Swordfish and science on the line at Alabama’s biggest fishing tournament

With the 93rd annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) just over a month away, organizers are gearing up for a major event that promises to be more than just a standard competition. This year, the rodeo is placing a renewed focus on two species highly sought after by coastal anglers, deepening the partnership between tournament officials and marine researchers.

Science and Competition Collide

Rodeo president Chase Farley, representing the event hosts, the Mobile Jaycees, is eyeing another massive turnout. Following a successful year that saw over 4,000 tickets sold for last year's rodeo, the organization continues to build momentum toward its 100th anniversary.

The ADSFR stands out as a premier spectacle on the Alabama coast. With more than 100,000 visitors expected to visit the Dauphin Island site over three days, the event serves as a significant social hub. Anglers will be battling for over $500,000 in cash and prizes across 33 competitive categories.

New Categories and Research Efforts

This year, the rodeo introduces a dedicated jackpot for swordfish, a change driven by both competitor interest and scientific inquiry. Tickets for the swordfish jackpot are priced at $400 per boat.

The decision to spotlight swordfish and include a new live-catch category for blackfish—or tripletail—highlights a vital collaboration with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Sean Powers, an endowed professor at the Stokes School, emphasizes that the rodeo has become a critical tool for gathering data on species that lack comprehensive Gulf of Mexico research.

"We don't know enough about them to know whether to be concerned or not," Powers explained regarding the increasing interest in these game fish. By tagging and releasing live-caught blackfish in Aloe Bay, researchers hope to gain better insight into the migration and movement habits of the species.

Rodeo Highlights and Logistics

Fans can look forward to the return of the popular Liars’ Contest, live music, and the anticipation of seeing a state-record shark or other record-setting catch at the scales. Additionally, the public boat launch at Billy Goat Hole has reopened, and red snapper fishing will be permitted during the event.

Tickets for the open competition are $60 and go on sale Father’s Day weekend. For more information, visit ADSFR.com.

Key Dates

• Saturday, July 11: Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Tickets are $5.
• Thursday, July 16: Capt. T-Bone Liars’ Contest at 6 p.m.; live music by Bruce Smelley at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, July 17: Opening cannon blast at 5 a.m.; weigh station open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Mustache the Band at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 18: Weigh station open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Ryan Balthrop at 5 p.m.
• Sunday, July 19: Weigh station open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; live music by Channing Spicer and Kat Deal.
• Monday, July 20: QCS Marine Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. at The Grounds in west Mobile.