Sarah the Pumpkin dog was one of the many canine friends who joined their masters at the dock this Rodeo. She was a Jack ‘O Lantern for Halloween.

Fred and Michelle Landy brought their pugs, Karma and Luna for the costumed fun as well!

One of tonight’s Rodeo judges, Mary Kenyon, got into the spirit of Halloween with a political flair as “Joe the Plumber” — she even wore the article from the front page of THE DESTIN LOG.

Jay and Betty Coppic were Royalty at the Weigh-In tonight. The Destin couple dressed as the King and Queen of Hearts and took a place of importance in front of the Leader Board to watch the fun. Betty says they love dressing for the last night of the Rodeo every year.

Will and Sara, Bartenders from AJs were crowd pleasers tonight!

The last night of the 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo brought a beautiful sunset and hundreds of people! The weighmaster Bruce Cheves was a handsome Master of Ceremonies in a classic tuxedo, fresh rose boutineer, boots and a black fedora. Miss Destin, Leah Stuart, dressed as Bruce! She wore Bruce’s name tag, his classic bandana on her head, and sported his beard painted on. He didn’t have anything on her as she wore boots and spurs much like he has worn all month. She thought the candy cigarette in her mouth was fun as well. Everyone enjoyed the festivities and the last night of the fun with these two.

- paula Kelley

The last day of the 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo is going out with probably the most beautiful day thus far. It was a little slow at the docks, but a judge said that plenty of boats are out and will likely be back in time for the final weigh-in of the Rodeo.

So far, weighmaster Bruce Cheves has weighed in two king mackerel, one snapper and a 6.6 pound red fish brought in by Destinites Joe Young and Buddy Johnson.

The word on the barge is that Bruce is going to dress up for Halloween in a costume he calls Metamorphasis. All we’ve heard is it involves a ski mask and Bruce’s hair sticking up. Come celebrate the final Rodeo push tonight behind AJ’s. Weighing will continue until 7 p.m. and costumes are encouraged!

-Jenni Rich

When it comes to king mackerel fishing — the Creel’s keep it all in the family.

Capt. Ken Creel on the KC Creel’s went out today with plans to get on the board with another king — and that they did. His 14-year-old son Kasey pulled in a 46.8-pound king to take the top spot in Teen Division.

They also had a lady who weighed in a 36.2-pound king mackerel, as well as a junior with a 38.5-pound king mackerel.
Capt. Ken said they also pulled in a 45-pound wahoo for a daily.

Capt. Ken said it was a bit rough on the Gulf today so they had to come in a little bit closer and pull in a few triggerfish off the bottom.

But all in all — I’d say it was a good day.

The bleachers are starting to fill up but there is still room.

–Tina Harbuck

One of the passengers aboard the New Florida Girl captured the action of the angry seas that blasted a hole in the side of the party boat. She also caught on tape the Coast Guard rescue, the bucket brigade and the bailout of one of the fleet’s oldest boats. The video is broken up into three parts and appears below.

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

For the full story from that fateful day, click here.

For a photo gallery of the New Florida Girls’ ordeal at sea taken by one of the passengers, click here.

If you didn’t fish on Wednesday - you missed out.

According to the few captains that fished on Wednesday - the Gulf of Mexico was “beautiful” — some even described it “calm as a lake.”

Anyhow the ones that did go out, made the most of their time - not coming in until 6:30 and later.
As a matter of fact at 6:54 p.m, the 1,100th fish of the 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo was weighed in - which is way better than anybody ever anticipated. The 1,100th fish was a 15.4-pound red grouper caught by Mark Devito aboard the Perfect Shot with Capt. Brady Bowman.

Capt. Bowman, who said it was “slick calm” today, brought five different fish to the scales. Three made it on the board for dailies - a 20.4-pound king mackerel, the red grouper, and an 8.2-pound red snapper.

Before it was all said and done - the Rodeo had recorded 1,103 fish in 29 days of fishing.

Who knows what will happen in the next couple of days - we might even reach 1,200. Either way the Rodeo has blasted any records that were on the books off - way off!!!

–Tina Harbuck

Word is there’s not many boats out today. The sun is out, the harbor looks nice and calm, but not many on the water - But again you never know.

There have been a couple of folks stopping by and checking out the leaderboard to see who’s leading in what categories.

As a matter fact I just ran into Capt. Ken Creel who is leading the King Mackerel Division with a 49-pound king they brought in Sunday. Creel said he’s got 11 spots on the leaderboard from wahoo’s to 3-pound ladyfish. He said he plans on going out tomorrow one more time. This time he’s shooting for a king mackerel caught by a lady.

Come on down, there’s plenty of room in the bleachers.

–Tina Harbuck

Anyone that has been outside today can probably tell that the chilly wind is keeping anglers off the rough waters and the big fish away.

“So far, just a couple stringers from kids today,” weighmaster Bruce Cheves, said.

There was not a lot of Rodeo action going on, but Bruce kept himself entertained looking at baubles aboard the American Spirit. No, they did not haul in long lost treasure.

Barbara Ramsdell, visiting from outside Atlanta, brought an inventory for a jewelry show on the fishing boat. She had gold, silver and every other stone imaginable.

The good times still rolled on the Rodeo barge for Bruce and Richard Laedeke. The two sliced up yellowfin and blackfin tuna to eat — raw.

Bruce said that he expected it to stay slow, but like he always says… you never know.

-Jenni Rich