cast of characters and colorful Krewe contribute their own authentic story to the show. Trips will range from offshore, big game expeditions to inshore, marshes and swamps.
Guests on the boat, through conversation amongst each other, will educate viewers on local culture, industries and history found in the Gulf of Mexico. Then afterwards, return to New Orleans, where celebrity chefs will conduct a demonstration on how to prepare their “catch of the day” for a fine dining experience. Meals will be prepared in the kitchens of fine dining institutions by which many have been inspired by New Orleans.
The following quote made in reference to Global Fish Aid—a Gulf Coast Music Festival speaks to the paramount importance in preserving Gulf Coast culture. Kevin shared with us that “We see that this message can be carried out through a multitude of entertainment channels, one being the culinary arts along with music is something we believe, that will unquestionably resonate among the masses”
The Seafood Showdown returns after four years this time to Grayton Beach . Executive Chef ’s from around the area will join captain and krewe’s for action packed day of fishing and throwing down a culinary masterpiece and win the title of Seafood Showdown Champion.
Location Pandora’s Grayton Beach
Date: September 28th
Time: Starts late morning and ends later in the afternoon.
” Global Fish Aid is symbolic and representative of a social movement currently taking place in the Gulf of Mexico today. Through print media, live music, and different facets of the arts and humanities, Global Fish Aid works with local fishing communities to find creative ways to preserve their fisheries, fishing economies, and maritime culture.
Today, even as subsistence, commercial, and recreational fishing economies and maritime cultures throughout the Gulf continue to oscillate between extreme states of vulnerability and resiliency, public awareness and economic and political support remains somewhat docile and un-responsive.
It is the very intent of Global Fish Aid to connect with different stakeholders and local fishing communities to build the awareness necessary for a sustainable future. ”
– CHRISTOPHER M. MORENO
Ph.D HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc.
Ethnography Program Manager | Applied Anthropologist