Veterans of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo often throw around the phrase “rodeo weather.” If you know, you know.

“It ain’t gonna be a rodeo without a little rain,” said Jay Loper, vice president of publicity for the 2025 event, spelling it out for those who don’t know.

The 92nd ADSFR runs Friday through Sunday, and there’s certainly a chance of rain in the forecast, thanks to a wobbly tropical system that might or might not develop into a depression and a major rainmaker for some portion of the central Gulf Coast. But, as of Thursday morning, it seemed unlikely to put much of a damper on an event that regularly draws thousands of anglers to the waters of coastal Alabama.

One thing that distinguishes this particular fishing rodeo is that it also tends to draw thousands of spectators. Some come to see whether record-breaking fish or sharks are weighed in (and based on recent years, odds are good).

Some bring the kids for a rare look at the marine life of the Gulf. 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 weird ones, are displayed on ice. And there’s always someone on hand to explain what you’re looking at.

Many come for a festival atmosphere that includes vendors, sponsor displays and live music. Another attraction: for spectators, admission is free.

Back to the subject of records. The 2024 rodeo got off to a slow start thanks to stormy weather, but things picked up fast: by the end of the opening day, observers had gotten to see a 432-pound bull shark – not much short of the state record at the time, which was 448 pounds, 4 ounces. Other opening-day catches included a 107.5-pound swordfish and a 120.7-pound yellowfin tuna.

Big sharks have been a theme in recent years. In the 2023 rodeo, Robert Brett Rutledge of Mobile caught a 1,019-pound tiger shark that has since been certified as a state record. On the final day of the 2024 event, the Bon Secour Butchers team brought in a bull shark that weighed in at 494.5 pounds. It, too, has been certified as a state record, attributed to Tommy J. Bowyer.

Rodeo organizers have an established history of working with scientists, particularly teams from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Marine scientists Sean Powers of USA and Marcus Drymon of Mississippi State University have said the catch gives them a vital window into what’s going on with shark populations in the Gulf.

In 2024, Powers and Drymon said the trend of big sharks seemed to show that efforts to end overfishing of sharks in recent decades were having positive results. Loper said he won’t be surprised if the trend continues. