Destin Fishing Rodeo
Destin, located halfway between Pensacola and Panama City on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is nationally known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and the “Billfishing Capital of the Northern Gulf”. Destin is home to sugary white beaches and clear emerald waters, perfect for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. It’s history can be credited to Capt. Leonard Destin, who settled here in Northwest Florida around 1845 and pioneered the fishing industry. Destin has maintained its fishing heritage and has the largest charter boat fleet in Florida. Fishing here is simply great!
The Destin Rodeo is a fishing tournament for anglers of all skill levels and ages. In 2005, more than 30,000 anglers competed throughout the month of October for over $100,000 in prizes ranging from trophies and merchandise to bonds.
You can troll inshore for King Mackerel, offshore for Marlin and Sailfish, and drift the deep blue bottoms for Red Snapper and Grouper. There are daily, weekly, and overall prizes in men’s, women’s and junior anglers’ categories. Just about every game fish is recognized with awards during the Rodeo.
The following are the 2006 Rodeo Divisions:
GRAND PRIZE DIVISION:
King Mackerel and Red Snapper are the only two species of fish that may be entered in the Grand Prize Division. A prize will be awarded to both the charter boat contestants and the private boat category contestants entering the largest and second largest King Mackerel and Red Snapper.
GROUPER AWARDS DIVISION:
Black Grouper is the only species of fish that may be entered in the Grouper Awards Division.
AMBERJACK DIVISION:
Amberjack is the only species that may be entered in the Amberjack Awards Division.
SPECIAL AWARDS DIVISION:
Kitty Mitchell, Red Grouper, Black Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Blackfin Tuna, Yellowfin Grouper, Bonita, Jack Crevalle, Redfish, and Cobia in competition with each other may be entered in the Special Awards Division.
WARSAW DIVISION:
Warsaw is the only specie of fish that may be entered in the Warsaw Division.
SHARK DIVISION:
All species of Shark are eligible for this division. One Shark per boat per day may be brought to the weigh station. The Shark must be at least 200 lb. All regulations for shark fishing must be adhered to.
PAN FRY DIVISION:
Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Sheepshead, Blue Runner, Catfish, Speckled Trout, White Trout, Mingo Snapper, White Snapper, Northern Mackerel, and Striped Bass in competition with each other may be entered in the Pan Fry Division. It can be caught by boat or from shore. This division does not cross over to other categories. You must declare a division of entry at the time of weigh-in.
OFFSHORE DIVISION:
The Offshore Division consists of seven categories: (1) Sailfish, (2) White Marlin, (3) Blue Marlin, (4) Wahoo, (5) Dolphin, (6) Yellowfin Tuna, and (7) Sportsman (Billfish tag and releases). You MUST follow the following minimum size limits: Blue Marlin must be at least 120 inches lower jaw fork length, White Marlin must be at least 76 inches lower jaw fork length, Sailfish must be at least 75″ lower jaw fork length. Even though it would be a crowd-pleaser to bring a billfish to the docks, the Destin Fishing Rodeo encourages Tag & Release.
OVERNIGHT DIVISION:
In order to qualify in the Overnight Division, a boat must be away from the dock for over 24 hours. Boats must notify Rodeo Headquarters prior to departure by calling 837-6734. The caught fish must be weighed on the day of the vessel’s return to port. Overnight entries are eligible only in the Overnight Division. Eligible fish include: Dolphin, Wahoo, Warsaw, Amberjack, Grouper, Red Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, and Scamp.
PIER, BRIDGE, JETTY AND SURF DIVISION:
Eligible species in the Pier, Bridge, Jetty and Surf Division must weigh at least one pound and be Pompano, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Speckeled Trout, and/or Jack Crevalle. This Division does not cross over to other categories. You must choose which division you want to enter at the time of weigh-in. Fish must be caught within 25 miles east of the Destin Bridge.
SENIOR CITIZEN DIVISION:
Anglers must be 65 years of age or older to enter this Division.
DESTIN CHARTER BOAT CHILDREN’S AWARD:
Children 12 years and under, and ages 13-18, of Captain or crewmembers entered in the Rodeo are eligible in this division. A letter will be sent to all Charter Boat captains with a card to declare their charter boat children and their relationship to the crew. If the Rodeo does not have record of a child 24 hours prior to weigh-in, the child cannot enter this category.
