Miami International Boat Show - BBGC Charters Billy Black

by John Bell on 18 Feb 2011 Miami International Boat Show - Guy Harvey and the Big Game Club today welcomed aboard legendary Captain Billy Black and Rybovich’s classic 53-foot El Viejo to add a top-of-class offshore charter operation to this Bahama out-island outpost’s growing list of water sport pursuits.

The announcement was made during a press conference at the 2011 Miami International Boat Show.

As a validation of the Bimini Big Game Club’s long history as a world-class sport fishing destination, Captain Black, a professional fisherman for over 30 years, has brought his reputation and arguably the world’s finest sport fishing craft to the docks at Big Game Club, reopened in 2010 as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina.

Captain Black has joined with noted Carolina sport fishing captain Skipper Gentry and his 38’ Carolina Gentleman Hatteras to offer guests half and full day charters.

'We’re committed to reestablishing The Big Game Club as a go-to destination for top-of-class offshore anglers,' commented Guy Harvey, Chairman of Guy Harvey Outpost. 'Adding the DNA associated with Captain Billy and Rybovich is an enormous plus in getting our charter operation up and running at full throttle. Offshore charters will be a great amenity for both accomplished and recreational anglers who can be at our docks by plane in an hour.'

Captain Black and his sport fishing boat, the 50 foot Hatteras Duchess was the premier charter boat out of Walker’s Cay from 1977 to 2004. During his long tenure in the Bahamas, he has had, at one time or another, many of the Bahamian record catches for Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Blue fin Tuna, Yellow fin Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo and Sailfish.

'Today, Captain Billy will be running El Viejo, by anyone’s definition, a classic 53 foot Rybovich sport fishing machine,' said Mark Ellert, president of Guy Harvey Outpost. 'El Viejo and the Billy Black fishing team have all the gear necessary to chase down the biggest marlin, to boat that monster wahoo, or drag up your denizen of the deep.'

Those chartering El Viejo or Carolina Gentleman can anticipate some world-class fishing in the waters off Bimini, Ellert Added.

Bimini’s location along the legendary Gulf stream (a 'river' of warm water) location is at the apex of a superhighway for migrating fish and acts as a kind of sushi conveyor belt carrying abundant food to the local fish. Deepwater game fish include marlin, tuna, sailfish, wahoo and swordfish, while big grouper, barracuda and schools of snapper can be found on the reefs.

Bimini’s flats are home the fishermen’s favorite prey, bone fish and permit. With more than 50-record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has earned its title of Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

The Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost, recently hosted Leg 1 of the Bahamas Wahoo Challenge, which marked the return of this legendary sport fishing outpost to tournament fishing, according to Big Game Club officials.

Upping the ante this spring, Guy Harvey and his Outpost crew will host their inaugural Bimini Billfish Tournament at the Big Game Club on May eighteenth, the first in a series of Outpost tournaments to be held at the club throughout the year. The tournament will benefit the Guy Harvey Oceans Foundation and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

The Bimini Big Game Club has played host to numerous major sport fishing tournaments for more than half a century. Closed for two years, the Club re-opened this summer as a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina following completion of a multi-million dollar renovation that included all guest rooms, opening of the new Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill and launch of the Outpost Outfitter, a retail experience featuring Guy Harvey sportswear, fishing supplies and gifts.

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