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Early Registrations Top 2010

The anticipation for the 38^th annual Bahamas Billfish Championship has kicked into high gear as we get closer to the start of the season on April 27^th. Twenty-seven teams took advantage of the BBC's Early Bird discount program and registered for the 2011 BBC series before the end of January. These teams not only saved money on entry fees but are eligible for the Bahamas Cruising Permit rebate program put into effect by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The early registrations include five new teams and the return of some old familiar faces that missed the last year or two.

During 2010, the BBC's five tournaments averaged thirty-two participating teams and that meant a return to the great camaraderie among the teams that has been characteristic of the BBC for years. According to Al Behrendt, BBC president, "We are encouraged by the number of early registrations and feel confident that overall participation in the five tournaments will be up over 2010." Behrendt went on to say, "The host resorts on the 2011 schedule can handle up-to fifty boats at each tournament which is why we promote not only early registration in the BBC but also early dockage and shore side accommodation arrangements with the participating resorts and marinas."

As expected, the Guana Cay Championship is very popular with the early registrants. Orchid Bay is the host marina for this leg of the Series and there are an abundance of reasonably priced shore side accommodations from which to choose at Orchid Bay and close by on Guana Cay.

You don't want to miss-out on these five action-packed billfish tournaments in the Out Islands of The Bahamas. In addition to excellent marlin fishing and great camaraderie, the BBC tournaments take place at first-class resorts and you can count on lots of 'fun activities' like drink contests, hors d'oeuvres contests and old fashioned barbecues for those 'relaxing' hours after a full day on the water.

Register now while there is still space - For Secure Online Registration click here.

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      The 2011 BBC Champion will receive a unique and personal award, an original watercolor/pen and ink illustration of their sportfishing yacht by Steve T. Goione. The illustration, which will depict the yacht in a scene created by Steve and the owner, will be awarded personally by Steve at the fifth and final leg in Treasure Cay, June 22^nd thru the 25^th. Steve will meet with the owner and direct the initial photo shoot of the yacht at that time.

      Steve's travels on the tournament circuit have given him the opportunity to spend hours in the cockpits of some of the most famous tournament boats in the world where he finds inspiration and expands his understanding of the fish, boats and people who pursue them.

      "Not only am I thrilled to be part of creating this extremely unique 2011 BBC Overall Champion award, the privilege of partnering with my longtime friends who manage the BBC on this project makes it that much more exciting for me," said Goione. "The sportfishing yacht illustration I will be providing is a very detailed and intimate painting and with the world class fisherman the BBC attracts, I anticipate illustrating one of the top billfish yachts on the entire East Coast. Along with owning the actual original illustration, we have decided to not only supply the owner with high-res CD's of the illustration but to award them all the marketing and promotional rights, this will allow the printing of apparel and promotional goods for the yacht at the owners discretion."

   To read the complete story click here.  

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The Bahamas Billfish Championship is very proud of Nikita Shiel-Rolle, a BBC Scholarship recipient, on the publication the book Islands of the Sun which she co-authored with fellow Bahamian, John Thompson. Islands of the Sun is a beautifully illustrated book written and illustrated by these two, young University of Miami alumni.

Brenda Fletcher, BBC vice president said, "I have purchased several coffee table books but Islands of the Sun is the only book of this type that I immediately read from cover-to-cover. Not only is it well written and informative, the photography is spectacular."

Six chapters tour the reader through the ecosystems of The Bahamas, from the highest hilltops to the depths of the ocean. The book functions as an informative reference volume as well as a work of art, with photography and painted illustrations bringing to life the unique and diverse plants and animals of the Exuma Cays.

The culmination of a three-year effort, Islands of the Sun offers a collection of vivid photographs that depict a range of life from orchids and rock iguanas to sea slugs and reef sharks. In all, a total of 298 species of local flora and fauna are featured. The accompanying observations provide information about the varying species, including their historical and cultural value as food or medicine. Every chapter opens with an original two-page landscape painting of the selected habitat and its denizens. Additionally, special focus sections highlight plants or animals of particular interest within each habitat.

To read the complete article click here.

To read the Bulletin of Marine Science book review, click here.

To download an Islands of the Sun order form, click here.

Several captains and crew members have inquired about the Bahamas Immigration policy regarding the length of stay for Canadian, American and British nationals in The Bahamas. Here is the official policy according to Jack A. Thompson of The Bahamas Immigration Department  

·         All bona fide visitors (nationals) from the United States, Canada and United Kingdom are landed at all ports for thirty (30) days.

·         Visitors from the aforementioned countries are allowed to remain in The Bahamas for a period up to eight (8) months. Stay periods are approved following an interview with an Immigration Officer(s). In instances where visitors are desirous of additional time, an extension should be requested.

·         Visitors arriving by Pleasure craft are required to complete the requisite forms and are allowed to remain in The Bahamas for up to eight (8) months.

This policy also applies to the Home Owners. The Department of Immigration encourages all foreign home owners in The Bahamas to apply to the Department for a Home Owners Card in accordance with the International Persons Land Holding Ltd.  

Dolphin and the Deep Blue

One of the first facets of dolphin life revealed by the use of pop-off satellite tags was their use of the water column. The depths to which dolphin dive and the time spent at these depths came as a surprise to most fishermen and researchers alike.

Earlier applications of satellite tags to dolphin have shown the fish will dive as deep as 400 feet and use deeper parts of the water column more during the night. However, depth readings showed dolphin to occupy the top 10 meters of the water column (surface layer) in 53 to 86 percent of the observations, indicating they still spent the majority of their time at the surface.

Thanks to the efforts and financial support of the Central Florida Offshore Anglers of Orlando, Florida, the Florida Sport Fishing Association out of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and the Sebastian Inlet Sportfishing Association of Melbourne, Florida, a new behavior pattern has been revealed. Terry Winn of Osteen, Florida, spearheaded the effort to get the clubs to provide funds to purchase two satellite tags and coordinated a joint event where members from the three clubs worked together to help catch the study animals in April 2010 off Ft. Pierce, Florida.

To read the complete Dolphin Research Newsletter, click here.