The Bimini Twist Library
The Bimini Twist Library is a collection of literary works created by some of the most interesting and experienced fishing enthusiasts in the world. It offers a look into hundreds of situations that cannot be imagined. Some books are novels, which means much of the action is made up, in which case the reader must, as the saying goes, “suspend disbelief.” But others of the books are non-fiction, meaning they are stories of adventures that captains, mates, and anglers experienced in real life. And in the end, the true stories are every bit as fantastic as those that came from the imaginations of the fiction writers.
The sea can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It is difficult to imagine an area of endeavor that lends itself to situations of excitement and adventure like those that may occur while fishing. Wild seas, crazy weather, boats that do not do as they are made to do and, of course, billions of fish each with different ways of behaving so the angler or mate has no way of knowing what might happen. Some of the books in the library describe action of commercial fishers who have spent many years out on the sea and have seen everything. Some others are the stories of charter captains and guides each of whom has a particular skill set and fishes in unique locations and with every kind of character.
Take your choice - and enjoy the adventure!
This is the story of Bud n' Mary's Marina in Islamorada, Florida Keys. For more than a century sportsmen and women have been coming to the Keys to enjoy the beautiful weather and world class fishing. Bud n' Mary's Marina is at the center of the universe for Keys marinas and is an excellent destination for Florida Keys travel. Many world record catches have been made out of Bud n' Mary's, and the roster of guides, captains, anglers, and celebrities operating out of that marina is a Who's Who of sport fishing. Called the "Sport fishing Capitol of the World," the action out of Bud n' Mary's is unmatched anywhere in the world. Unique to this marina are the options for different kinds of fishing whether offshore, light tackle or fly fishing. Enthusiasts can fish the back waters for world record snook, tarpon, bonefish and permit, or run offshore to target mahi mahi, tuna, reef fish, wahoo, mackerel, marlin, or swordfish. This book tells of great men and women and great accomplishments by some of the best fishers in the world. It is a must read for anyone interested in the challenges of saltwater sport fishing.
Many tourists’ dream destination would be a place to slow down or be as busy as you like, with blue skies, sparkling clear waters abundant game fish, and friendly locals to greet them. That’s Isla Mujeres off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The island has a rich history having been occupied by early Spanish conquistadores for three centuries before achieving independence.
Long appreciated as a vacation destination, the area around the Yucatan Peninsula is a playground for conservationists and lovers of the sea. Only in the past 40 years has the island of Isla Mujeres been discovered as the finest example of Mexican fun and hospitality.
Enrique Lima has been a part of the development of Isla Mujeres all his life. His father, Jose de Jesus Lima, known as Forjador (creator/architect) de Isla Mujeres was an early developer of nearby Cancun. He left that place in the 1950s to begin the expansion of nearby Isla Mujeres.
Once Isla Mujeres was discovered as having the most abundant sail fishery, arguably anywhere in the world, sports fishermen beat a path to its doorstep. As Enrique’s Lima’s hospitality gained popularity throughout the recreational sports fishing world, his marina became known as Enrique’s Dock. It has been the site of some of the greatest fish stories, world record catches, and visitation by the biggest names in sports fishing.
A dozen of the greatest offshore fishermen in the world have come together in this book to share their stories of adventures on the high seas while chasing after great fish and world records. Each of these men has contributed one or more stories in a compilation by Patrick Mansell a noted novelist of fishing adventure books called the Bimini Twist Adventures.
Read the amazing stories of such greats as Ronnie Hamlin, Bart Miller, Peter Wright, Bobby Brown, Skip Smith, Billy Harrison, Peter Bristow, Bark Garnsey and other famous big game fishermen as they travel across the globe in search of monster bluefin tuna, blue and black marlin, and other world records catches.
All of these men would have been successful at whatever career choice they decided upon, but fishing is their passion and they each have the reputations and results to be considered among the Living Legends of Big Game Fishing.
The Bimini Twist Adventures
Upon arriving in Marathon on Key Vaca, the Carsons do the smart thing and hire local talent to show them offshore and back water fishing sites. Early in their visit, a sport fishing charter boat is seen on the horizon under a cloud of thick black smoke. Bimini Twist speeds over to the site and rescues the boat’s passengers. But it’s not long before Max and P.J. need to be rescued themselves when the skiff they are traveling in crashes in the mangrove islands in Florida Bay. After a harrowing night stuck among the mangroves, mosquitos, and alligators, the Carsons emerge bruised and battered but alive.
