The 68th Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo kicked off on October 1st and they’ve been reeling in some pretty amazing catches. The Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo takes place the entire month of October, and fisherman from all over come to Destin to participate. There are daily awards along with the jackpot that is awarded October 31st. It’s the top event of the year for Destin considering we are known as the Luckiest Fishing Village.
There are several different divisions such as the Charter Boat Division, Party Boat Division, Junior Angler Division, etc. Weigh-ins are daily down at Aj’s Seafood & Oyster Bar. It’s free to all spectators, who also get to enjoy a beautiful Destin sunset as an added bonus. On the 1st day this year over 137 fish were weighed in with each fisherman trying to top the leader board. The leader board is on display and updated after every weigh-in.
There is a unique shark category which was added as recently as last year. Sharks are always a treat when brought into the docks and the kids love to catch a peek whenever they are weighed in. This past Saturday a monstrous hammerhead made an appearance resulting in loud cheering and roaring from the crowd. This category has a prize payout every Saturday, and they encourage fisherman to sign up for the weekly shark hunt.
The Destin Fishing Rodeo showcases all different types of fish, however, the Blue Marlin and Swordfish are usually a fan favorite. Other popular catches are the King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna all resulting in a prize payout category for biggest fish. This past week a 177-pound Yellowfin Tuna was caught, the fisherman proudly standing next to his catch looked about the same size. It takes a lot of patience and endurance to reel a catch of that size in.
It’s hard not to be a fisherman at heart in Destin, and the locals and tourist both enjoy the month-long event. You can be a part of this exciting event daily from 10am – 7pm. The fish make for a great attraction and a souvenir photo!