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The 61st Annual Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo came to a close Sunday with several highlights, including four pending state records and one new rodeo record.

In all, it was an event that will make anglers in South Mississippi anxious for the 62nd event next July.

Personally, the kids made this event special.

Case in point.

Ryan Dewayne Smith, 8, set a new bonnethead state record at eight pounds on Saturday during the Kids Rodeo. Even though the Deep Sea Rodeo does not feature a shark category, Smith was awarded a rod and reel for his catch.

The smile on this young man’s face from Lizana when he received his rod and reel said it all. It also proves the point that parents should take their kids fishing.

You, the parents, might get as much, if not, more enjoyment by doing so.

The biggest surprise, at least in my eyes, was a 61-pound, seven-ounce bull shark caught by Dustin Ford of Long Beach.

The 62-inch bull shark, one of the more aggressive animals in the Mississippi Sound, was caught on the east end of Cat Island.

So what surprised me?

The fact that Mississippi does not have a bull shark state record.

We do have records for species like hammerhead, black tip and Atlantic Sharpnose, but not bull shark.

Toss in the fact that the bull shark is one of the more common in the Sound and Gulf of Mexico.

Go figure.

Regardless, congratulations are in store for Dustin.

Other state records set and now awaiting certification by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources this month include a Leopard Toad Fish (one pound, five ounces) by Michael Fournier Jr., of Saucier and a 20-pound, 13-ounce black nose shark by Andrew Odom of Vancleave.

To make matters more interesting, Odom caught the shark in the Fort Bayou area in Ocean Springs.

The new rodeo record, which came in the grey snapper division, was set by Sandra Delaney at 10 pounds, 10 ounces.

Regardless if the rodeo record is broken, Sandra Delaney will always have the distinction of being the first record holder.

I must applaud the rodeo for dropping the tarpon category and adding grey or mangrove snapper. Since this is the first year of grey snapper, Sandra will forever be known for being the first winner.

That, in its own right, is worth as much as the Penn 320 fishing combo she won.

As far as the lady anglers in the rodeo, none were better than Samantha Belsome of Poplarville and Cathy Cooley in the freshwater division.

The two women combined to take first and second place in the green trout category at 10 pounds, five ounces and eight pounds, six ounces respectively.

In case you were wondering, I’ve never caught a bass in the class of these two ladies.

Can’t wait for next year.

Al Jones can be reached at 896-2351 or afjones@sunherald.com

Posted at www.sunherald.com on July 5, 2009

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