While idling along in Bimini Twist toward a waypoint that is reputed to be an excellent snapper hole, a weird anomaly appears on the depth finder screen. In water that is only twenty feet deep, this sunken object fills half the screen from the floor of the bay to the surface. Curiosity overcomes Max and he must see what it is. Snorkeling around he discovers an abandoned boat that creates a unique opportunity. The restoration of the Freeman catamaran is the setting for a rebuild that will leave boat enthusiasts drooling.
T
The quaint island of Bimini is on the western edge of the beautiful Bahama Islands just 50 miles from the Florida coast. Laid back and relaxed, the only rules are to have a good time and spend a little cash. But when ex-con Rohan Pinkney, known to law enforcement as Rooster, moves his criminal enterprise to this peaceful location, all hell breaks loose.
Max Carson and his sons P.J. and Gaffer are avid fishermen, and frequent visitors to the island. It's just a 63-mile run from their home port of Boca Raton, Florida. They have made the crossing of the Gulf Stream many times and know the waters around the Bahamas well.
The action heats up when an altercation with Rooster energizes them into becoming part of the solution for the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. A drug smuggler would never think of an innocent looking family out on fishing outings as a threat to its activities. But they would be so wrong.
The fishing action in Bimini Twist is non-stop, while the takedown of this local drug cartel is so satisfying.
Not far beneath the surface of the gin clear Bahamas waters lies tons of treasure from an ancient galleon. Marine archeologists and ocean adventurers have the license from the government to excavate the site and recover artifacts to create a maritime museum in the capitol city of Nassau. When word of the expedition gets out, a greedy high-level official form within the government hatches a scheme to help himself to the rich booty. But the Royal Defense Force, with the help of some civilain voluteers and two resourceful teenage brothers, launch a plan of their own to make certain the entire mother lode is returned to its rightful place for the world to enjoy. Virgil Price and Max Carson and his sons, P.J. and Gaffer, return in this high-speed adventure featuring thrilling underwater action and survival of the raging forces of nature to keep this story moving at lightning speed.
When Max Carson agreed to have his boat, Bimini Twist, ferried over to the Hawaiian Islands on board the luxury yacht Felicity, he was expecting to enjoy the summer with his boys, P.J. and Gaffer, fishing in the quiet waters off Kona, the blue marlin and yellowfin capitol of the world. And in fact the fishing action was everything they expected. Mahimahi, yellowfin tuna and several varieties of marlin were their constant hook-ups in this sport fisherman's paradise.
And the new and unique friends they meet in Kona are interesting and colorful. The culture of the place and the friendly atmosphere make a person want to never leave. But even paradise can have its share of unexpected thrills and danger, and this trip to Hawaii proved that many times. Teenagers who do stupid things, the tremendous forces of nature in the forms of erupting volcanoes, wild game fish, and an angry mother humpback whale combine to make this a Bimini Twist Adventure to remember.
Wahoo, one of the fastest, fiercest fighting fish in the ocean are an elusive prize, but the father/ son team of Max and Gaffer Carson are always up for that kind of challenge. When they are called away from the Bimini Wahoo Championship to rescue the survivors of a sinking luxury yacht, the adventure begins.
In trying to show their appreciation for having saved their lives, the wealthy, but down-to-earth Jeremy and Jessica Diamond make an effort to strengthen a friendship with Max and Gaffer. In so doing they inadvertently involve them in a the rescue of their daughter from kidnappers that takes them to the shallow and dangerous waters of the Exuma Island chain in the Bahamas.
No one likes cruising at night in dangerous waters. For anyone who you can relate to the hazards of navigating on a pitch black night among rocky bottoms, sand bars, and coral heads, this one is a real nail biter that will take your breath away.
