Dauphin Island Times

Mystic Stripers fishing rodeo scheduled June 17

Mobile Register: Stripers rodeo The fourth annual Mystic Stripers open fishing rodeo is scheduled June 17 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dauphin Island Marina.

Rodeo categories include: Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, speckled trout, white trout, red snapper, bonita, hardhead catfish, croaker, amberjack, ling (cobia), jack crevalle, flounder, bluefish and slot (16-26 inches) redfish.

Tickets cost $20. Each person on board must have a rodeo ticket. Speckled trout and king mackerel jackpot tickets are available for $25 per boat (80 percent payout). Each person on a jackpot boat also must have a regular tournament ticket. Twenty percent of jackpot proceeds plus Stripers matching funds will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

June 10th is Free Fishing Day

Mobile Register: Free Fishing Day June 10 has been designated Free Fishing Day in Alabama by Barnett Lawley, commissioner of the Alabama Department Conservation and Natural Resources.

Approved by the Alabama Legislature, the law allows an annual free day of fishing when residents and non-residents may fish recreationally without a fishing license.

"Free Fishing Day is offered to introduce non-anglers to the sport of fishing and to remind former anglers of the fun they've been missing," said Stan Cook, chief of the Fisheries Section with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. "It's a good time to pass on the tradition of a family fun day of fishing to Alabama's youth."

Upcoming Dauphin Island Fishing events

Dauphin Island is a premier destination for anglers. Whether surf fishing, dropping a line off the Dauphin Island fishing pier or chartering a guided fishing boat, you're sure to have fun and fishing excitement.

For those wanting to add even more excitement to the fishing experience, there are several fishing tournaments in which to participate.

Saltwater Sportsman's Association Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Tournament

The Saltwater Sportsman's Association Memorial Day Weekend Tournament will take place this weekend, May 27th and 28th. Tournament headquarters is the Dauphin Island Marina. For a $25 entry fee anglers will compete for prizes in several fishing categories. Tickets for the Saltwater Sportsman's Association Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Tournament are available at many boating and fishing shops around the Dauphin Island area.

9th Annual Yellow Jacket Open Fishing Tournament

The 9th annual Yellow Jacket Open Fishing Tournament will be held on June 3rd at the Dauphin Island Marina.

Anglers will compete in 12 categories: Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, white trout, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, ling (cobia), red snapper, bonita, king mackerel, triggerfish and amberjack.

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for junior anglers 15 and younger. Entry fee for the speckled trout jackpot is $25 per boat. Each person on a jackpot boat also must have a regular tournament ticket. A $500 mystery fish prize will also be awarded.

Ticket outlets are: Ship and Shore, Dauphin Island Marina, Grady Marine, Greer's in Belle Fontaine, McCoy Outdoor, McGill-Toolen Development Office, Southern Bama Bait and Tackle and Boater's World in Mobile. For information, call 251-441-0809.

17th Annual MCWCA trout event

The Mobile County Wildlife and Conservation Association's 17th annual speckled trout tournament is scheduled for June 10 with weigh-in stations at Dauphin Island Marina and the Marriott's Grand Hotel Marina.

Adult and junior divisions will fish for speckled trout and flounder. Contact David Rainer at: drainer@press-register.com

49th Roy Martin Young Angler Tournament

The 49th Annual Roy Martin Young Angler's Tournament will be held July 15th on Dauphin Island. This tournament is held in conjunction with the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. The Roy Martin Young Angler's Tournament is designed for young anglers under the age of 16. It is the oldest and largest fishing tournament of its kind in the US. Tickets are available at many Dauphin Island fishing and boating shops. Tickets for the Roy Martin Young Angler Tournament are $3.00.

74th Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

First held in 1928, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is the oldest and largest fishing tournament in the country. This year's tournament takes place the weekend of 21-23 July on Dauphin Island. Anglers will compete in over 30 inshore and offshore categories. Total prizes are valued at over $400,000, including three boat, motor and trailer packages. Tickets for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo are $40 and are available at multiple boat and fishing shops around the Dauphin Island area, including the Ship & Shore.

Red Snapper World Championship wraps this weekend

Only four days left to catch that world record red snapper and pocket a nice prize for the effort. The tournament, which started April 21st, concludes this Sunday, May 21st.

There is still a decent possibility for movement at the top of the list. According to the current tournament standings the biggest fish caught so far this year, a 34.45-pound Red Snapper is well short of last year's winner at 38 pounds. Currently 2nd place is held by a fish weighing in at just over 30 pounds.

Catching a Red Snapper in that 4 pound gap will mean $15,000 to the angler and to the boat on which the fish was caught.

The tournament is hosted by the Orange Beach Fishing Association, a not-for-profit corporation whose objectives are promoting Red Snapper research, deploying artificial fishing reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and supporting organizations dedicated to saving the recreational fishing industry along Alabama's Gulf Coast.

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