JUNIOR and TEEN DIVISIONS:
Boys and girls twelve years of age and less on the date of the catch are eligible in the Junior Division. King Mackerel, Wahoo, Dolphin, Blackfin Tuna, and Triggerfish having a minimum weight of one pound are eligible for entry in the Junior Division. Billfish Tag & Release, Grouper, Amberjack, Red Snapper, Wahoo, Dolphin, and King Mackerel are eligible for entry in the Teen Division. Boys and girls thirteen to eighteen years of age on the date of the catch are eligible in the Teen Division.
RODEO RECORD DIVISION:
Think you can beat any records? The winner for each species will be determined by the leaders in each category at the end of the tournament (which is 7:00 p.m. on October 31st.). In the event that two entries are of the same weight, the first entry will win.
Records to beat:
King Mackerel 56.8 lbs. Red Snapper 39.4 lbs.
Black Grouper 70.2 lbs. Warsaw 358.8 lbs.
Amberjack 106.9 lbs. Dolphin 48.8 lbs.
Wahoo 96.1 lbs. Sailfish 68.7 lbs.
White Marlin 85 lbs. Blue Marlin 528.4 lbs.
FLY-FISHING DIVISION:
This category is for fish caught on a boat or from shore using any type of fly line. The breaking strength of the fly line and backing is not restricted. Leaders must conform to rules and generally accepted fly fishing customs. Rods must conform to generally accepted fly fishing customs and practices, and the reel must be designed for fly-fishing. The angler must cast, hook, fight, and bring the fish to gaff or net unaided by any other person. Casting and retrieving must be carried out in accordance with normal customs and practices. Trolling a fly behind a moving watercraft is not permitted. This Division does not cross over to other categories. Again, you must declare a division at the time of weigh-in.
25′ and UNDER DIVISION:
This category is open to both “fare-carrying” and private vessels 25′ and under in length. Species eligible in this division are King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Grouper, Speckled Trout, Redfish and Spanish Mackerel.
Some of the top winners from last year are:
Largest Ladies Open winner
39lb King Mackerel caught by Rhonda Abshire from Fort Walton Beach, FL
Grouper Division
68.6lb caught by Robert Haas from Cartersville, GA
Amberjack Division
97.4lb caught by Wayne Skibinski of Stockbridge, GA
Barracuda Division
29.2lb caught by Corey Terry from Florence
Largest Spanish Mackerel
6.4lb caught by Ryan Dunn of Mary Esther, FL
All fish will be weighed-in at AJ’s Seafood, and you must be in line by 7pm. Daily prizes will be presented at the official Rodeo Headquarters after 7:15 p.m. Weekly prizes will be presented at the official Rodeo Headquarters after 7:15 p.m. on the last day of the fishing week. A contestant cannot win more than three daily prizes and not more than two weekly prizes within the entire month of October. Also, a contestant cannot hold more than one place in a division. Junior Certificates given to junior entries are limited to one per person per day.
There will also be a special King Mackerel Anglers Award and King Mackerel Jackpot Bonus Award. All King Mackerel caught from a registered boat will be eligible for the Special King Mackerel Anglers Award. The angler with the overall largest fish will win $3,000, second largest will get $2,000, and the third largest wins $1,000. The Special King Mackerel Jackpot Bonus Award is open to all registered boats that have paid the Jackpot entry fee ($100 per boat) and filled out the Jackpot entry form. The Jackpot will be split as follows:
Largest King Mackerel 50%, Second Largest King Mackerel 30%, and Third Largest King Mackerel 20%.
The Destin Rodeo costs $100 to register. It’s free to anglers who fish aboard those registered boats. If this is something you are interested in, register by calling (850) 837-6734.
The weather here in Destin in October is usually great, with sunny skies and moderate sea breezes. Average high temperatures are about 80″ and average lows are 60″. The water temperature is a mild 81 degrees, and there is an average of only 3.0″ of rain during the entire month.
This event is fun for the entire family, whether you are a contestant or watching in the crowd as fish are brought in. I am registered to fish with my husband aboard our vessel. Fish are biting everywhere right now in 90 degree water, which means in October the waters will have cooled down and the fishing will be even hotter.
Happy Fishing and Tight lines!
