More than 75,000 spectators are expected this year at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) as it gets underway on Friday.
Founded in 1929, the event touts itself as the largest fishing tournament in the world.
Organizers are excited about the prospect of a successful post-pandemic tournament, which they say will have a significant economic impact on the area.
“To have everybody to come on the island to eat, to stay in all the hotels and to see everything on the island is great for them, it’s great for us and overall it’s just great,” Mark Schambeau, vice president of publicity for ADSFR, told Fox10 News in Mobile.
Fisherman Dale Pierce shared that sentiment.
“Everybody is here, everybody is happy, glad to be outside from Covid and everything,” he said. “So, hey, we’re hoping for a good rodeo.”
The ADSFR is a three-day captain’s choice tournament and a Southern Kingfish Association sanctioned event. Total awards are valued at up to $1 million in cash and prizes.
The event features 30 categories with prizes awarded to first, second and third-place finishers in each category. One Master Angler is awarded, as well as cash prizes for king mackerel, speckled trout and big game jackpots.
Fisherman Tim Pierce hopes to score some points in this year’s contests.
“I’d love to catch a big speckled trout because that’s what we’re fishing for,” he explained. “Speckled trout, flounder, red fish. If I get one of those, I might make the board. Man, that would be something because I ain’t never done it.”
The ADSFR is a project of the Mobile Jaycees. A key component of the project is the event’s philanthropic mission. The ADSFR has extended its support throughout the local community, including $400,000 in contributions to the University of South Alabama Foundation over the last eight years.
Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia
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