Welcome to the 76th Annual

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

Fellow Anglers and Rodeo Supporters,

On behalf of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Advisors, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the oldest and largest fishing tournament in the country, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

At the request of Dr. Bob Shipp and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is called upon again to help in improving our fishery resources. Current research at the University of South Alabama and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is focusing on enhancing stocks of Lane snapper, a species smaller but of comparable quality to its close relative the red snapper. The first 100 persons who bring in legal sized lane snappers (minimum 8”) and gray snappers (minimum 12”) to the ADSFR weigh station will receive a USA fishery research tee-shirt.

The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo has continued its commitment to conservation of Marine Resources as well as giving back to the Mobile community. This year the ADSFR will continue to fund scholarships for graduate studies in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama. The ADSFR has donated in excess of $100,000 over the years to the USA Department of Marine Sciences and they have our continued support. The ADSFR also fully funds the Mobile Jaycees Chapter Christmas Shopping Tour. This event provides kids in local Children’s Homes an opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts for their friends and family. I would like to give a very special thank you to all of the anglers in the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament for helping sponsor this event.

 We will be giving away a 21’ Contender boat courtesy of Contender and Grady Marine through a random drawing of all anglers who weigh in a legal fish during the ADSFR; a 175 Sportfish boat courtesy of Paradise Marine and Scout Boats Inc., will be given away through a random drawing of all King Mackerel Jackpot entries; and a 150 hp Yamaha Motor will be given away through a random drawing of all Speckled Trout Jackpot entries. Once again these boats will be outfitted with Yamaha outboard motors, Loadmaster aluminum trailers, and the Contender will have a Performance Towers T-Top. A boatlift will be given away through a random drawing of all Boaters World Big Game Jackpot entries, courtesy of TEAM SIMCO/IMM BOATLIFTS. This year’s Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament, sponsored by Exxon Mobil, open to anglers 15 years old and younger, will be held on July 12th. Each participant will receive a Ziegler hotdog, Zapps potato chips, a Coca-Cola and a Blue Bell Ice Cream along with a certificate of participation when they weigh-in their fish.  This years Master Angler of the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament will receive a $500 Savings Bond courtesy of Tide Moving and Storage.

I would like to thank all of the anglers, sponsors, and volunteers for your support of the 76th ADSFR. Special thanks go out to our boat and motor sponsors for their support of the random drawing awards; Contender, Grady Marine, Paradise Marine, Yamaha Motor Corp., Loadmaster Trailers, and Performance Towers.  I would also like to thank Boaters World Marine Centers for sponsoring the Big Game Jackpot, Exxon Mobil for sponsoring the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament, as well as New World Electronics, West Marine, and Coca-Cola for your continued support.  I also want to thank all of our friends in the local media: The Press-Register, Wayne Gardner, Sean Sullivan, Comcast Cable, WABB, WKSJ, WNTM, WALA, WPMI, and WKRG.  Finally I would like to thank the Mobile County Commission, the Town of Dauphin Island along with its Mayor, Town Council, and Police Department, the Mobile Jaycees, and all of the volunteers who contribute so much of their time and efforts to the ADSFR.

The Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Advisors, and I thank you for your participation in the 76th Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.  Good luck, safe fishing and we will see you at the weigh station.

Sincerely,

Brian Johnston

President

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo