The Rodeo’s board of directors voted that AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar would, once again, be the host of the 2008 and 2009 Destin Fishing Rodeos.

AJ’s and Legendary’s HarborWalk Marina both submitted bids in August to host the 60th Destin Fishing Rodeo next year and again in 2009.

“Both bids were very competitive,” said Rodeo executive director Helen Donaldson. “But we just couldn’t discount everything that AJ’s has done for us in the past. We are looking forward to being back at AJ’s.”

AJ’s has been the home of the Rodeo since 2002.

Donaldson said ultimately the construction at HarborWalk Village made the Rodeo’s board a little uneasy but she hopes to see a bid from HarborWalk again in the future.

“HarborWalk Village is still a little bit unknown, but they submitted a very attractive bid, and we are all looking forward to the things that they’ve got planned in the future and seeing those things come to fruition,” she said.

This year’s Rodeo board president, Tim Broom of Half Hitch Tackle, said the lengths that all of the people at AJ’s go day-in and day-out during the month of October is really what sets the venue apart.

“AJ’s has always taken very good care of the Rodeo,” he said. “They’re always great, if anything breaks, the maintenance guys are down there and boom! It’s fixed. We tell them that we need more space for spectators, the next day we have more bleachers. They’ve always been good about that. We have a really good working relationship with them.”

— Patrick Donohue

8: The fish caught on the first day that held their top spots on the Rodeo leaderboard.
2: Fish cleaned by Miss Destin 2007, Emily Kaltz, a king mackerel and a dolphin.
700+: Number of rods and reels handed out to junior anglers during the month of October. Each angler under the age of 12 who weighs in a fish of at least a pound receives a certificate and a free rod and reel, courtesy of AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar.
844.4: The number of pounds of the mako shark brought in by Capt. Robert Hill. The shark received national and international attention and was the largest fish ever weighed in during the month of October in the 59-year history of the Rodeo.
790: Number of fish weighed-in during the month of October.
841: Number of fish weighed-in last year during the month of October.
2: The different forms of artillery at the disposal of Rodeo weighmaster Bruce Cheves on Halloween. Cheves had a cannon for his annual exhibition of his now-famous fish gut art as well as a homemade muzzle loader.
4.6: The weight of angler Carl Giroux’s red snapper, which was the Rodeo’s first fish.
76: The weight of the Rodeo’s last fish, an amberjack brought to the docks by Capt. Kelly Windes of the Sunrise.

Stay glued to our Web site at www.thedestinlog.com Friday night to find out who will host the 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.

Choice for Rodeo ‘08 down to two
Two area businesses are vying to play host to the 60th edition of Destin’s longest-standing tradition.
At the end of August, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Marina turned in bids for the consideration of the Destin Fishing Rodeo’s Board of Directors. The board met in September to review the proposals and will meet once more before making their decision public on Nov. 9 at the Rodeo’s awards dinner.
AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar has been the Rodeo’s home since 2002, and HarborWalk played host to the event from 1999-2001.
Rodeo Executive Director Helen Donaldson sent out bid solicitations to businesses such as Harbor Docks restaurant, AJ’s., East Pass Marina, Destin Fishing Fleet Marina, The Ship’s Chandler and any other business that might have interest in hosting the event.
The Rodeo has criteria that a prospective host must meet. The venue must:
– be a well-lit and secure venue for Rodeo staff, participants and spectators;
– have a structure capable of weighing a 14-foot fish;
– have docks capable of allowing boats to pull up to the scales, as well as room for boats to wait without blocking the harbor;
– have adequate seating for 75-150 people; and
– offer a leaderboard, space for a merchandise trailer and an office for Rodeo staff.
Donaldson said the Rodeo’s contract with the venue would be a two-year deal, securing the Rodeo’s home for 2008 and 2009.
Hosting the Rodeo and the thousands of spectators it attracts annually would be attractive for any business, Donaldson said.
“It’s a great business decision. The Rodeo attracts lots of people during a generally slow time of year and it attracts business to that property,” she said.

-Patrick Donohue

It was like the day after Christmas down on the docks this morning.

All that remains of your excitement, anticipation and euphoria are a few scraps of wrapping paper and despite all your shiny, new stuff, a sinking feel of letdown. The leaderboard, empty bleachers and the bizarrely wide open space where the scale once swung is all that remains to remind us of what was just last night so much a part of everyday life in Destin.

It’s the day after the Rodeo, the first day of November, and strolling the docks, it’s difficult not to have that same, sobering feeling.

