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Jimmy
Buffett spent a few months living on south Bimini writing
one of his best-selling novels. He was known to frequent the
Compleat Angler.
A
native is referred to as a Biminite.
The
bluefin tuna record in Bimini is 971 pounds caught in 1993.
The Bimini Beach Club Restaurant and Mackey's Sand Bar stand
on what was once the private home of Colonel Mackey, the
founder of Mackey Airlines, later purchased by Eastern
Airlines.
He
led the development of south Bimini and the Port Royale area
back in the 50s.
At night
you can see the faint glow of the Miami lights on the
horizon.
You think
your
boat is small? One adventurous couple sailed over on a
homebuilt, 10-foot wooden sailboat.
It
is rumored that Howard Hughes stayed on the island, not
surprisingly, no one seems to be able to confirm this.
The first casino in the Bahamas was on Bimini in the
1920s. It went belly-up and then the hurricane of 1926
physically wiped it out. Actually there was a casino license
granted even earlier by the English Crown to the owner of
Cat Cay, though it has long since ceased to be valid.
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor once visited the island and
went fishing with Bonefi Sam.
The first marlin caught on Bimini was in 1933 - a whopping
155 pounds.
In
1979 Sam Jennings landed a marlin weighing 1,060 pounds.
Marlin over a thousand pounds are known as granders.
Ponce DeLeon visited the island on his quest for the
Fountain of Youth.
From the air, parts of east Bimini seem to form the outline
of a shark, the so-called shark mounds.
Fallen politicians seem to gravitate to Bimini the list
includes Richard Nixon, Gary Hart and Adam Clayton Powell.
Its a safe bet they wont be the last.
The Ocean in Chalks Ocean Airways was originally added in
relation to Ocean Bank here in South Florida.
Piccolo Pete was chosen to represent the Bahamas and its
musical folklore at the Smithsonian Institution in the
summer of 1992. During the terrible hurricane of 1926 he
lost both his parents when they were blown into the sea
while seeking shelter at the Bimini Bay Rod and Gun Club.
The club was largely destroyed by the storm.
During Prohibition, large liquor barges were permanently
moored in the waters of the banks between Bimini and Cat
Cay. Smaller vessels would then make clandestine runs to the
US with the illegal booty. The fleet was wiped out by the
1926 hurricane. Occasional liquor bottles continue to be
found by divers and snorkelers.
Contrary to popular belief, the Sapona (the concrete wreck)
did not get blown aground during the 1926 hurricane. She ran
aground while being towed and local ships were unable to
dislodge her. A hurricane did shear the stern from the bow.
The Compleat Angler was built using wood from old rum
barrels and liquor barges.
Martin Luther King worked on his 1964 Nobel Prize acceptance
speech while out with Ansil Saunders near the Bonefish
Hole.
The colors on the Bahamas flag are as follows. Blue
represents the sea and sky. Gold represents the tropical
sun. Black represents unity, vibrancy and strength.
Conch is pronounced like bonk, Cay is pronounced like key.
More
trivia - continue to page 2 |
