Although today Negril is a quiet and peaceful beach destination, it has not always been this way. In the 16th century, Negril was a pirates' capital. English buccaneers benefited from its location to attack the Spanish ships on their way to Cuba. Sir John Hawkings and Francis Drake were two of the most famous local pirates. Some years later the pirates left Negril, and established in port royal.
The name of Bloody Bay has nothing to do with the pirates, though. Its name comes from the whalers who used this bay to butcher these huge animals.