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Nov. 3, 2009
The rodeo is coming home
GULFPORT — After a four-year hiatus, the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is coming home to Gulfport, rodeo officials and city leaders announced this afternoon.
“This is a historic moment for our city,” said Mayor George Schloegel, who worked with rodeo officials and community leaders to bring the event back to Gulfport. “The Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is responsible for some very fond memories for so many people in Gulfport and across the Coast, and we are all very happy to have the rodeo home.”
Originally established by the Jaycees and American Legion Post 119 in Gulfport, the annual sporting event spent the first 57 years of its 61-year history at Jones Park in Gulfport.
After Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in 2005 the rodeo moved to the Harrison County Fairgrounds for two years with the help of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors and returned to the water for two years hosted by Biloxi.
“We sat down with Mayor (A.J.) Holloway and discussed the move and thanked him for all he had done for us the past two years, and he was a gentleman as always; truly a class act and a pleasure to work with,” said Rodeo President Michael Casano, whose grandfather was on the original board of directors.
The plan is to hold the annual July Fourth event on the Island View Casino’s beachside property and parking garage. Future plans could include moving the rodeo back to Jones Park in a new facility similar to the former Rice Pavilion.
“Returning to Gulfport would not have been possible without Mayor Schloegel’s cooperation and help from the City Council,” Casano said. “The commitment from the Island View Casino and the state Port Authority to provide a quality location was also a huge factor in the decision to return to Gulfport.”
Mayor Schloegel said the Island View and the Port of Gulfport played a significant role in today’s historic announcement.
“The Island View Casino and the Port of Gulfport have done it again,” the mayor said. “It seems that whenever we are in need, the Island View and the port are there to help in any way they can.”
In addition, Mayor Schloegel praised the rodeo’s board of directors for their exceptional leadership and great success, especially since Hurricane Katrina.
In previous years the salt-and-fresh water competition has hosted guest such Paul Harvey and Dizzy Dean. Each year, nearly 5,000 participants fish for cash and prizes with hopes of landing a record-breaker in 28 specific categories.
Rodeo facts and records
The largest redfish ever caught in the rodeo was a 43-pounder, landed in 1978 by Wilford Seymour of Biloxi.
Paul Kosbab, of Slidell, La., still holds the rodeo record for largest blue marlin with his 1983 catch of a 488-pounder, and Angler Richard Armstrong’s 1983 flounder is still the heaviest at 11 pounds, 3 ounces.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
