Boca Raton, FL – Kick-off your summer at the Rock the Marina & Lionfish Derby event in Boynton Beach on June 1, 2019, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. This free event is presented by the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and will take place at the Boynton Harbor Marina, 735 Casa Loma Blvd. in Boynton Beach.
Rock the Marina is a business development initiative to spotlight the marina and promote the businesses within the marina. Event patrons are encouraged to explore the marina including the open space, green space, restaurants, and marine businesses. All interested event goers will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win gift certificates to businesses located at the Marina. While there will be libations available for purchase, there will be no outside food sales, so patrons are encouraged to enjoy waterfront dining at Two Georges, Banana Boat, or Marina Café.
Event goers can enjoy “feel good reggae” music from South Florida’s most popular band, Spred the Dub starting at 3 p.m. Chef Jimmy Everett from Driftwood restaurant will conduct presentations on how to prep and cook lionfish. Complimentary lionfish tastings will be available after each presentation. The event will also highlight marine conservation and sustainability efforts that are taking place throughout the county with Sea Turtle Adventures, The Reef Institute, Under Blue Waters, and the City of Boynton Beach Sustainability Department. In an effort to support local non-profits, Fly & Flow Fitness will offer a donation based Yoga mat class during the event at 3 p.m.
The first annual lionfish dip competition, will feature four (4) local restaurants: Driftwood, The Fish Depot Bar & Grill, Hurricane Alley Raw Bar & Restaurant, and Sweetwater Bar & Grill. The restaurants will be competing for a chance to win “The BEST Lionfish Dip” title in Boynton Beach. All event goers are encouraged to visit the Lionfish Dip Contest Booth to sample the dip and cast their vote for the best dip.
The Lionfish Derby will take place earlier in the day from 8 am to 2 pm. Forty-eight (48) certified divers have preregistered for the 3-tank dive. Divers will board one of the participating dive charters at the Boynton Harbor Marina: Loggerhead Dive Charters, Splashdown Divers, Underwater Explorers, or Starfish Scuba. This competitive event, which was coordinated with assistance from the Boynton Beach Dive Center, will have motivated divers collecting as many non-native lionfish by netting or spearing, for approximately six hours and then returning to the Boynton Harbor Marina at 2pm for judging and scoring. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: most fish, largest fish, and smallest fish, winning divers in each category will receive a RTIC cooler filled with prizes, including a commemorative plaque, a free 2-tank dive with a participating dive charter, and gift certificates from local Boynton Beach businesses. The public is invited to watch the scoring from 2 pm – 4 pm and the awards ceremony at 5 pm. A portion of the lionfish will be donated for research to educate the public and promote active removal of lionfish.