VI hooks popular US sports fishing network
Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online following a viewing party and reception at the BVI International Arbitration Centre in Wickham’s Cay II, on Friday January 13, 2017, Co-Star Misty E. Wells informed that episode one was released on January 8, 2017 and episode two will be released within the next two months on networks such as NBC Sports and CBS, following which will be available online.
Wells debuts in sports fishing outside US
Wells, who is the host of Let's Take it Outside TV and Radio show, said this trip was her debut in sports fishing outside of the US.
She said the team caught about 13 different species of fish such as the Wahoo, Yellowtail snapper, and Grouper. Many of the fish were caught and released.
“This was my first time going out of the country (USA) and going through all the process and I hope that everywhere I go after that is as wonderful and as easy as it was here. It was my first experience and everyone made it so easy,” she said with a smile. I found a place that he had never been so that was a big miracle in itself and again the species of fish he had never caught, he had never caught a wahoo, so it really was a dream come true to be able to come here with Jimmy,” she stated of Jimmy Houston who has been fishing on TV for over 40 years all over the globe.
Wells pointed out that they were very fortunate to catch some great fish which made the TV show really wonderful, noting that sometimes their plans don’t work out perfectly.
“And it really all worked out perfectly here in the BVI, the weather was great, so there really were no challenges. I had never fished in the BVI before, but you hear epic stories in the fishing community of how wonderful it is and everybody talks about the north drop. So it was really exciting, we sailed to Scrub Island and it was a really short ride to get to the North Drop.”
Five Star Rating
Commenting on the trip itself, Wells mentioned that it was very convenient to get to the territory and everything went smooth, giving it a five-star rating. The show was sponsored by their TV Show budget and locally by Scrub Island Resort.
She said, in addition to this show, various scenes of the territory will be used in future shows.
“The water was just beautiful, the scenery itself is gorgeous. We were high-speed trawling on the North Drop, we were doing about 13 to 15 knots and it was pretty rough, it was about 8 to 10 foot seas but we were fortunate enough to be in a 61 Viking so that helped and it was just a lot of fun,” she added.
Encounter with a 12-foot shark
One of the exciting “pins and needles” experience for her was when they encountered a 12 foot shark, which didn’t make it into the series.
“One exciting thing that I was hoping would make it into the show but didn’t, was as Jimmy Huston was reeling in that 107 pound wahoo a huge 12 foot hammerhead showed up at the back of the boat and it was Jimmy’s first Wahoo ever and we were all on pins and needles and hoping that that shark wasn’t going to make a meal of it before we got it over the rail,” she remarked, adding, “That was a really exciting part of the trip.”
The aim of the show is to promote sport fishing and mentioned that the team looks forward to shooting some more TV Shows in the territory and continuing the collaboration.
Captain Thomas A. LaRonge, who moved to the territory over a year ago, said he has been a sports fish captain for over 15 years globally and praised the conservation efforts that the VI has toward the fishing sector; adding, “Since I’ve been here in the BVI I have been able to experience some amazing sports fishing.”
Airlift critical to the sector- Hon Pickering
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) said over the years there have been a lot of talk of making the fishing industry a major part of the economy and when Scrub Island Resort was being conceptualised in 2005-6, the proprietors at that time made a “big pitch” to the government that one of the things that the resort will be interested in is promoting sports fishing in the VI.
He said their reasoning was that the island is only ¾ of an hour away from the major fishing grounds in the VI, and that today they are fulfilling that promise.
Hon Pickering thanked the team and said he was pleased that the VI is getting that kind of exposure globally; however, he added that airlift is a critical aspect to taking full advantage of this sector.
“We have got to get airlift, it is an added value component. Scrub Island has provided hotel rooms, and all the other amenities,” he said.
Also delivering brief remarks were Premier and Minister for Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL), who reiterated that the fishing sector has been an important part of the economy and is joyous of the exposure and is hoping that it will catapult sports fishing in the territory.
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14 Responses to “VI hooks popular US sports fishing network”
Here in the (British) Virgin Islands we have a Resident and one of the Biggest Moguls in the Airline Industry and supposedly Done Deal rich friend, and he can't even get him to put some skin in the game, but he keep pushing his agenda in trying to bait taxpayers and catch us on the hook for another "build it and they will come scheme" that we, and generations to come, will be on the hook to pay in full for, without laying out to us a comprehensive plan on- How he intend to have this project repaid?"
"That Build it and they will come strategy won't and can't work anymore with ALL the Competing Countries vying for their share of the industry now - soon Cuba - will be in the competing mix. The International Sport Fishing Arena have quite abit of Rich/Wealthy Investors - Why not get some of them to put some skin in the game?
It's soo easy to incur Debts, but so hard to come up with creative ways and solutions when you don't have anymore borrowing power, or easy access to taxpayers money and having us on the hook for your experiments.
The TEST of A TRUE LEADER is in being able to get ALL stakeholders to buy-in to your VISION. Why is it you can't even get your rich friends to put some skin in the game?
We have soo many examples of other Caribbean Countries, now on the move in the TOURISM SECTOR, because they have been successful in capturing major investors in their multi-million dollars expansion projects - from airport expansions to infrastructure developments - with valu-added contributions in Education.
Just look at our investment in the Cruises Ship/Pier Park Project, today it is just "stuttering" along. We are in desperate need for Leaders who have the right balance between Education and Common-Sense - And we need them FAST. May We Say More...
Our Leaders are Failing to clearly defined: What tourist target market do we truly intend to cater too. Is it the mass tourist market with very lilltle money to spend and circular, but produce more pollution and strain on our infrustructures?
Or is it a Niche tourist market who expect higher quality, have much more money to spend on a quality vacation and who stay on the islands longer, thus circulating much more money in the economy?
We can't have it both ways - is right.
Mass-Tourism or Niche-Tourism, or the Proper-Balance between the Two?
Leaders - What is the VISION for OUR Country? No more major Projects and squandering of our hard earned tax money until you'll can explain our road ahead. Period!
"Where There is No Vision the People Perish."