What? Tackle instead of tack at a rodeo?
Bourbon County is the Thoroughbred Capital of the World, but the entire state of Kentucky is Horse Country. We host the best of breeds from Quarter Horses to Standardbreds in addition to the internationally famous Kentucky Horse Park, so I’m fairly familiar with traditional rodeo activities… roping, bull riding, barrel racing, and bronc busting. And I’ve cleaned enough leather tack (saddles, bridles, halters, etc.) to make Orin Scrivello blush.
So I was a little confused to learn about the 77th Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo scheduled for this weekend. A fishing rodeo? Are they roping red snappers or riding dolphins??
It turns out these Alabama Anglers consider this historic event ( click to see the story of the first rodeo in 1929 http://www.adsfr.com/history ) to be a rodeo because the tournament involves ’rounding up’ many species of fish. A tournament, however, like the Red Snapper Tournament in Orange Beach, focuses on a single type of fish. They have prizes for everything from the biggest shark and tarpon to the largest diminutive ladyfish (currently weighing in at 3.01 lb) ‘Click’ here to see the live tournament results http://www.adsfr.com/public/results/2009rodeo.html
So the actual sport of rodeo fishing doesn’t really resemble the equestrian event, but the excitement and spirit of compeition have many similarities… it’s an expensive hobby (I’m sure the cost of the saltwater tackle rivals that of the tack for Quarter Horses) requiring years of practice and lots of testosterone, fueled with liberal amounts of beer… and it’s more than just a little smelly.
G.M. ANDREWS, Staff Photographer
I was at the marina last night when Don Adcock brought in his record-shattering 120.79 lb Amberjack and the atmosphere was absolutely festive. The proud, but very tired, angler posed for dozens of photos (I like the one posted at the marina best) and then shared some of his prize fish with the competitors who helped him clean and clean up.
As of this morning Mr. Adcock also has the 2nd place in the Grouper category. See the story posted by South Alabama Outdoors to follow (http://blog.al.com/south-alabama-outdoors/2009/07/post.html)
And if you don’t already regret having missed the Alabama Deep Sea Rodeo, I should mention that Billy’s daughter is getting married this weekend and Billy (of the world famous Billy’s Seafood in Bon Secour, motto “If it swims, we’ve got it”) brought a large bag of leftover shrimp from the rehearsal dinner to the marina… eat your hearts out!
Posted by Jeff Dute, Outdoors Editor July 18, 2009 1:23 AM
DAUPHIN ISLAND — Don Adcock emphasized the difference between the bite of a smaller amberjack, which tends to chase the bait before eating, and the bite of a big fish by violently slamming his closed fist into his open palm.
The latter bite was what Adcock said he felt shortly past noon on the first day of the 77th Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Friday.
Twenty minutes later, Adcock felt the thrill of seeing the fish hoisted over the side of the boat and put into the fish box.
Nearly 6½ hours later, and just minutes before the scales closed, Adcock said he felt a new surge of emotion when his massive fish lit up the digital scales to 120.79 pounds, breaking the record of 118 pounds, 8 ounces that had stood for 28 previous rodeos.
“It’s awesome,” said Adcock, who has been fishing the rodeo for more than 20 years. “I’ve been fishing for amberjack in the rodeo for the better part of my life. That’s what we do. I’m very proud.”
Adcock’s brother, David, who has fished side by side with the new record holder for all of those years, said the AJ ate a 6-pound bonito fished 100 feet down in 300 feet of water. They were targeting natural bottom.
“We had never caught an amberjack off that rock in the two years we have fished it,” David Adcock said. “The only reason we were fishing for them there was because of the big fish, that 111-pounder that was brought in to the rodeo last year.
“We were fishing the same general area and bottom structure, but we never thought to try it out for big amberjack until that fish came in last year.”
Don Adcock said he was using heavy tackle designed to land such a fish —
a 5/0 Penn Reel loaded with 130-pound-test monofilament and stout boat rod — but they had downsized the leader to 100-pound-test fluorocarbon.
“We’re using that fairly light leader just to make them bite,” Don Adcock said. “Those big fish don’t bite big mono leaders anymore.”
Adcock’s record-setting amberjack wasn’t the only big fish to create a buzz at the rodeo site Friday.
Joey Lapeyrouse and his team Reelentless, the members of which are all from Dauphin Island, brought a 64.5-pound, 66-inch king mackerel to the scales shortly after noon.
Evidently there is an additional similarity shared by equine and piscine rodeos – they have an intense competition with any contestant from the state of Texas!
