By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter

Grand Bahama will serve as one of six backdrops (from November 21-24) for ESPN Outdoors and the 2008 Redbone Celebrity Tournament collaborative show, ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series. Redbone will donate proceeds from the Tournament dubbed 'To Catch The Cure' for U.S. women afflicted with cystic fibrosis.

The home of the nation's second city is the fifth of six venues to be featured on the show that will air 8:30 a.m. on Sundays starting April 2009 on ESPN2. ESPN will shoot the first scene this weekend, September 5-7 in Key West, Florida, pending Hurricane Hanna's northwest movement.

The second shoot is set for Montauk, New York September 24-26, the third shoot will be in Key Largo, Florida October 3-5, the fourth is set for Islamorada, Florida from November 7-9 and the sixth shoot will take place in Islamorada, Florida from December 12-14.

The six world-class, stand-alone events will receive television coverage on ESPN2, Live daily coverage on ESPNOutdoors.com, and in a newly devoted annual magazine, the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series, to be published in the spring of 2009.

Jose Wejebe, who has hosted Spanish Fly on ESPN2 for 13 years, will host the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series television coverage on ESPN2. BASS and ESPN Outdoors Communications Director, Anthony Bartkowski contacted The Nassau Guardian, and explained the significance of their shoot in The Bahamas.

"When we come to Grand Bahama we will be fishing for bonefish," said Bartowski. "Hosting the show in The Bahamas is significant because we always try to find new ways to bring new events and tournaments to our internet and television fans. Furthermore it is our intention showcase The Bahamas as a double destination for sport fishing and vacation."

Participants in the show will include world-renowned professional anglers and guides from the sport fishing industry as well as celebrities from the sports world. They will be going after fish species bluefish, bonefish, false albacore, permit, redfish, sailfish, striped bass and tarpon at different drops. All tournaments are catch and release. Tourism minister, the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, endorses the idea for the new Saltwater Series.

"There is no other country, other than The Bahamas, in the entire region that has such a dominant position with anything that has to do with the water. This is because we are surrounded by more water than anyone else and can extend more options than anyone else. So, ESPN and company are always welcome. You will see more of this kind of exposure as time goes on as we have been working with them in a number of different ways. We have been teaming up with ESPN on many occasions throughout the year," said Vanderpool-Wallace.

Actually, the Ministry of Tourism is one of the sponsors of the Redbone website and have established a good partnership. According to the Redbone website, numerous sports fishing tournaments are held throughout the year in The Bahamas. Those tourneys and locations include the Deep Water Cay Bonefish Classic

(Grand Bahama), Mike Schmidt's Winners Circle Offshore Challenge (Grand Bahama), Marsh Harbor Classic in Abaco and the Exuma Classic.