Rodeo additions in the works

Although the Destin Fishing Rodeo is seven months away, the board of directors have already been at work making a few changes.

One change on the horizon is to the leaderboard and the various fish categories.

Charter boats, party boats, charter boats under-25 feet, private boats and privates under-25 will all have the same species in their divisions to try and catch.

On the list of eligible fish are king mackerel, grouper, amberjack, blackfin tuna, wahoo, black snapper, scamp, mingo, shark, red grouper and alamaco jack.

In the Billfish Division, which is an open category, the board has added swordfish to this division. Billfish that can be entered for first place only are blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish and now swordfish. These fish can be caught on a one day trip or extended trip.

In the Reef Division, which is also an open category, a few new fish have been added. The list of eligible fish, for first place awards only, include the Bearded Brotula, cobia, tile fish, Kitty Mitchell, lane snapper, snowy grouper, Warsaw grouper, yellowfin grouper and barrel fish.

Also a few changes have been made to the Daily Awards. For the charter and private boats over 25-feet, their eligible speices for daily awards include, amberjack, king mackerel, grouper, red grouper, mingo snapper, wahoo, shark, blackfin tuna, almaco jack, scamp, ladies largest any species (except sharks and rays) and junior largest any species (except shark and rays).

Dailies for the 25-and-under, private and charter, include amberjack, king mackerel, grouper, red grouper, mingo snapper, wahoo, shark, blackfin tuna, alamaco jack, Spanish mackerel, ladies largest any species (except sharks and rays) and junior largest any species (except shark and rays).

The Rodeo, established in 1948, is a month-long fishing tournament that draws more than 35,000 people throughout the month of  October who try to land a big one.