LYC Bimini Blast – Calendar and Weekend Guide

Thursday - June 6, 2024

Take The Bull By The Horns! !

This ain’t our first rodeo : Heading East (Monitor VHF Channel 69)
The LAND crew will CHECK YOU IN with Bahamian Customs at the BIG GAME CLUB

Make sure to bring your captain’s buckets and saddles – ride on buckos!

Today’s Activities:

After check-in, head to Rodeo BEACH (aka Radio Beach) and relax with your saddle broncs for a cool can of fun juice.

Smash Dash begins – get your cards stamped (CLICK FOR DETAILS)

Evening Plan:
6:00 P.M. DOCKTAIL PARTY (BIG GAME CLUB DOCK)

Captains: Can I get a yee-haw? It’s time to provide Food and Drink for all your fellow Conchboys and Conchgirls

Small plates and Drink contest : Vote for the best Grub and Drink creations – the winners Announced at the Conch Rodeo Awards Banquet!

Saddle up on your Conch Cart: Dinner is on your own

Friday - June 7, 2024

We’re Chompin’ at the Bit

Sun’s Up !
7:30AM Line’s in for Fishing Tournament
9AM – 11AM Famous Bloody Mary Bar (Sponsored by : NO BAD DAYS – B DOCK)

Today’s Activities:
11AM (approx) Honeymoon Harbor
This ain’t our first rodeo – Bring Your Lunch: we be cooking up some fun and riding the beach with our beer filled Yetis!

Smash Dash Continues

12:30PM Fishing Tournament Weigh-In at the Big Game Club Dock

Evening Plan:
5:30PM Appetizers, Music, and Drink at the Big Game Club Pool
5:45PM LYC Mainsheet Group Pool Photo

Poolside: Rodeo Bronc Riding, Saddle Races

More horsing around: Dinner is on your own

Saturday - June 8, 2024

Wake Up – Life’s About The Ride!

7:30AM Line’s In for Fishing Tournament

9AM – 11AM Mimosa Madness (Sponsored by: Cajun Shrimp – B Dock)

Today’s Activities:
11:00AM: Beach, Raft-ups, Snorkel, Fish
“Rodeo” Beach, Honeymoon Harbor, Turtle Rocks, Sapona Wreck (Weather-based decision)

12:30PM Fishing Tournament Weigh-In at the Big Game Club Dock

Smash Dash Ends – Bring Your Completed Cards to Dinner

Evening Plan:
7:00 PM Conch Rodeo Award’s Banquet – Big Game Club Poolside

Come dressed in your favorite country/western Conch-wear!

Island Buffet Dinner, Costume Judging and awards ceremony
DJ, Country Music and Fun

7:45 PM: LYC Award’s Ceremony
See who wins the the Docktail Party, Fishing Tournament and more…. BIG GAME CLUB POOLSIDE

Our Amazing Sponsors

Sunday - June 9, 2024

Saying Goodbye

No ifs, ands, or bucks. Back to Fort Lauderdale

When arriving back at the ranch, meet up for one more swig of whisky at the LYC pool!

Other Items

LYC Pot of Gold

Not to worry. All Bimini Blaster’s are eligible for the Friday night Pot of Gold drawing.

Smash Dash – Overview

Supporting the Bimini Locals

Begins: Upon your arrival on Bimini

Each registrant has been provided a card (see your captain if you have not received)

In order to be included in the prize drawing, the objective is for each participant to get stamps on all of the squares by going to all of the establishments listed and buying what is on the card or some other food/refreshment from that vendor

Only fully stamped cards (each square is stamped by the named establishment) are eligible for the prize drawing

Ends: Saturday night at 6PM (cards must be handed in by then to be eligible for prizes)

Fishing Tournament -
Friday and/or Saturday (One Day or Both Days)

Tournament Head: Tom Lihan

Schedule: Fishing Friday and Saturday (June 9 & 10, 2023)

Fishing Friday and Saturday mornings June 9 & 10. Bimini Start (or lines in) at 0730 with a gentlemen’s agreement not to leave the dock prior to 30 minutes after official “Sunrise” at 25 43.567N / 079 17.718W (the east end of “B” dock, look up the time in your Almanac). Weigh-in each day is between 1230-1300 hrs. You must be either tied up at the Big Game dock at 1230 hrs or be in the vicinity of the weigh-in/committee boat if anchored off one of the beaches. The committee boat may assign the weigh-in functions to other parties ashore or afloat, VHF CH 69 will be used. Fish from both or either day will count toward the total.

Scoring:

Billfish:
Sailfish Release 75 points
Marlin Release (White/Blue) 150 points
Spearfish Release 150 points

Pelagic: (up to 3 per species, minimum 5# each – PER DAY)
Wahoo 1 pt/#
Blackfin Tuna 1 pt/#
Yellowfin Tuna 1 pt/#
BigEye Tuna 1 pt/#
Skipjack Tuna 1 pt/#
Cobia 1 pt/#
Kingfish 1 pt/#
Dolphin 1 pt./#

Bottom Fishing: (up to 10 per species, no min weight, electric reels permitted – PER DAY)
Yellowtail 2 pt./fish
All other Snappers 1 pt./fish (Max 10/day)
Grouper (any variety) 1 pt./#
Tilefish: (Golden or Blue Line) 1 pt./#

Ties broken on billfish release time, if no billfish, then win goes to boat with single largest fish. Captains are encouraged to take digital photos or video of any billfish releases. No geographic boundaries, each participant must have a team member present at the weigh-in time as noted above. Electric reels permitted for bottom fishing category.

Prizes (Subject to Change)
top boat overall (based on points)
second boat overall (based on points)
third boat overall (based on points)
top lady angler
First Place junior angler (13 and under)
Second Place junior angler (13 and under)
Third Place junior angler (13 and under)
largest fish (by weight, not length)
Heaviest Bucket of Fish

“Popeye” will be the committee boat for the event, and will monitor vHF 69 (fishing tournament channel) and vhf 68 (working channel for Bimini / Isaacs area). Weighmaster will be an impartial LYC member or guest with no prior knowledge of the Bimini Blast tournament history. For this event IGFA regulations are not applicable, but a verified photo or video of a billfish release will be required in order to count tourney points. A billfish release will comply with IGFA regulations concerning double line, swivel, etc. Live and dead bait or artificials are permitted, the maximum number of lines with hooks is 6 and all forms of teasers are allowed.

Regulations: All Bahamas fishing rules and regulations need to be followed, especially considering the location of the weigh-in and our continued welcome relationship with the Bahamas. Note that they may have different bag and tackle restrictions that are different than U.S. Regulations. Also note that lobster season is “closed”