Destin Fishing Rodeo facts for kids

The Destin Fishing Rodeo is a big fishing contest that happens every year in Destin, Florida. It lasts for a whole month! This exciting event started way back in 1948. That means it has been going on for 77 years!

How It Started

The Destin Fishing Rodeo began in 1948. The small town of Destin wanted more visitors, especially when it wasn't peak beach season. The first rodeo was small, with only a few people joining. Prizes back then were things like kitchen tools, drinks, and even pieces of land!

The contest was called a "Rodeo" because of how early fishermen in Destin caught fish. People like Leonard Destin, who was one of the first settlers, would gather fish in special pens built in the water. This was like cowboys herding cattle in a rodeo pen. These pens kept the fish alive before modern live wells were invented.

Today, the prizes are much bigger! Winners can get vacations, cool fishing gear, and even over $100,000 in cash! The rodeo became so popular that it was moved to October. This helped extend the tourist season beyond the warm summer months. The event keeps growing every year. New ways to fish are added, like catching fish from paddle boards or kayaks. There are even "Shark Saturdays" for weighing in big sharks caught during the tournament!

Why It Matters to Destin

The Destin Fishing Rodeo brings a lot of money to the local community. For example, in 2006, about 36,518 anglers (fishermen and women) from many different places joined the rodeo. This brought in about $5.2 million for the town.

Contest Divisions

The rodeo has different groups for people to compete in. There are divisions for juniors, teens, ladies, and seniors. Prizes are given out every day, every week, and for the overall winners of the whole month. The types of fish you can catch and win prizes for can change each year. This is because of fishing rules set by the government.

Main Rodeo Rules

A special committee meets every year to decide all the rules. There are over 75 rules, but here are three important ones:

• You must tell the judges which group you are in when you weigh your fish.
• You cannot win more than one main prize for the same fish.
• The Destin Fishing Rodeo Rules Committee makes all final decisions about who can enter and what fish are allowed.

Weighing Your Catch

Every day during the Destin Fishing Rodeo, you can watch the fish being weighed. This happens from 11 AM to 7 PM Central Standard Time. The weigh-ins are behind AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar, right on the Destin Harbor. A big scoreboard shows all the leaders and is updated daily. There's even a small seating area for people who want to watch the excitement!