The merchandise trailer is locked up, weighmaster Bruce Cheves is no where in sight and the Rodeo office is being packed up and moved back to its permanent home on Stahlman Avenue in front of the Community Center for the next 11 months.

The Rodeo’s last order of business will be its annual awards dinner, Friday, Nov. 9 at AJ’s.

-Patrick Donohue

Danny McGinnis of Anniston, Ala., weighed in the last fish of the 59th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo about 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night.

Not only was his amberjack the last fish, No. 790, but it became a first when it tilted the scales at 76 pounds. He took over in the Amberjack Division, daily largest and weekly.

He was fishing aboard the Sunrise with Capt. Kelly Windes, who is known for bringing in the whoppers when it comes to Rodeo fishing.

Click below for a link to video of the Rodeo’s closing hours.

http://www.thedestinlog.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1225901529&bclid=1227699971&bctid=1299109575

— Tina Harbuck

The final day of the Rodeo brought out all kinds.

Roman Centurions, devils, wet T-shirt contestants, a patient with his behind exposed and the rare pink spotted grouper all prowled the docks on this Halloween night. Rodeo officials with shark hats circled the harbor — a tip of the hat to the 844 pound shark that was seen ’round the world. Even Miss Destin Emily Kaltz got in the act donning a garbage can as the Trash Can Slam.

At 7:00, Weighmaster Bruce Cheves called to the boats still idling in the harbor.

“Bring up your dead,” Cheves said.

And then the big ones came in. Stay tuned!

Tonight before the last night celebration at the Destin Fishing Rodeo drifts toward felonious behavior, Rodeo weighmaster Bruce Cheves will pay tribute to those lost in the past year.

Long a Rodeo tradition, Cheves has assembled a list of names of those from Destin’s fishing community and from the community at large that have passed away in the past year.

When he deems appropriate, Cheves will ask the crowd to be quiet and he will ring the bell once for each name on the list.

Normally a pretty jovial, fun-loving guy, Cheves takes the tradition very seriously.

“Well, let’s just put it like this. If someone wants to talk while I’m ringing that bell, we’re going to turn that cannon around,” he said, referring to the small but noisy cannon used primarily for fish gut art, positioned toward the water.

-Patrick Donohue

The crew down at the Rodeo is starting to get in the festive mood.

Rodeo Chairman Tim Broom is already decked out and I’m sure others will be as the day progresses.

The weather is great and the boats are out, which means they will be coming in with lots of fish.

Don’t forget the scales close today at 7 p.m. for the last time for the 59th Rodeo.

-Tina Harbuck

Those attending the Rodeo’s last night tomorrow at AJ’s will probably be in for a little of both.

The last night of the Rodeo is always a pretty festive occasion. Weighmaster Bruce Cheves, Rodeo chairman Tim Broom and others will likely be dressed up in their ghoulish best.

Cheves will also be partaking in one of his favorite Halloween pastimes - fish gut art. The art happens when Cheves loads a cannon with fish guts and other equally nasty components and fires it against a white board.

For this year’s art, Cheves has promised an array of colors.

“Along with fish guts in our fish gut art, we will be incorporating the use of different spherical containers of color,” he said.

What else will Cheves be doing to close the Rodeo in style?

“We are going to do whatever we can get away with without getting arrested,” he said.

Could be a great night. Let’s hope the weather keeps up its end of the bargain.

-Patrick

The last shall be first.

Such was the case for the crew aboard the Perfect Shot.

Perfect Shot was the last boat in Monday evening, but it was worth the wait for the crowd gathered on the docks at AJ’s.

Just minutes before 7 p.m. (close of scales), Capt. Brady Bowman and his crew backed in at the Rodeo scales with a whopper of a king mackerel.

A couple of hours earlier, we had received word that Capt. Bowman had a big king, but you never count it until you see it on the docks.

Well it was a NICE one. Fourteen-year-old Tyler Heikkinen of Shalimar pulled in a 43.4-pound king mackerel that took over first in the charter division and first in the King Mackerel Jackpot. If his catch holds until close Wednesday evening it could be worth some big money for the captain and youngster.

Before the king was gutted it weighed 45 pounds.

Catching big king mackerel is nothing new for Capt. Bowman — last year he won the division with a 51.6-pounder.

There are two days left in the 59th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo and the count is now at 758 fish weighed.

Don’t miss out on the last two days. Anything could happen.

See you there.

-Tina Harbuck