Day 2 was another big day for the Destin Fishing Rodeo with just under 100 fish being weighed.

Folks walked up with fish in buckets that were caught wading in the bay and off the Okaloosa Island Pier — And boat after boat backed in with a variety of fish.

Zach Hahn, 17, of Niceville was one of the walk-ups. He weighed in a 3.8-pound speckled trout that he caught in the bay. His catch and went on the leaderboard in the pier, bridge, jetty and surf division.

Phillip Morris of Crestview walked up with with a 13.2-pound king mackerel he caught off the Okaloosa Island Pier. Morris said the pier fishing was good and that he missed one about 25 pounds. He said a dolphin ate it. “But that’s the way it goes,” Morris said.

But it wasn’t all walk-ups. The Early Dawn backed in with a fish that made it on the board. David Hamilton weighed in a 25.6-pound blackfin tuna.

The Miss B Haven came in with a 15.6-pound grouper caught by Magda Dyszkiewicz of Destin. Magda made it on the board for a female with a grouper.

These are just a few of the fish that made it on the board.
But don’t just take my word for it - come on down and check out the weighin.
The scales are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout October on the docks behind AJ’s.

It’s the best free entertainment around.
See you there.

–Tina Harbuck

Sarah Stevens had bright red hair and a smile that lit up the dock. She cautiously handed over her red snapper to Bruce Cheves who laid it over in the wooden cradle, picked up the hook and pierced her prized posession for the weigh-in.

She cringed just a moment and then realized that there was a picture to follow, so it might not be such a bad thing.

The weight was officially 5.8 lbs and she leads the Jr division on the board this morning. She went out with her parents and the crew of the Miss Nautica out of Destin.

Bruce gave her a reel and rod - compliments of A.J.s and then told her to “carry it straight up - then all you gotta worry about is ceiling fans and pokin’ people who are really tall in the eye…but you’ll never break your pole gettin’ it hung in the dock.”

— Paula Kelley

It’s only official when you wear the Tee shirt.

The 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo has their logo on long sleeve and short sleeve tees, caps, visors, bucket hats and even a special edition key chain. Also available are men’s and ladies’ polo shirts, youth size tees, sweatshirts, slickers, and sleeveless tanks. Youth shirts and hats are also available.

There are marlin shirts in short and long sleeves - five colors and new this year the “Mako My Day” shark shirt in black, teal, white, brown, blue, red and buttercup. They also have copies of the Fishing Rodeo book printed for the 50th year.

Ann White has been a volunteer for the Rodeo for the past 13 years and her smiling face is ready to put your souveniors in the bag for you.

— Paula Kelley