[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
The Bahamas Boasts : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


Bonefish Folley - a Living Legend
Feb 10, 2007 - 4:04:07 PM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page

PICT0329inset.JPG
Ambassador John Rood, Bonefish Folley, Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe


Better late than never! The Bahamas Weekly attended the exciting opening of Old Bahama Bay's renamed restaurant dedication to the legendary fishing expert and resident of West End, Grand Bahama,  Israel 'Bonefish Folley' Rolle last October 30, 2006.

Our photos are at the base of this and photos are by Dave Mackey and Robbin Whachell. Click on each one for a larger view.

The following is what can be read on the back of the menu at Bonefish Folley's Bar & Grille - "Legendary Fishing, Foods and Spirits". Credit goes to The Bahamas Journal for this:

…Bonefish Folley, he’s the one and only…’ sing local Bahamian kids in a well-known island song that immortalizes a Grand Bahama fisherman. They sing about Mr. Israel ‘Bonefish Folley’ Rolle who is a master bonefisher and has become one of this country’s most loved ambassadors.

 

Born on Andros, which is located one hundred and seventy five miles southeast of Fort Lauderdale Florida, in the 1920s. The now 85-year old spent a good part of his life in Bimini learning his craft and for the last 25 years has made West End, Grand Bahama his home. A Cacique winner, which honours Tourism excellence, ‘Bonefish’ is known for his true Bahamian Hospitably through genuine friendliness and concern toward visitors.

 

Listed among his numerous clients are former U.S. President Richard Nixon, the late Prince Rainier of Monaco, writer Ernest Hemmingway, actors Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, and Curt Gowdy and the late civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

‘Folley’ spent his formative years in Bimini, the most northern Bahamian island, where he acquired his fishing skills. “I used to deep-sea fish on a yacht many years ago on the ocean [off] Bimini. I was good at what I did [even then] and people who visited liked that and they would tell other people.”

 

In addition to fishing, Folley was also one of the original coordinators of the Bimini fishing tournaments; and to add to his mystique he was around for the “Bootlegging” glory days. Not to be outdone Bonefish also dabbled as a conga drummer and played in several of the nation’s top entertainment spots where he entertained locals and visitors in Nassau and Grand Bahama hot spots.

 

Folley, who has been bonefishing now for more than 60 years, is also a father of seven. Two of his sons have now joined him as guides as he has been busy hosting numerous film crews for the Ministry of Tourism, and appearing on several television programs, including National Geographic.


Folley’s love of people continued to grow. And as his love for fishing grew to a level that made him the number one bone-fisherman in the Nation, he was simultaneously becoming an unofficial ambassador for the Nation; but in particularly for the people of the West End community. Even though he was widely known as an experienced fisherman, it is Folley’s natural charm that has kept the tourists coming back for more. Folley is very fond of the years he spent working at The Jack Tar Hotel. ‘Jack Tar’ is where Folley solidified his love for the tourists who visited the island. And for about twenty to thirty years Folley worked at the resort as the expert Bonefisherman who was ready to challenge any tourist in bonefishing who was brave enough to compete against the living legend.

 

‘Bonefish Folley’s interaction with thousands of visitors to The Bahamas for over sixty years has resulted in life-long friendships and repeat visits to the destination. One such person is U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas, John Rood, who befriended Bonefish Folley as a child, where he would travel with his father when he came to the islands to fish.

 

Their friendship was rekindled when the Rood family came to Bonefish Folley’s rescue after his house was destroyed during Hurricane Frances in September 2004. Rood, who was on a visit with the Prime Minister of The Bahamas on an-after-storm island walk about, were viewing the West End wreckage, when Rood met with Folley whose house had been completely destroyed. Rood promised immediately to build him a new home and it was completed in late 2005.

 

Folley has also forged a close friendship with Sash Spencer, who is the founder of Old Bahama Bay which is located on the exact same premises as the former Jack Tar Hotel. Spencer and Folley shared the same passion for fishing and this quickly blossomed in to a life long friendship and a high level of professional admiration. When Folley was asked what it was about their friendship Folley simply remarked, “Sash and I are friends. I don’t know what it was, he just take to liken me.” Sash’s admiration for Folley needed to be captured and what better way then to rename one of the existing restaurants on the Resort after the living legend. In September 2006 The Dockside Grille, which overlooks the resorts 72 dock slips, was renamed Bonefish Folley’s Bar & Grille.   Sash Spencer wouldn’t have it any other way. Folley is a very humble man and when asked how he feels about the restaurant’s renaming being named after him, he simply said, “I feel alright.” The tag line for the restaurant is in keeping with its lively theme, as well as with the man himself, Legendary Fishing, Food & Spirits.

 

Bonefish, has made many friends through out his life and has been a superb role model for The Bahamas representing his country well. He says it also helps to strive for excellence; “You must know how to catch the fish that is hard to catch,” he says. “You must know how to do to catch them. I’m good at what I do.”
- Footnote: Bahamas Journal 2005

 

 


Gallery images:
PICT0297.JPG
Bonefish acceptance speech

PICT0190.JPG
Israel 'Bonefish Folley' Rolle

PICT0266.JPG
Bonefish grandchildren sing national anthem

PICT0309.JPG
Bob Kramm gifts a new rod to Bonefish

bonefishFishing.JPG
Bonefish fishing

PICT0313.JPG
Bonefish catches....a MERMAID!?

PICT0323.JPG
Enjoying the new rod

PICT0230.JPG
Grand children of Bonefish enjoy lunch

Cool96bonefish.JPG
Being interviewed by Andrea Gottlieb, Cool 96


Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2007 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Grand Bahama
Latest Headlines
Portrait of Grand Bahama Labyrinth founder, Barbara Chester, presented to Garden of the Groves
Grand Bahama Shipyard Makes Waves
Body Language’ Success for the Lois Seiler Academy of Dance
Arrival of the new Aquarius Zodiac Cycle at the Grand Bahama Labyrinth
Rare photo of sunset over Grand Bahama industrial area