It’s mid-July in Lower Alabama and that means three things: It’s hot, the forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms, and an armada’s worth of anglers are about to surge into inshore and offshore waters in the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

Over 90-plus years, the Rodeo, presented by the Mobile Jaycees, has established a unique spot in Alabama’s Gulf Coast culture. There are plenty of other fishing tournaments. This one crosses lines: It’s not just a sporting or a recreational event, it’s a scientific event, a social event, a spectator event.

Thinking about dipping your toe in Rodeo waters? Here’s what to know.

When, where, how much?

The Rodeo is free to spectators, and you’ll find more information on the experience below. For participants, tickets have been on sale at the Rodeo headquarters on Dauphin Island and other ticket outlets listed on the event website since Father’s Day. They’re also available for online purchase through the event site. Open competition tickets are $60 per angler. A number of jackpot competitions focusing on specific species such as king mackerel, speckled trout, red snapper and sharks are separately ticketed, with buy-ins ranging from $40 per angler to $500 per boat. Top prizes in these jackpots range up to $10,000. The 91st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo opens with the ceremonial firing of a cannon at 5 a.m. Friday, July 19, and fish must be brought in by 5 p.m. Sunday, July 21. The weigh station is at the Rodeo site off Aloe Bay on Dauphin Island. Full rules can be downloaded from the ADSFR website.

It’s a party

If you’re visiting as a spectator, you’ll find the Rodeo site on the right shortly after you drive onto the island. It’ll be hard to miss. Parking arrangements are informal but plenty of parking is available along Lemoyne Drive and adjacent streets; the only hard and fast rule is that “No Parking” signs, private property and the lots of nearby businesses should be respected. No tickets are required to enter the site.

The weigh station, and by extension the Rodeo site, will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Attractions include a vendor market, food and beverage concessions, live music and a chance to view the catch as anglers bring in their hauls. The biggest fish get the most attention at the docks, especially the sharks and other fish that have to be hoisted by crane to be weighed. Thanks to a partnership with scientists from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, who harvest samples and data from the catch, one of the central attractions for visitors is a display area where dozens of fish, including some rare and weird ones, are displayed on ice. For youngsters in particular, it’s a chance to get a close look at the diversity of marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. And there are always DISL students and staff on hand to explain what you’re looking at.

When’s the best time for spectator viewing? Saturday is easily the most popular day for families and other casual visitors. Between that and the action at the docks, the scene is guaranteed to be lively. Common advice is that Sunday is the day to see the real whoppers come in, the theory being that the biggest boats go out the farthest into the Gulf and tend to be the last to return. But anglers vary their plans considerably depending on weather and other conditions.

The live music schedule includes The Bruce Smelley Band from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Justin Tulo from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Keith Burns aka “the Mailman” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. According to promotional materials, visitors are welcome to bring their own coolers but should not bring beverages in glass containers.

There’s a party before the party

Tradition dictates that the ADSFR open with some fish stories. Accordingly, the Capt. T-Bone Liars’ Contest will take place the evening of Thursday, July 18. If it’s anything like the 2021 edition it’ll be a shambolic, good-natured affair featuring tale-tellers of widely divergent ability. (Good thing there’s a prize for Worst Liar.) Incidentally, that year’s runner-up described a red snapper driving a ‘77s Lincoln, and the winner told a tale of a fishy nemesis that bit him somewhere memorable. The audience opted not to take a look at the scar.

Sign-up starts at 5 p.m. at the Rodeo site, with up to 10 contenders (who must be Rodeo ticketholders) taking the stage at 6 p.m. Music from Johnny Hayes follows from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Speaking of whoppers

There’s always a chance that records will fall at the rodeo. You just never know. In 2021 a 22.24-pound bonito almost got used as bait before it was weighed in and confirmed as a new state record. Last year the rodeo’s cranes hoisted a 1,019-pound tiger shark that beat a 33-year-old record. If you want to keep an eye on things from home, a leaderboard will go live online at https://adsfr.com/ once the boats start coming in. Current state saltwater fishing records can be found at the website of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, outdooralabama.com. Another good way to enjoy the event vicariously is to keep an eye on https://www.facebook.com/ADSFR for videos, photos and updates.

As long as you’re on island time …

Any excuse to visit Dauphin Island is a good excuse to visit Dauphin Island, and the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo certainly provides a good excuse. But after an hour or two you’ll likely be ready to move on. Don’t forget that the island has plenty more to offer. Small fry captivated by the sea creatures they saw on display at the rodeo will be primed for a visit to the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, an attraction that received a major makeover just a year ago. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There’s also historic Fort Gaines, which keeps the same hours, and the island’s public beaches (weather and surf conditions depending, of course), and the nature trails of the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Not to mention a smattering of restaurants, galleries and other attractions. Make a day of it.