Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo July 20-23 on Dauphin Island

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo July 20-23 on Dauphin Island
Event includes music from Mulligans, Wes Loper, Rollin’ In The Hay, Winston Ramble
The 84th Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will be held July 21-23 on Dauphin Island.
A 3-day Captain’s Choice tournament and a Southern Kingfish Association sanctioned event, The ADSFR offerfs a total awards package valued up to $1 million in cash and prize, including boat, motor, and trailer packages.
The 3-day event features 30 categories with prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in all categories. One Master Angler is also awarded along with cash prizes for King Mackerel, Speckled Trout and Big Game Jackpots.
Festivities kick-off at the Rodeo site with the annual Liar’s Contest on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. Rodeo ticket holders can participate in the competition by telling their best, or worst, fish tale. A distinguished panel of invited judges will determine the winners. Live music by the Wes Loper Band will follow.
The weigh station will be operating from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Fishing will begin with a ceremonial cannon blast on Friday, July 21 at 5 a.m. and will conclude with an additional ceremonial cannon blast on Sunday, July 23 at 5 p.m.
Band will play all weekend on the stage at the rodeo’s home base at 531 Lemoyne Dr., located 2.5 miles from the Ft. Morgan to Daulphin Island ferry landing. There is no admission, and refreshments, including beer, will be served.
The rodeo, a Project of the Mobile Jaycees, is the largest fishing tournament in the world. Founded in 1929, it now attracts over 3,000 anglers and 75,000 spectators. The ADSFR has donated over $200,000 to the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences and annually funds academic scholarships.
Tickets for the ADSFR 0pen competition are $50 per angler. Options are also available for a speckled trout and kick mackeral jackpots. For tourney or ticket info, call (251) 471-0025 or visit adsfr.com.
Rodeo History
In the sultry summer of 1928, a party of Mobile businessmen were sliding through the tides of Mobile Bay, their fishing lines stretched for that elusive Big One. Surprisingly, the Big One struck. But the catch was no hard-fighting fish, it was a simple, but grand idea of organizing a competitive fishing tournament. The first rodeo in 1929 was such a success that Quinn suggested an association be formed to perpetuate the contest on an annual basis. The first competitive fishing event in America to be dubbed a rodeo had hosted (at the time) a staggering 260 widely enthusiastic sports fishermen.
The first rodeo ticket was $5 and covered sleeping quarters and special prizes. Meals were a la carte seafood delicacies. Also, because a fast news service was needed to transmit news of daily catches to town, carrier pigeons were pressed into service.
In earlier years Fort Gaines Pier headquartered the Rodeo. A boat ride was the only transportation to the island. Rodeo brochures boasted, “There’s a fish for everybody at the rodeo and they bite as a matter of civic pride.”

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Fishing Rodeo Weekend Schedule

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Thursday, July 20
6pm – The Spot Liars Contest
6pm – Captain’s Meetings
7:30pm – Wes Loper Band
Friday, July 21
5am – Cannon Blast Start
10am – Weigh Station Opens
2pm – Blues in Trouble
4:30pm – Fortag
7pm – Weigh Station Closes
7pm – Winston Ramble
Saturday, July 22
10am – Weigh Station Opens
1pm – Yeah, Probably with Brandon White
3pm – Eric “Birdman” Erdman
5pm – Mulligan Brothers
7pm – Weigh Station Closes
Sunday, July 23
10am – Weigh Station Opens
12:30pm – Prime Country
3pm – Rollin’ in the Hay
5pm – Weigh Station Closes