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Destin, FL Fishing

In-shore and off-shore charter boat fishing

33rd Annual Destin Seafood Festival on the Harbor

Sep 5th, 2011
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With a theme of ‘Heritage on the Harbor’, the 33rd Annual Destin Seafood Festival is from September 30 to October 2. The event is free and open to the public this year. This highly anticipated tradition draws 30,000+ visitors each year and will be set up along the length of the Destin Harbor from Harborwalk Village at the foot of the Destin Bridge, to the Boathouse Oyster Bar. The new and expanded venue will bring the Destin Seafood Festival back to its roots on the Destin Harbor. The Festival will kick off the 62nd Destin Fishing Rodeo, which takes place the entire month of October.

Activities include artists on display; fresh local food; kid’s activities and attractions. Other activities are Gulf seafood cooking demonstrations by well-known area chefs at the Fresh From Florida sponsored demonstration kitchen; Sandy the Swordfish mascot welcoming Festival goers; and live entertainment will take place throughout the Festival along the Destin Harbor.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association will be bringing in some of the most talented songwriters in country and popular music to entertain throughout the Festival venue. These award-winning musicians are a who’s who of songwriters of country music and have
written for and collaborated with such stars as Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Rascal Flats, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Vince Gill and many more. Local music favorites, Forrest Williams, Heritage, Coconut Radio and Cheryl Jones will once again perform for their loyal crowds each day.

Destin Seafood Festival parking will be in the vicinity of the event, Emerald Grande’s parking deck, the Destin Community Center. As well, free shuttles offered to and from Destin Commons and The Track, both on Highway 98 in Destin.

The free event is presented by The Destin Charter Boat Association. Presenting sponsors include The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Florida and ResortQuest. For further information, call 850-218-0232, visit the Festival’s Facebook page, or www.DestinSeafoodFestival.org.

GMA says Destin is one of Americas “Most Beautiful Places”

Aug 11th, 2011
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http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/explore-america-emeril-lagasse-14280195

For those of us blessed to live in Destin year round, we sometimes take it for granted…It’s always awesome to watch someone enjoying “Destin, FL” for the very first time. We think he will be back soon!

The 62nd Destin Fishing Rodeo is a “go” for October 2010

Aug 16th, 2010
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The Destin Fishing Rodeo

With five weekends in October and big bucks on the line for entries, this year’s 62nd annual Destin Fishing Rodeo promises to be better than ever.   Thanks in part to $70,000 in BP funds, prize money will include 6 $10,000 Bonus Awards plus a kids weekend set for Oct 9-10.  The six overall bonus divisions will pay out $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third.

The six divisions are Fare Carrying King Mackerel; Fare Carrying Almaco Jack; Fare Carrying Blackfin Tuna; Fare Carrying Mingo Snapper; Private King Mackerel; and Open Red Fish.  If Federal waters are open, the Almaco Jack division will become the Fare Carrying Amberjack.  And if regulators open up red snapper season, the Mingo Snapper will become the Red Snapper division.    Check with the Destin Rodeo or any charter captain for specifics on how the bonus prizes will be paid.

With Kid’s Weekend, $10,000 is up for grabs.   Any youngster under the age of 15 fishing on a registered boat in the rodeo (private or charter) or anyone on the pier, bridge, jetty and surf is eligible to enter a fish.  Two $2,500 educational IRA’s will be awarded each day to junior anglers, but they must be present to win.

AJ’s will once again host the weigh ins, and the scales will be open daily on the docs behind the restaurant from 10AM to 7PM.

The Fishing Industry in Destin has survived the gulf oil spill and we are still “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”.  Make your plans now to participate.  Visit the Fishing Page on www.destin-ation.com for a listing of charter boats, and book your accommodations early.

61st Annual Fishing Rodeo…Destin, FL October 2009

Aug 30th, 2009
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61st Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo

61st Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo

Plans are being finalized now for the October 1st start of the 61st annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.  The Rodeo will have it’s signature T-shirts and hats available over the Labor Day weekend at Half Hitch Tackle in Destin, and it’s not too late to register.  The Rodeo is open to both private and charter boats up until the day before they weigh in a fish.

Included in this year’s Rodeo is “Shark Saturdays”.   Every Saturday during the Rodeo, the largest shark over 100lbs weighed in at AJ’s  wins $250.  “Shark Saturdays” is an open event with no special entry fee, but there is a limit of 1 per boat per day.  Anglers will be fishing for mako, hammerhead, tiger and bull sharks.  If you haven’t been at the docks when one of these impressive sharks are being weighed in, you won’t want to miss it this year!