A RICHER RODEO: Big money on the line as fishing tournament lands $70,000 grant
Big bucks are on the line for fish entries in this year’s Destin Fishing Rodeo.
The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council and Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau has given the Rodeo $70,000, as part of a recent BP payout.
“The money is mostly a marketing tool for the Rodeo,” said Rodeo executive director Helen Donaldson. “Sure, more boats may register to fish and that will benefit the Rodeo’s financials, but all of the $70,000 is going out as prizes to encourage people to come back to the area to stay, fish and play.”
“It’s a win-win situation for the economy,” said Mark Bellinger, executive director of the TDC. “I think it will help increase lodging occupancy. It should also help increase the Rodeo’s attendance and it should help our local businesses and the fishing fleet.
The grant is “one avenue in how we can help the local economy,” Bellinger said.
The Rodeo, which is a month-long fishing tournament during October, is celebrating its 62nd year. Last month, the Rodeo board decided to go forward with the event despite whatever threats the Deepwater Horizon oil spill might pose in the gulf.
Since then, the oil well has been capped off and it is not currently posing a threat in state waters off of Destin.
“We are fortunate that we have five weekends in October this year,” Donaldson said.
The Rodeo is looking to offer the big bucks in prize money in the Bonus Awards.
There are six $10,000 Bonus Awards plus a Kids’ Weekend set for Oct. 9-10.
The six overall bonus divisions will pay out $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $1,000 for third. The six divisions are Fare Carrying King Mackerel, Fare Carrying Almaco Jack, Fare Carrying Blackfin Tuna; Fare Carrying Mingo Snapper; Private King Mackerel, and Open Red Fish.
If federal waters are open, the Almaco Jack division will become the Fare Carrying Amberjack. And if regulators open up red snapper season, the Mingo Snapper will become the Red Snapper division.
Anglers will have a chance all month to bring in the money fish.
However, fish weighed in the Bonus Awards are only eligible for the Bonus Awards. They cannot go across the board. Captains will need to declare a division when the fish is brought to the docks and once the entry is signed, no changes to the entry will be allowed. Bonus fish are also not eligible for the AJ’s Bonus Awards. No extended voyage fish will be eligible.
As for the Kids’ Weekend, $10,000 is up for grabs.
Any youngster fishing on a registered boat in the Rodeo (private or charter) or anyone on the pier, bridge, jetty and surf are eligible to enter a fish. Two $2,500 education IRAs will be awarded each day to a junior angler under the age of 15. And they must be present to win.
“The regular Rodeo prizes and divisions will continue throughout the month,” Donaldson added.
The home for this year’s Rodeo is AJ’s Oyster Bar and Seafood House. The Rodeo scales will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on the docks behind the restaurant with Bruce Cheves reprising his role as weighmaster, which he has done for more than two decades
“AJ’s is pulling out all the stops to arrange for the three ‘must be present to win’ events,” Donaldson said. “We expect we will have hundreds of people at these events the second and fourth weekends. A live band, food and beverages will available.
“We encourage the charter captains and accommodations providers to contact their customers through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and all other means of social networking to get them to make their fishing and lodging reservations.”
“I am very excited that the TDC is working with the Rodeo to promote that the fishing industry in Destin has survived the gulf oil spill,” Donaldson said. “Our goal is to let our former participants know that we are still “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and introduce fishing in the Gulf of Mexico to new anglers and visitors.”