When young Gaffer Carson takes a temporary job as the captain of the luxurious fishing machine, Wave Dancer, he has no way of knowing that Reginald Cordelle, the previous skipper, was involved in a plot to smuggle weapons from the Bahamas Islands to the coast of Florida. Through some fancy maneuvering between Will Tanner, the yacht’s owner, and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, Cordelle is reinstated as captain of Wave Dancer. This conspiracy between Tanner and the Defense Force is a setup so that Cordelle and his band of smugglers can be trapped in one of their contraband runs. Wave Dancer is full of great fishing action and adventure across wind tossed seas of the Bahamas Islands.
The Bouncer Smith Chronicles
Captain Bouncer Smith spent more than fifty years as a fishing guide in the waters of the South Atlantic. He is considered among the most accomplished fishermen in the area. His years of experience on the water have resulted in some of the most remarkable adventures imaginable, and scores of world record catches. And not only has Captain Bouncer guided his clients to the greatest fishing adventures, he has always been charitable with his knowledge and resources. He tells of great fish he has caught and tournaments he has won, while at the same time showing great generosity toward the sick children he has introduced to fishing, and other less fortunate individuals he has thrilled with a day of fishing they will never forget. He has fished with kings, sports personalities, rock stars, and other celebrities, while at the same time entertaining individuals, groups, and families that could never dream of affording the luxury of a guided fishing trip in the beautiful South Florida waters. He has traveled to such fishing destinations as Mexico, the Bahamas Islands, Alaska, Italy, the Cayman Islands, and the Virgin Islands in search of blue marlin, swordfish, and giant blue fin tuna. For anyone who ever dreamed of a deep sea fishing adventure or a backwater excursion, The Bouncer Smith Chronicles describes just what that looks like in real life.
Fish On is the second book in the Bouncer Smith Chronicles series. After completing the original Chronicles book, it occurred to Captain Bouncer that he had left out so many people and adventures that were deserving of recognition. Thus was born his second book, Fish On, The Further Chronicles of Bouncer Smith.
To anyone who has ever spent a day fishing or even just spent the day boating, this book will be a delight. Captain Bouncer Smith has spent more than six decades as a fishing enthusiast, and more than half a century as a captain and fishing guide. He has had adventures that would boggle the mind. Fish On is his second full length book that chronicles so many of the adventures he has had and interesting people he has met and fished with.
For the saltwater fishing enthusiast who wants to be successful in the waters around South Florida and the Bahamas Islands, this book is a shortcut to that success. Captain Bouncer Smith, one of the most broadly recognized fishing experts in the waters of the South Atlantic, breaks it down, specie by specie, location by location, bait by bait, and season by season. Nothing beats experience when it comes to learning how to fish. But nothing can be a bigger boost than to take the advice of a professional who has experienced it all. Bouncer Smith has been honing his trade for nearly seventy years. He has fished with the best fishermen in the world, and made many of them better. He holds numerous world records, and has assisted many others in achieving their world records. In this guidebook Captain Bouncer lays it all out for the amateur and expert fishermen alike.
When deciding on a new specie to target, or a new site to explore, local knowledge and advice beats trial and error any day. Let Captain Bouncer lay the groundwork for you before setting out on a new fishing adventure.
For the person who thinks the action is over when they receive the gold watch and are sent home with a box full of personal items so they can now head out to the pasture and become irrelevant, Captain Bouncer Smith’s, I’m Not Done Yet portrays a new way of handling this phase of life. Retirement is an opportunity to continue checking those boxes on that old bucket list. I’m Not Done Yet is a continuation of the stories of Captain Bouncer Smith’s exciting life as a fisherman.
Anyone familiar with The Bouncer Smith Chronicles, or Fish On! The Further Chronicles of Captain Bouncer Smith know that this man has had some of the most interesting, exciting, unique adventures imaginable in his years as a charter captain in South Florida, the Bahamas Islands, and several other locations around the world. Then, in 2021 the great fisherman retired from his illustrious career as a charter captain and began concentrating on something that had been eluding him, the opportunity to fish in other locations never before visited by him and in a new role – as the angler.
Bouncer's adventures continue. He may have slowed down in his gait, but he has not slowed down one bit when he has a rod in his hands. Captain Bouncer is driven to continue a journey he began so many years ago. His enthusiasm for fishing continues to burn white hot, or as he says, “I’m not done yet!”
