It’s all for a good cause

Wake up!  Time to go fishin'

I slowly pried my eyes open. The clock shows 5:15 - in the morning!  Sighing, I quietly fumbled my way out of bed in the pre-dawn darkness, trying not to disturb my spouse, who was still slumbering.  Dressed, but with no time to wait for the coffee maker to do its thing I snuck out the door and hailed a taxi.  “Marina Villa Vera por favor.” 


  

Songwriter and ITFF Director Jeff Outlaw sound checks

It’s opening day for the 2013 Island Time Fishing Festival and I promised to take photos of the boats as they head out for day number one of fishing. The things we agree to do when sharing a bottle of wine with friends…   All of the proceeds from this multi-day event go to support the island-based non-profit organization Help a Special Child Inc., (The Little Yellow School House), so yes this is all for a very good cause.

Nick Norman, Lewis Brice and Jon Stone at Soggy Peso

This year the entertainment line-up was as interesting and as talented as previous years.  Nightly concerts featured different entertainers upstairs at Jax Bar & Grill; Rivers Rutherford, or Wynn Varble and David Lee, or Craig Wiseman and Rodney Clawson.  

On Wednesday night E.G. Kight, a good friend of Jackie Walker and Michael LeFiles, presented a fabulous dinner concert.  She had so much fun she has offered to do a second concert on Sunday evening – admission by donation, to assist the Isla Animals Society.  Whew!  Such a lot of really talented and really generous people who are donating their time and talents.

How much am I bid for Nick's sweaty shirt?

We unfortunately missed the E.G. Kight concert due to the after-effects of the annual Margarita Madness Wednesday at the Soggy Peso Bar & Grill.

Returning favourites Nick Norman and Jon Stone, with the addition this year of Lewis Brice, rocked the Soggy Peso with their original compositions, and old favourites.  

Margarita Madness at the Soggy Peso

The party rolled on from two until five in the afternoon culminating with the auction of Nick Norman’s t-shirt; reportedly fetching a whopping amount of money.  This great group of guys will also wind up the Island Time Fishing Festival on Saturday night at the Awards Presentation.  It’s a sold out concert, but occasionally the fishermen are too worn out by a week of fun to attend.  So, if you are really, really lucky you might be able to snap up a spare ticket late Saturday afternoon.  Check with the staff at Jax.

Carnivore and Relax - heading out fishin'

And this year there are even more events to keep fishermen, their friends, and locals entertained.  The Hair of the Dog Poker Run, organized by the Isla Animals Society happens on Saturday afternoon.  

Then there is a wind-up Disco Party hosted by Brisas Restaurante and the Disco Queen herself Deb C, from four until seven on Sunday afternoon.   The disco dancers can then disco right on down the street to the E.G. Kight benefit concert at Jax Bar & Grill starting at seven-thirty in the evening.  

As the Island Time Fishing Festival website says: The Fishing is Legendary, and the Party Never Ends.

John & Betty Raimondo and friends

In between the entertainment, and the great dinners, and the many cold beers the competitors always find time to go fishin’.  This is a catch and release tournament – for trophies, and bragging rights.  Trophies are given to boats, anglers, and junior anglers with the most releases.  

And since it is a fishing tournament, in the middle of a music festival, our Texan friends cajoled me into taking photos of the sport fishing boats as they departed at dawn.

As I got in the taxi at 5:45 in the morning, I realized I was wearing one green sock and one blue sock with my sneakers.  That’s what dressing in the dark does for my personal fashion sense. 





But, it’s all for a good cause, a really good cause; Help a Special Child Inc., 
(The Little Yellow School House).

Relax - LED underwater lights on transom