Posts Tagged ‘Bimini Big Game Club’

May 10, 2012

I wanted to add a personal note to the release below.  It describes the fact that the Bimini Big Game Club and Guy Harvey Outpost have mutually decided to end their licensing agreement.  As one who has spent his lifetime involved with various sportfishing activities and businesses, the importance of reopening the Bimini Big Game Club was easy to understand.  The club’s involvement in the history of saltwater fishing was too important for it to remain shut down, as it was before our Guy Harvey Outpost team became involved. The entire Guy Harvey Outpost partnership (Guy Harvey, Mark Ellert, Charlie Forman and me) are all proud of the role our team played in reopening this iconic resort.  Reopening the Bimini Big game Club would not have been so successfully accomplished without the leadership and brand strength of Guy Harvey, the vision and hospitality expertise of Mark Ellert, and the legal and business judgment of Charlie Forman.  This ending of Guy Harvey Outpost’s involvement at the Bimini Big Game Club leaves behind a win-win situation.  The Club is now open to the fishing and diving public, its owner has the opportunity to build on the success we helped to create, and value of the Guy Harvey Outpost brand in the resort world has been proven.    

—Bill Shedd

Bimini Big Game Club and Guy Harvey Outpost end licensing agreement

ALICE TOWN, BIMINI (May 9, 2012) – Owners of the historic Big Game Club and Guy Harvey Outpost, LTD have mutually agreed to end the licensing agreement for the 51-room resort and marina, which re-opened two years ago as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina.

Eric Jarvis, spokesman for the Southern California-based Hankey Group of Companies, owner of the Big Game Club, said the relationship using the branding power of world celebrated marine wildlife artist and scientist Guy Harvey coupled with the financial backing and support of the Hankey Group put the iconic fishing resort back in play as a popular family destination, adding scuba diving and backcountry fishing as available pursuits.

“We will continue to develop the property and make capital improvements, including the addition of a floating dock facility this summer, which will facilitate direct seaplane service,” Jarvis added.

“We’re glad to have written this chapter in the history of Bimini and the Big Game Club,” noted Mark Ellert, president of Guy Harvey Outpost, LTD based in Fort Lauderdale. “Our redevelopment of the property and revitalization of guest services restored the Club’s reputation for top-of-class water sports recreation and popularity as an out-island resort destination. Given this success and our comfort that an experienced management team is now in place, as the Club enters its third summer season we believe the time is right for the property to reclaim its independence and storied reputation as simply the Bimini Big Game Club.”

“The current hotel management in place has grown and improved sales and marketing and based on their performance and solid bookings through the summer, we felt we could move ahead on our own at this point,” said Jarvis.

Closed for two years, the Big Game Club, which was founded as a dinner club in 1936, was re-opened in 2010 following completion of a $3.5 million renovation that included all guest rooms, the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, Hemingway Rum Bar and Social Lounge and the Outfitter Shop.

Just over 50 miles from Miami, Bimini has long been a favorite destination for angling and diving enthusiasts. With more than 200-record-setting catches in the waters around the tiny out-island, Bimini has earned its title as Sport Fishing Capital of the World. The diversity of diving experiences also makes Bimini one of the top dive destinations among recreational divers.

The Hankey Group of Companies is a privately held financial services, real estate and insurance organization based in Los Angeles, California. For more information on the Hankey Group, visit www.hankeygroup.com.

For a complete list of our other featured blog posts and to see the full line of Guy Harvey Sportswear, please visit: www.guyharveysportswear.com

 

 

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Oct 21, 2011

Lionfish: Guy Harvey Outpost Turning a Problem Into Profits — and Savoring Every Moment

 

Historic Big Game Club Introduces Lionfish Nuggets

ALICE TOWN, BIMINI – OCTOBER 17, 2011 – With more than 400 servings of a new menu item last month, Bimini Big Game Club‘s General Manager Michael Weber and Chef Alvarez Bastian have found a recipe to help the environment and sate the most discriminating palate at the same time.

The Bimini Big Game Club’s Panko Breaded Lionfish Nuggets are the talk of the island, a gourmand’s answer to a tasty snack and an eco-solution for helping to rid nearby reefs of an aggressive and non-native predator.

“Our lionfish nuggets have become a huge seller. Though we don’t serve endangered species such as grouper – and we were the first Bahamas resort to feature a shark free marina – we have absolutely no problem turning lionfish into a menu item,” said Weber.

The colorful and charismatic lionfish, a member of the venomous scorpionfish family, are native to the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. First observed in Fort Lauderdale in 1985, they appeared in noticeable numbers in the Caribbean Ocean and Florida waters around 2000 and have continued to aggressively breed. Scientists are quite concerned that lionfish may be completely reinventing the western north Atlantic coral reef ecosystem.

How bad is it? According to Dr. Mahmood Shivji, a professor at Nova Southeastern University and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute:

“There are enormous concerns that lionfish will completely change and possibly destroy Atlantic coral reefs by overrunning them and shrinking their native biodiversity, and that the ongoing damage is severe and possibly irreparable. So far, there is no known quick-fix, and the problem is escalating exponentially.”

Weber is quick to admit that turning lionfish into finger food is far from a solution, but with proper cleaning, the lionfish meat is excellent in taste and texture, and any that make it to the table means “they are no longer a threat on the reefs.”

 

The US federal government’s chief fisheries management agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is in agreement, going as far as developing a campaign to encourage chefs and consumers to do their part in ridding reefs of this invasive predator. Visit NOAA’s web site to download their “Eat Lionfish” brochure.

“If you can’t beat them, eat them,” said Weber.

 

 

Recipe for Panko Breaded Lionfish Nuggets a la Bimini Big Game Club

(Please carefully adhere to cleaning recommendations before preparing)

Lionfish Nuggets:

  • 4 oz of Lionfish
  • Flour
  • 1 cup liquid egg
  • Panko breadcrumb
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Cajun seasoning

In 3 separate bowls place your liquid egg, flour and breadcrumb. Cut Lionfish into small bite sized pieces and season with salt & Pepper & Cajun seasoning. Dip pieces into flour, shake off excess flour, and then dip into liquid egg and then into Panko breading. Once covered in the breading they are ready to take a long hot bath in some hot oil at 325 degrees until crispy golden brown.

Homemade Cilantro & Key Lime Tarter Sauce:

  • Mayonnaise 1 cup
  • 1 Gherkin’s or small Pickle
  • 2 TBS Key Lime juice
  • 6 leaves of chopped Cilantro
  • 2 TBS of chopped Capers

Make sure all above ingredients are FINELY chopped. Mix the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and fold ingredients together and add salt & pepper to taste. Refrigerate until time of service to remain fresh. Enjoy!

For a complete list of our other featured blog posts and to see the full line of Guy Harvey Sportswear, please visit: www.guyharveysportswear.com

 

 

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Posted in Bimini, Our Oceans | 1 Comment »