At a very early age in the 1950s, Bouncer Smith began fishing. His cane pole was twice as tall as he was. Then by the 1970s Bouncer knew he would want to make a career out of fishing. And after 60 years as a professional fishing guide he began telling his stories and memorializing his great fishing adventures, the places he visited, the people he met, and the fish he helped to catch.
Bouncing Around is the fifth book in the Bouncer Smith Chronicles Series. Fans and followers of Bouncer may have seen some of the stories in this book in one of his previous books, but this book has been brought up to date with new stories, some new characters, and a beautiful selection of color photos.
Even in elementary school, future captain Bill Harrison would help out on the local fishing boats. He knew from a young age that he wanted to spend his career at sea. Looking back later in life, he can say with certainty that he has never regretted his choice. Harrison’s memoir is filled with the serenity he found out on the open ocean. He shares his stories of making great friendships and guiding these friends to all kinds of fish.
Harrison structures his memoir by focusing on specific days in his life and the events that made that day especially memorable. The result of his endeavor is a series of vignettes that perfectly capture the mood and tone of life of traveling hundreds of islands and catching big fish.
Harrison also shares anecdotes about respected captains and rascally crew members that are a part of all charter boat fishing docks.
Big fish, beautiful women, and blue water are all Harrison needs to be happy with the world.
In an unprecedented tournament as fierce as the raging sea and the behemoths of its sunless depths, five champion anglers wager a million dollars apiece that one of them is best. Ernest Lichine is a sheltered Northerner with a newly acquired fortune who is plunged into an alien world unrestrained by the conventions of his own. A weekend fisherman, he finds himself locked in no-quarter combat with professional boatmen and anglers of international standing. Dazzling, acid-tongued Catherine Nettles triumphs over her male rivals at all their games, but she carries the seeds of her own destruction. Horst Triga is an heir to billions for whom riches mean nothing, and winning - everything. The scorching battle of muscle and machine and obsession surges from the Yucatan Channel to the Great Barrier Reef, with interludes in opulent resorts where decadence and violence are merely expected. The competitors fall victim to hidden terrors and hungers. Most fail. Some die. For one, the tournament becomes an ocean-spanning odyssey of discovery and retribution. The survivors persevere, uncertain it is worth the cost. One day, on a howling black sea, they find out.
In his life as a boater author Patrick Mansell has owned and operated some interesting, fun boats. Leaky Tiki was the name of his first boat, a 15 foot Chris Craft kit boat made of plywood. He owned that boat before he owned a car and had great fun with it in the Great South Bay on Long Island. He cannot count the number of times that treasure of his sank, but each time he revived it and got it to run again. Later came much more substantial boats, a Sea Ray, and a Cigarette, two Duskies, a Dyers Dhow, and the crown of them all, his Contender with the 900 horsepower Yamis hanging off the back. And then there were the two summers he mated on board a 92-foot Benetti in the Mediterranean, an experience any sailor would envy.
The Bimini Twist Library is dedicated to watermen of any kind, fishing guides, famous marinas, and fishing destinations but particularly about people who love and enjoy the ocean. Spoils Island is a non-fiction account about just such a person, Barry Shaw. Barry is retired from surfing competition, but in his day he was a world ranked longboard surfer. And even though surfing occupies his mind an inordinate amount of the time, he still lived the normal life as a family man, philanthropist, and successful banker.
Spoils Island is the name of a surfing destination off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that no longer exists. It was washed away by the shifting tides. But there remain some of the best surfing destinations in the world where Barry has made his mark and created a lifetime of memories that he shares with his friends and fans. Surfers are not simply long haired beach bums; they come in all shapes and sizes with every imaginable outside interest. Barry Shaw's happens to be particularly unique.
The Author's Collection of Miscellaneous Titles
John Wayne Goff, known by the handle of Johnny Dollar because of his penchant for seeing and pursuing opportunities, hustled and networked incessantly to become the most successful insurance man in the state of Alabama. His years of hard work made him a wealthy man with friends in the highest places in commerce and in state government, the admiration of his peers, along with a beach home on the Florida coast, a lear jet, a weekend farm in the country, and several valuable investment properties. But all that came to a halt when he fought back against a shakedown by politically connected forces backed by officials in the corrupt state government. With everything cratering in around him, his fight for justice cost him his fortune and his freedom along with a twelve year federal prison sentence.
