After two days of nasty weather, a beautiful new day dawned Wednesday on the Emerald Coast. At about 7:15 a.m., more than a dozen boats could be seen out in the Gulf of Mexico as others lined up to traverse East Pass. From the looks of things, it could be another banner day at the Destin Fishing Rodeo. Stay tuned!

It was about 12:30 p.m. at the Rodeo scales

Neither rain or rough water kept Michele Kirby of Tennessee from weighing in her 5-pound king mackerel Wednesday afternoon. Under the rain slicker is weighmaster Bruce Cheves.

Michele Kirby of Tennessee weighed in a 5-pound king mackerel for a daily spot on the leaderboard in the 25-foot and under category.

I couldn’t believe they had been out in that rough water fishing. But they hung in there and brought in a fish.
When I yelled at Capt. Craig Tatum from the bleachers (which are covered behind AJ’s), how it was out on the Gulf today — one of the ladies soon yelled back — “Have you seen the movie the Perfect Storm?”
I yelled back - Yes.
She said, “Well it was a lot like that.”

My hats go off to those folks that braved the rough waters today to get on the leaderboard.

Others dailies that got up on the board today was the charter boat Perfect Shot with a 15.2-pound grouper, and the charter boat Al-Lin with a 13-pound red snapper.

– Tina Harbuck

I’ve got a fish tale for you —

Weighmaster Bruce Cheves hands the taleless king mackerel back to deckhand Lana after weighing it. The king weighed 9.2-pounds.

Capt. Jimmy Miles on the Kelly Girl just backed in at the Rodeo scales with a boat load of people and several king mackerel. His mate Lana threw three kings on the docks and another that was missing its tale. Capt. Jimmy said a dolphin had eaten the tale while the angler was pulling the king in.

Anyhow, the first three were in the eight pound range - which wasn’t big enough to take a daily - the current daily is a 9.4-pounder brought in about an hour ago on the Checkmate with Capt. George Eller.

However, when weighmaster Bruce weighed the king that was missing its tale - it tilted the scales at 9.2 pounds.

The taleless king mackerel - dolphin damaged.

–Tina Harbuck

Brothers Codey Mahurin, 16, and Chris Hodson, 11, from Louisville, Ky., together brought four red snapper and one white.

An assortment of red snapper, white snapper and triggerfish came with them.

The anglers bypassed the scales, but neither that or the rain put a damper on the fun the spectators were having under the awning behind AJ’s.

Weighmaster Bruce Cheves wasn’t very busy.

“Nine minutes after I opened this morning, I weighed my first fish,” he said.

That king mackerel was followed by one more a while later, both of them 8- or 9-pound school fish. And as of 2 p.m. that was it.

While it has been slow, Bruce expects to weigh more before the day is over.

There were only eight or ten boats out today, but they were no doubt full of the most serious anglers, he said.

-Jenni Rich

When it comes to weighing in fish at

Emma Allsboroks, Jacob Howard and Hunter Meredith weighed in fish Monday afternoon for rod and reels and certificates. Wishing them well was Miss Destin Leah Stuart.

And three of those kids Monday evening were Jacob Howard, Emma Allsbrooks and Hunter Meredith. Jacob weighed in a 7.8-pound king mackerel, while Emma and Hunter each brought in Spanish mackerel.
The kids were just three of about a dozen that were fishing aboard the Little Nemo that docks at Fishing Fleet Marina.

What did the kids win?
First they each received a big round of applause from the crowd gathered in the stands.
Second they got an official Rodeo certificate which has the day and weight of their catch recorded.
And third, they each were awarded a new rod and reel - compliments of the Rodeo.

Not too bad.

–Tina Harbuck

When Capt. Kelly Windes backs his Sunrise in at the Rodeo scales every evening you know he’s going to have something good.

And he didn’t disappoint the crowd gathered at the docks behind AJ’s Sunday evening.

Donna Rice of Alabama landed a 45-pound warsaw while fishing with Capt. Kelly Windes on the Sunrise Sunday.

Donna Rice of Kimberly, Ala., was the angler who pulled in the 45-pound warsaw. But landing big fish is nothing new to Rice - last year she brought in the winning grouper in the Ladies Open category for grouper.

“She whooped him in about 10 minutes,” Capt. Windes said. “She’s an experienced fisherman … she had last year’s winning grouper.”

Rice’s fish was the 363rd fish weighed in during the 60th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.
That’s an incredible number of entries considering we’re only on Day 5.

See you at the docks.

–Tina Harbuck

A little after 5 p.m. Sunday, the Miss Aegina with Capt. Robert Hanshaw at the helm backed in with a couple of fish that made it on the leader board — and both were brought in by teenagers, to take spots in the Teen Division.

Eric Gilmore of Kinston, Ala., weighed in a 11.2-pound dolphin for a spot on the board Sunday.

When I asked young Hunter if it took him a long time to pull in the wahoo — he quickly replied — “I caught one bigger last year.” He soon told me the one he reeled in last year was a 29-pounder.

Now that’s a true fisherman for you.

–Tina Harbuck

There’s a new leader on the boards.

Kevin Hohenstein of Fort Walton took top honors on the leaderboard with a 53.5-pound grouper Sunday afternoon.

“It almost pulled me off the boat,” Hohenstein said.
Although it was a hard pull it didn’t take long to get on the boat.
Capt. Allen said it took him about five minutes and there was no doubt it was a grouper. Capt. Allen said they went right to the spot.

– Tina Harbuck

The youngest one on the dock today is Kaley Quaranto. Her Daddy, Joe, is the First Mate on the Silver Lining and she and her Mom, Michelle went out on the trip today. The haul was a great one and the 15-month-old was loving the scales as her Dad prepared the fish for the group picture.

- paula Kelley

Mingo Bingo is hot today! The last two weigh-ins were Mingo Bingo strings. Kyle Lachney of Pineville, LA caught 15.6 lbs. The next weigh in was a string caught by Amy Miller of Dresden, TN. Amy’s catch weighed 22.60 lbs. This is the fun theme for the 60th annual event and the anglers enjoy the attention the fish brings!

Lots of laughter from the grandstands today, lots of Jimmy Buffet music, lots of laid-back folks having a great afternoon.

- paula Kelley