Rodeo 101: Pros offer tips to landing on the leaderboard

 “It’s about getting people out there and fishing,” Capt. Jim Green told the group of about 50 gathered for the Emerald Coast Saltwater Seminar Series at Hooters Wednesday evening.

Capt. Green of the party boat New Florida Girl’s American Spirit and a director on the Destin Fishing Rodeo board said the Rodeo was originally designed to extend the fishing season.

Last year the Rodeo had one of its best years ever with more than a 1,000 fish entered.

But the great thing about the Rodeo, Green said, is there is something for everyone.

“They open up the Rodeo to big and small boats,” he said. “And you don’t have to have a boat. There is a pier, bridge, jetty and surf division ... and there is not an entry fee.”

But if you are looking to enter a boat, the cost of entry “goes by the size of the boat,” he said. The cost ranges from $75 for a non-motorized boat to $300 for a 35.1-footer and bigger.

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To see highlights from last year's Rodeo, click here.

To see a glossary of Rodeo terms, click here.

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The Rodeo also has divisions for charter boats, party boats and private boats.

“In the charter boat division, they only compete against charters,” he said. “And there is no limit to how many trips you can charter or fish you can bring in.”

The Rodeo goes throughout the entire month of October, which gives the angler plenty of opportunities to get on the leaderboard.

He also explained that there is a party boat division, of which his boat is designed for.

“On a party boat, (fishing) it’s set up on a per-person basis,” Green said. Whereas on a charter vessel, “you set the time and species you want to target.

“On a party boat, everybody has a rod and everybody has a in line the water,” he said, noting there can be as many as 40 people on the boat. The charter trips, usually take about six to eight people.

When weighing in a fish at the Rodeo, “you have to declare what division you are in,” Green said. In other words you can’t win multiple awards for a single fish —  except in the bonus and jackpot awards.

And something new this year, “you have to have your fish gutted before you get to the scales,” Green said.

The Rodeo has a slot on the leaderboard for almost every species of fish.

Capt. Green said in recent days, he’s seen a lot of amberjack.

Other eligible bottom fish are mingo, grouper, red grouper, scamp and triggerfish

“I like to come up 10 to 12 turns,” off the bottom, he said when fishing for mingo. “The bigger ones are on the top.”

He talked about scamp, another eligible fish, that tends to stay around a structure. “But they’re all bite and no fight,” Green said.

Kevin Kaple of Half Hitch Tackle was also on hand to speak on behalf of the Rodeo and how to catch Rodeo fish.

Kaple said October is the perfect time of year for catching blackfin tuna and king mackerel.

“There are already a lot of big kings being caught close in, and the blackfin are on the edge,” Kaple said. “If everything stays normal (the weather), it’s going to be an interesting season.”

Sonny Granger, redfish professional and host for the Saltwater Series, said his personal favorite is amberjack.

Capt. Green said he prefers to use live bait when fishing for amberjack, while Granger said a butterfly jig is also very effective.

Next they discussed the Inshore Division and the eligible species such as redfish, speckled trout, flounder and Spanish mackerel.

From the Destin Coast Guard Station to Brooks Bridge is good for site fishing for redfish, Granger said. He has also heard there are few schools of reds on the northside of Crab Island.

As for trout, Kaple said there are some “very large” ones showing up in the bay.

And live croakers are the ticket.

“Live croakers are trout candy,” Granger said. “The bigger the better. Trout are over achievers.”

Other Rodeo divisions mentioned were the Reef Division, Offshore Division and Extended Voyage Division.

The thing to keep in mind in the extended voyage, is you have to call ahead to the Rodeo office and state your plans for a trip more than 20 hours.

And it is possible to catch one of the offshore species (wahoo, dolphin, barracuda and yellowfin tuna) within 30 miles of Destin, Kaple said.

Something new for the Pier, Bridge, Jetties and Surf Division this year is that anglers fishing from land have to have a fishing license.

The Rodeo also has a Trash Can Slam, Panfry Division and then a category just for the Ladies, Junior and Teens.

The newest division for the Rodeo this year is Shark Saturdays. Every Saturday in October, the boat that brings in the largest shark will be the winner of $250.

“It’s a legal fish to take ... and we’re not going to deplete the Gulf,” Green said. He explained that the Rodeo will have a radio at the docks where captains can keep in touch, if they have a big one on board, so as to keep the kill levels down.

Sonny noted that “the shark bite is on in the bay.”

The Rodeo, which begins Oct. 1, has a category available for almost everyone and every species. And the leaderboard is constantly changing. Don’t hesitate to weigh in your catch.

“By not weighing your fish, you’re missing out on a possible award,” said Kaple. “It could really pay off to weigh in your fish.”