One wouldn’t think catching a fish on a kayak is easy — and sometimes it’s not.

But for someone like Zac Tuffnell, of Destin, fishing from a kayak is a snap.
A little before 5 p.m. today Zac got on the leaderboard with a 4.4-pound sailcat caught off his 14 1/2 foot kayak.
Zac said he caught about 10 sailcat fishing in the bay today.

Fishing from a kayak, “Takes some getting used,” Zac said.
Zac said he has caught king mackerel before from his kayak, but his biggest fish was a 20-pound Jack Crevalle.

“If you don’t have your anchor set … you’re going for a ride,” Zac said.

Zac’s buddy, Nick Martin, weighed in a 4.2-pound sailcat for second place in the kayak division.

There’s still plenty of time to get on the board today - so come on down. The scales are open until 7 p.m.

–Tina Harbuck

We just had a walk up at the Rodeo.
Paul Cox, 16, just weighed in a 4.8-pound flounder to take a top spot on the leaderboard. He is now the current leader in the Pier, Bridge, Jetties and Surf Division.

Young Cox caught the flounder off one of the docks on Okaloosa Island. He said they had caught about eight flounder today, but of course this was the biggest one — And it was huge.

I asked him what he used for bait — a green grub.

So now you know the secret.

–Tina Harbuck

Henry is from Alabama and lives in a foster home there. He “drove” the American Spirit this morning as a part of the Larry Hatchett Fishing Foundation kids. Capt Jim Green and his crew had as much fun as the kids did with the day together. It was his first trip on a boat, his first time seeing and using a compass, first time staying in a condo, his first time to catch a fish - or 9 in his case, his first time to see the Gulf and the list just keeps going. Henry had a great day.

- paula Kelley

14 year-old Rebecca Hyde from Mississippi pulled in a 10.4 lb. Trigger fish on Saturday as part of the Larry Hatchett Fishing Foundation’s fun. Rebecca was aboard Capt Jim Westbrook’s New Florida Girl about 11 miles out. Capt Westbrook and Jim Roberson from the International Game Fish Association believe it may be a world record. She was the trophy winner with the largest fish caught today for the group and she is the leader on the leaderboard for the Youth Division aboard a Party Boat.

- paula Kelley

The Larry Hatchett Fishing Foundation was in Destin for the weekend, taking 172 orphans and foster children fishing in the Gulf for the day. The American Spirit with Capt Jim Green and the New Florida Girl with Capt Jim Westbrook took the group out at 6 on Saturday morning and returned with their fish just before 5 p.m. In the words of Bruce “It was rough as a cob out there today” but in spite of the wind and the pitch of the waves the kids had the time of their lives. A.J.’s cooked their fish and served in tonight, the kids received trophies and rod and reels from the Foundation and certificates from the 60th Annual Fishing Rodeo.

- paula Kelley

Making my way down to the action today, it was hard not to notice all of the out-of-state license plates in the parking lot at AJ’s. Our neighbors on all sides were with us and others came from as far as Kansas and Illinois.

The bleachers were full and weighmaster Bruce Cheves was swamped on the barge with one fish after another getting its turn on the scales. And our 2008 Miss Destin was flashing her smile for the flashing cameras with each proud catch.

Mike Barnett from Montgomery, Ala. flaunted his 13.6-pound red snapper. He is a veteran angler around Destin, but it was his first time reeling the fish in for the rodeo.

There were some special visitors at the docks today. A large bunch from the Larry Hatchett Fishing Foundation piled onto the barge to have their photo made in a group. The foundation brought in foster kids from all over the south for a weekend of fishing and fun aboard the New Florida Girl.

The scales saw a little bit of everything… mackerel, snapper, amberjack… you name it! And the crowd got a rendition of “Dead Men Tell No Tales” from Destin’s resident wiley pirate that entertains the youngsters along the docks.

It’s not too late to catch the weekend excitement at the rodeo— it’s only Saturday!

-Jenni Rich

A dreary day didn’t keep the anglers away!

No strangers to the Destin Fishing Rodeo, David and Nancy Shaffer have been coming to Destin every year for the rodeo since 1985 from Granbury, Texas. David even jokes that he put Granbury on the map with a win in the king mackerel under 25 pounds category three years ago.

Their daschund, Elvis, was excited to see his daddy and paced the dock as David had his eight pound red snapper weighed in by weighmaster Bruce Cheves.

