Destin Fishing Rodeo finished up at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar.

After rough seas all week, the boats at last experienced a good weather on the final working day of the 73rd annual Destin Fishing Rodeo to get out and fish, and they did.
“It was a terrific way to stop it,” claimed Capt. Mike Graef of the Huntress. “Everybody got to go where they required to and some nice fish were being caught nowadays.”
The Huntress had a person of those people pleasant fish, a 29-pound king mackerel caught by 70-12 months-previous Jackson White of Freeport for a first-place spot in the Senior Division.
When it was all explained and done at the conclusion of the night, weighmaster Bruce Cheves called his past “Time is” at 6:55 p.m. on a 4.6-pound mingo caught aboard the Sweet Jody with Capt. Cliff Cox for a daily and the final fish entry of the 73rd annual Rodeo, fish No. 1,093.
Helen Donaldson, executive director of the Rodeo, arrived on the weigh-in barge at the conclusion of the evening and thanked every person for coming down day after day.
She thanked the volunteers that have put in a lot more than 2,500 hours throughout the month serving in the goods trailer to operating on the barge throwing ropes to serving as judges.
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“We had virtually 300 boats that participated in the Rodeo this yr, and individuals boats introduced in about 35,000 anglers to the Rodeo,” Donaldson said. “And thanks to our neighborhood that supports this celebration and thank you to all our spectators. … We have certainly become a spectator celebration.”
But right before the ultimate time was called Sunday, 15 alterations were being made on the general leaderboard.
Capt. Andrew Dover on the Muscle Recollections arrived in by noon with a 6.6-pound black snapper for a to start with position in the Personal Boat Division.
Through the working day, the everyday board was continually switching with boats bringing in grouper, mingo and far more.
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About 3:30 p.m., Actively playing Capture came in with a 13.4-pound grouper for a second-place spot on the leaderboard in the 25-foot and Under Charter Boat Division. Avery Cawthon, an 8-12 months-aged from Crestview, pulled in the fish.
30A Gentle Deal with came in with a 4-pound sheepshead caught by Thomas Jaeger of Destin for a second-place spot in the Inshore Division.
Capt. Allen Staples of the 100 Evidence arrived in with a number of dailies and said it was “slick calm” on the Gulf.
Capt. Tony Davis of the Anastasia had a 76.8-pound amberjack for a day by day and bragged on how “beautiful” it was on the Gulf.
“It was a good day,” Davis said.
Capt. Brady Bowman of the Bow’d Up came in just prior to 5 p.m. with a number of fish to weigh. They had a 46.2-pound grouper caught by Bill McKissick of Destin for a second location in the Senior Division.
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“We experienced 6-footers yesterday and these days it was slick serene and attractive,” Bowman stated.
The Huntress was future with its senior king mackerel.
Then the Kitchen Move with Capt. Travis Ream obtained on the board with a 26.8-pound almaco jack caught by Zack Whitetree of Mary Esther.
Capt. Scott Whitehurst aboard the On The Bite obtained on the leaderboard in a massive way on the remaining day by taking about three places. Toff Wolf of Destin weighed in an 18.6-pound almaco jack for first, Rick Pope of Destin weighed in an 8-pound black snapper for second and Omar Breiz of Mary Esther weighed in a 9-pound black snapper for initial. Individuals were being all in the 25-foot and Less than Constitution Boat Division.
“We had a excellent month,” Whitehurst explained. “I experienced a lot of great buyers that would go when I required to go.
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“And a few fish on the board … I’d contact that a great day,” he extra.
Not very long soon after, Pete Lisi of Alpharetta, Georgia, weighed in a 6.6-pound black snapper for a initially in the Non-public Boat Division.
Wayne Garcia of Niceville walked up with redfish to weigh that he caught aboard his paddleboard. His catch weighed 2.8 lbs . and took second on the board.
At 6:15 p.m. Tunnel Vision pulled in with a whopper of a wahoo. Shannon Carmichael of Fort Walton Beach front weighed in a 73.6-pounder for a initially in the Non-public Boat Division.
As the sunlight started off to go down, Capt. Capt. Robert Hill and his crew on the Twilight didn’t disappoint the crowd that had been hanging out at the docks most of the working day. With anglers and crew dressed in Halloween costumes ranging from a turtle and octopus to a shark following an “Under the Sea” theme, they came in with some huge fish from the sea.
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James Richardson weighed in a 144.4-pound yellowfin tuna for next in the Prolonged Voyage Division, while Richard Kays weighed in a 145-pound yellowfin tuna for to start with.
The crew had been out for a few days.
The Championship weighed in a daily catch as did the Sweet Jody.
Capt. Cliff Cox of the bash boat Sweet Jody reported they fished 21 days of the 31-working day tournament.
“And we obtained some nice fish,” Cox mentioned.
Rodeo anglers and captains will be awarded for their catches at the Rodeo Awards at 4 p.m. Friday at AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar.