Alice TOWN, Bimini - When a fish strikes it feels like an explosion. After hours of waiting, staring out into the blue turquoise water, one of six lines wistfully trailing behind the boat is swallowed by a monster. The line screams into open sea, a high-pitched whistle as the fish tries to escape. The crew springs to its feet. Blood pounds to the head. One of the fishermen jumps into the chair while two others guide the arching rod into a holster between his legs. And then the fight begins. Sometimes it lasts 15 minutes. Other times it goes on for hours.
But in the end, as the fish reaches the boat, the iridescent flash beneath the water sparks the same emotion. The monster flops onto the deck, and in that moment, there is pure elation. That moment is what brought 22 boats to the Big Game Club on Bimini last weekend. More than 100 fishermen made the trip to troll the legendary waters made famous by American writer Ernest Hemingway. His grandson, John Hemingway, was joined by country music star Craig Morgan and February Playboy playmate Shawn Dillon.
In the end, the Big Game Club was sold out for what is typically a slow time of year on Bimini. "When these guys go home and say they had a great time at the Big Game Club, that kind of exposure you just can't buy," said Michael Weber, general manager at the resort. Since reopening its doors more than two years ago, the American owners have poured millions into restoration. Last weekend was the resort's second Wahoo Smackdown fishing tournament, which attracted eight more boats than the first event back in November.
Anglers caught a total of 132 Wahoo's over the course of two days and pumped major dollars into the seaside resort. According to Weber, this recent tournament is just one example of a renewed focus on special events to keep crowds coming. The general manager said that Big Game Club has seen a 56 percent improvement in room revenue this year compared to the same period in 2012. "We are working seven days a week. The last day off we had was Christmas," he said. "Our goal is to always have something going on. Always something new."
The 51-room resort, with 75 boat slips, currently employs 35 Bahamians and serves as one of the major economic drivers on the seven-mile-long island. In addition to more fishing tournaments, Big Game Club has diversified its offerings for families, from massage facilities, water sport activities, to a shark observation cage where visitors can get up close and personal with one of the world's most feared predators. Weber said that Big Game Club is just one piece of the puzzle for Bimini.
The Bimini Bay Resort is poised to open a major casino with Genting Group in the coming months, and in anticipation, Balearia Bahamas Express has begun direct daily service from Florida. Seaplane service to the island is also ramping up, as Weber continues to pursue approval to bring full immigration services to a private dock so passengers can leave Florida and step right onto the resort. "I hope the government puts more investment into the Out Islands," he added. "Bimini itself, because of the proximity, we are the biggest revenue generator of boats coming in.
They all check in here before going on. With the exception of perhaps Exuma, I think we're at the top of the list when it comes to revenue generation. And there is so much potential here." John Hemingway, grandson of the iconic writer, said Bimini has all the right elements to propose as a tourism destination. What it needs, he said, is the right marketing for more people to come.
He felt the Wahoo Smackdown II sets an important precedent for future tournaments on the island. A large haul of fish and prize money of $30,000 places Bimini among some of the best tournaments out there. "I am happy they are dong this. The island went through a bad period after the plane crash out of Miami and the fire that destroyed the Compleat Angler Hotel," Hemingway said. "I have been coming here all my life. I have been fishing the gulf stream for a long time."
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