Johnny Dollar lived through that traumatic period to gain his release, return home to his friends, and to tell his story for the world to see.
Thoughtful Quotes
Often we use a famous or apt quote to express an idea or to help to cement an argument. It doesn't always matter who said it or what is said. More to the point is that it is a quote that has been remembered and repeated. There are thousands of very profound thoughts circulating by some very wise people. But this book also demonstrates that just because a quote is popular and used often, does not necessarily mean it is profound. Often wise quotes come from the mouths of wise people. But this book is full of surprises. Of course a reader expects to see great wisdom from such important and historical figures as Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, or Winston Churchill. But there are just as many unknown authors of the greatest wisdom.
Wisdom and Nonsense touches on a broad range of topics: courage, cats, the sea, revenge, Hollywood, business, gardening, parenthood, happiness and joy, and and fifteen other subjects that affect our daily lives. And for anyone who likes to punctuate a statement with a brilliant quote, this book has exactly what is needed.
The Bathroom Book of Quotes is an aptly named non-fiction work that introduces the reader to new characters, both historical and contemporary. It is an eclectic work that offers the briefest biography of these famous people along with some of their most famous quotes. This work describes the lives of such diverse personalities as Confucius, Thomas Jefferson, Elvis Presley and John Kennedy. Well known for clever quotes are such famous personalities as Winston Churchill, May West, and MLK.
The chapters in The Bathroom Book of Quotes are broken down by each personality so that the reader can learn more about that author, and some of the things that were on that person's mind. But also exposed are some quotes that are neither profound nor well conceived. The unfortunate result from fame is that the cameras are always on and celebrity causes each person to watch what they say at all times. Thus, even Benjamin Franklin and Lady Gaga said some thing they would probably wish had never been repeated. But the bottom line is that the reader gets to know these characters better and can learn a lot from the experiences and wisdom of others.
​​​
An Experiment in AI
Poems from the Brain of a Machine was written and published in a single day. It was created when the author logged into ChatGPT and asked it to write a series of poems on various subjects. Instructions were given like "write a poem about parenting," or "write a poem about cats, or the ocean, or courage, or love." The machine wrote the poems, each in about two or three seconds. Then those poems were copied onto a Word document. This was formatted and converted to a PDF for uploading to KDP.
Interestingly, the poems the machine created are excellent, well written, and thought provoking. It is the kind of work that a poet might take months to create and a novelist could never create. It is a lesson that artificial intelligence, while frightening in many respects, will be a useful tool for productivity that is now a permanent part of our culture.
People in the literary community are horrified when told that a book like this can be created in a single day with very little effort, but they better get used to it and embrace it because it is not going away
The Fathers Club
In the sleepy central Florida town of Moss Creek, drug use among teenagers has become an epidemic. Overdoses and school truancy are daily occurrences, and the law is doing very little about it. Frustrated by a slow moving and corrupt judicial system, a small group of parents decides to take matters into their own hands.
The action heats up when a clear vote of support is given by Jake Hairston, the county sheriff. As the fathers embark on a crusade to take back control of their town and drive the drug dealers out, Jake guides their hands, works alongside of them, and shows them ways to make a difference while tight walking the line between what is legal, and what is necessary. The fathers' no nonsense approach to cleaning up the problem has the drug dealers and crooked lawyers running for cover.
Passions run high, and reason and sound judgment are not always present as the fathers strive to take back their community and protect their families. Get ready for some fast moving action as The Fathers' Club cuts a wide swath through this drug infested territory.
That people lose money on account of their inability to understand basic finance is sad. It is not at all difficult for the average person to learn the basics in financial management. It begins with an understanding of budgeting, credit, banking, interest expense, borrowing, and simple balance sheets and profit and loss statements.
The purchase of a home is the biggest financial obligation most people will ever face. And with home prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and mortgage borrowings just as high, it would be easy to make a slight error and end up paying tens of thousands of dollars more than needed by not knowing how to protect one's self in making such a financial commitment.
Financial Literacy for Everyone brings this information to the average person in a way that is incredibly simple. And knowledge of the concepts contained within these pages can be worth a fortune over a person's lifetime.