Whether they hooked whoppers or floundering flounders, young fishermen offered some of the highlights of the first day of the 59th Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.
The Anastasia, with Capt. Tony Davis at the helm, brought in a 41.8-pound wahoo caught by 12-year-old Cole Trulove of Alabama. Trulove also reeled in a 20-pound amberjack.

Ashton Jones, 13, also of Alabama, weighed in a 29.4-pound king mackerel and a 5.2-pound red snapper.
Capt. Davis said the boys caught the king and wahoo at the same time. He said they were fishing about 48-miles out from Destin.
Not long after the Anastasia pulled out, young Chris Hodgson, 7, of Destin, with his family in tow, walked up carrying a flounder in a bucket. Weighmaster Cheves asked the youngster if he planned on keeping the flounder or letting it go. He said they were going to keep it.
The flounder was still flouncing around, and Cheves said he needed to kill it so it would be still on the scales.
Cheves then took the flounder, and reared back and slammed the fish down on the docks and said — “now it’s dead.”
The youngster flinched a little, but he quickly recovered after he received his rod and reel and certificate for his 2.2-pound flounder caught off the docks at Fishing Fleet Marina.

- Tina Harbuck

Less than a week from the start of the Destin Fishing Rodeo, work continues at A.J.’s Seafood and Oyster Bar for the month of October.

Wednesday afternoon, one set of bleachers had been completed and another set was under construction as the restaurant prepares to host the Rodeo, which celebrates its 59th year in 2007.

The Rodeo’s mobile office and merchandise trailer has arrived on-site and the staff is working dilligently to get ready for 10 a.m. Monday morning, when the scales open and the Rodeo officially begins.

-Patrick Donohue