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FISHING RODEO - OFFICIAL RODEO RULES

1. Rodeo King’s and Queen’s of both freshwater and saltwater categories will be determined by a point system. Points will be awarded based off of the top three highest weight fish entries per fish category, per day. Points will be awarded separately for men and women. These points will then be tallied at the end of the rodeo to determine the King’s and Queen’s of both fresh and saltwater categories. Point system breakdown: 5 points awarded for 1st, 3 points awarded for 2nd and 1 point awarded for 3rd. A tie in final points will be broken by the person that entered fish in the Rodeo first, by date and time.  

2. All contestants must register before they enter a fish in the Rodeo. Individual registration is (FREE) on site.   

 

3. All competitive fishing shall begin at 12:01am on the first day, and ends at 4pm on the final day of the rodeo. Scales will open daily at 12:00pm and all fish must be checked by the Weighmaster before 6:00pm daily, except by 4:00pm on the final day of the rodeo.   

 

4. Contestants may fish from any port or pier and transport their catches by any means of transportation. No fish that have been frozen or (Quick Freeze), harpooned, loaded, shot (Except for Shark), improperly gaffed, gutted, cast / gill / shrimp netted, caged, box / slat trapped or mutilated be accepted for entry. Fish must be presented in a well-kept, good and edible condition. Fish entered in any other Rodeo or tournament will not be eligible for Rodeo competition.   

 

5. All decisions of the Weigh Master will be final. The condition of all fish and rules of the Rodeo to ensure sportsmanship is preserved is entirely subject to the Weigh Master’s decision.   

 

6. Fish entries for prize competition will be accepted up until weighing deadline each day. Fish may be held over from one day to the next day if they are late getting to the Weigh Master. Fish held over must be kept in good condition and are subject to Weigh Master inspection.   

 

7. All fish entered for prize competition will remain on public display throughout the day and all fish entered become property of the Rodeo.   

 

8. Fresh water fish may be taken from any rivers, streams, lakes, bayous or ponds.   

 

9. Saltwater fish may be taken from anywhere in the Mississippi Sound or the Gulf of Mexico.   

 

10. All Saltwater and Freshwater entries must comply with the Mississippi’s (State Fishing Regulations) and Federal Fishing Regulations. When entering federally regulated highly migratory species such as fish & sharks that have been caught in federal waters; an HMS permit must be presented to the Weigh Master for inspection prior to weighing their catch. 

 

*** Attention *** 

78 inch minimum Fork Length on Greater, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead sharks. 

54 inch minimum Fork Length on all other sharks entered in the rodeo. 

 

 *** Attention *** 

The Mississippi Deep-Sea Fishing Rodeo has adopted a conservation measure and will require a 40 inch minimum Fork Length on all Lemon Fish (Cobia) entered in the rodeo.   

 

11. In the event of a tie of equal weights, the first fish entered will be declared the winner.   

 

12. Participants enter at their own risk. Neither the tournament, nor any person connected with the tournament, shall be liable for any loss, damage, negligence, harm or injury to anyone for any reason.

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As always in any and all determinations, the Weighmaster has the finale word.

General Information Overview

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An overall view, general information, prizes and awards, fish, fishing waters, and more for the annual Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo at Gulfport Harbor, Mississippi.

Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, Inc.

(A Non-Profit Corporation)

P.O. Box 3957 - Gulfport, Mississippi 39505-3957

Domain Name: www.mississippideepseafishingrodeo.com

Email mdsfr1947@yahoo.com

 

Rodeo Dates

The dates for the 76th Annual Rodeo will be July 4 - July 7, 2024. Fishing begins July 4, 2024 12:01am Scales open at 12:00pm These dates are when all species of fish are running, and sport fishing is at its best.

 

Admission

Gates open at 12 noon and close at 10:30pm. Gate admission is $5 per adult person from 12-2pm good for all day entry, from 2pm till closing it is $10. 4 day arm bands available the first day $20 for whole event all 4 days, Children, ages 5 and under, are admitted free. Carnival Rides vary in price

 

Registration

All Registrations are now done on site at the Rodeo, Jones Park Gulfport at the time you bring in your fish.. Individual registration is free but there is a Rodeo entrance fee of $5 when entering a fish. All sport fishermen and fisher women, fishing from pleasure craft, yachts or charter boats, must be registered contestants except, of course, the hired members of the crew. Scales open at 12:00pm and close at 6pm on all days except the final day. On the final day, the scales open at 12:00pm and close at 4pm.

 

 

Kids Fishing Rodeo

Registration is not required for contestants entered in the Junior Fishing Rodeo. However, contestants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. See the Official Rules for additional information.

 

 

Waters

The official Rodeo Fishing waters are anywhere in the Mississippi Sound or the Gulf of Mexico. For freshwater fishing...anywhere in the bays, bayous, rivers, creeks, lakes or ponds. All fish must be caught with conventional tackle and in a sportsman like manner.

 

Boats

Contestants may harbor their boats at any pier, and may transport their catches to Rodeo Headquarters by any means of transportation.

All fish entries became the property of the Rodeo.

 

Saltwater Division

Barracuda, Black Drum, Blackfish, Bonita, Flounder, Gar, Gray snapper, Grouper, Jack Crevalle, King Mackerel, Lemon Fish, Redfish, Shark, Spanish Mackerel, Speckled Trout, Dolphin, Red Snapper, Tuna, Wahoo

 

Fresh Water Division

Bream, Catfish, Crappie and Green Trout. Freshwater fish catches must have been in accordance with the Mississippi law limits.

 

Regular Rodeo Start & Ending Times

Competitive fishing starts any time after 12:01am on the morning of the first day, and ends at 4pm on the final day of the Rodeo. Fishing craft may be on location ready for fishing. Scales open at 12:00pm and close at 6pm on all days except the final day. On the final day, the scales open at 12:00pm and close at 4pm.

 

Weigh Master

All fish must be checked by the Weigh Master before 6pm daily, but before 4pm on the final day. Scales open at 12:00pm and close at 6pm on all days except the final day. On the final day, the scales open at 12:00pm and close at 4pm. Fish may be held over from one day to the next if late getting to the Weight Master. Fish held over must have been kept in good condition and are subject to inspection. Under no circumstances will frozen fish, or fish that have been frozen, be accepted.

 

Conclusion

"Old-timers" on the Gulf Coast say that a sportsman can fish every day for a year without having to fish twice in the same choice spot. The Mississippi Coast offers over 65 fishing camps, all situated at favored fishing sites with many excellent fishing spots nearby. Many of the camps offer every facility for the sport fisherman including bait, fishing tackle, boats (with or without motors), refreshments, and detailed information as to where to fish. Information about fishing camp locations is usually available from the Chamber of Commerce of any Mississippi Gulf Coast city, or any local sporting goods store.

 

The Gulf of Mexico offers a thrilling adventure for the sportsman who wants to tackle the big ones, and the spacious Mississippi Sound is for those who like saltwater fishing at its best. For the fresh-water fisherman...the Coast offers three bays where fresh and saltwater fish are often caught from the same spot with the same tackle, offering a unique experience...plus over 1,500 miles of shoreline on bays, lazy bayous, rivers, creeks and lakes.

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