Then the Sea Winder backed in and brought in the Clendenin family from Tullahoma, Tenn. Dad Phillip was snapping away photos of his kids as they all had their catches ready for the scale. Oldest brother, Tom, 11, was proud of his 12.8 pound king mackerel and sister, Lucy, 9, was not far behind with a ten pounder. Little brother Anderson, 7, chipped in slimy trigger fish.

— Jennifer Rich

As of 12:30, Bruce said that he had weighed in about 18 fish so far today.

Will the real King please move to the top of the leaderboard.
King mackerel was apparently the hot fish of the afternoon, as boat after boat brought in king mackerel on Thursday.

Capt. J.T. Tenor on the Dawn Patrol came in around 3 p.m. with a whopper of a king. Dan Denton of Texas weighed in a 28.4-pound king to take a top spot on the board in the 25-and-under charter boat division for king mackerel. Denton was excited about his catch, but he was a little upset that he didn’t get to have his picture taken with Miss Destin Leah Stuart - she had not arrived from school yet.

Minutes later the charter boat Phoenix came in with a 37.4-pound king mackerel. Brad Norvell of Ohio was the angler that broke onto the leaderboard - but he’s in second place overall.

Probably the most exciting catch was a king mackerel reeled in by Patti Cox of Destin. She was fishing with Capt. Paul Dale and Cathi Wagner on the Full Pull 2. As they pulled into the docks, Cathi said,

“We weren’t fishing for it, but we caught it.”
Patti pulled in a 26.8-pound king for second in the 25-and-under charter division.

I believe Capt. Cathi was more excited than Patti.
“It was the most exciting thing,” Cathi said. “We were bottom fishing and had just caught a shark when the king took the bait.”
Cathi said it took off and had Paul Dale running around the boat. He finally gaffed it with a “d-hooker,” she said

“And as soon as it hit the deck, the hook fell out,” Cathi said.

What an afternoon — and there’s more to come — I’m sure of it.

–Tina Harbuck

The sun is beaming so bright right now I can hardly see my computer because of the glare from that

big orange ball in the sky - but I’m not complaining after the weather the last couple of days.

People are coming in and the bleachers are starting to fill up at the Rodeo - but there is room for you.

The charter boat Anticipation came in a few minutes ago with a couple fish that made it on the leaderboard.

Jake Norris, 8, of Georgia weighed in a 12.4-pound king mackerel for a spot, and Blake Huffman, 13, of Tennessee hauled in an 8.2-pound red snapper to take a top spot in the Teen Division.

The Mother Lode with Capt. Jason Hallmark at the helm came in with a 5-pound triggerfish caught by Matt Rogers of Kentucky.

Got to go — Bruce’s has another fish on the scales.

–Tina Harbuck

If the first couple of hours this morning is any sign of how Day 9 of the Rodeo is going to be — It’s going to be GREAT!!!

I understand that there are about 23 boats out just from the east end of the fishing docks, that’s not even counting the west end and all the boat in between — plus the private boats.

In just the last hour we’ve had a couple of walk ups and a few boats back in with fish.

Capt. David Nettles of the Gulf Ranger had several junior anglers that weighed in everything from king mackerel to triggerfish to red snapper.

Mary Kate Daniels, 9, of Kentucky got on the board for a junior daily in the charter boat division with her 8.4-pound king mackerel.

Abigail Arnold, 10, weighed in a 2.4-pound triggerfish and six-year-old Rich Daniel weighed in a 4-pound red snapper. Both their catches didn’t get on the leaderboard, but like all youngsters that bring in a fish - they don’t leave empty handed. They get a rod and reel and an certificate recording their catch.

Capt. Ken Bolden on the Just-B-Cause came in a little after 11 o’clock with a couple of king mackerel.
Capt. Bolden said it was nice out today.
“There was about a foot swell out of the southwest and a little cool … We just turned the air-conditioners off and enjoyed it.”

And enjoy is what they did — Ben Moore, 7, pulled in a 5.2-pound king mackerel.
Randy Mefford of Kentucky broke onto the leaderboard with a 20.6-pound king for a daily in the charter category.

And before they could back out the Back Atcha with Capt. Tres Peerson backed in.
“It was nice and cool today and it’s getting prettier and prettier by the moment,” Peerson said.
His 8-year-old angler Gavin Grant of Kentucky found a lead spot on the board with a 11.6-pound king.
When I asked the youngster what it was like to pull in the king — He replied - “It was just hard.”

Lots of boats out - it’s early - and the scales are open until 7 p.m. - so come on down.

– Tina Harbuck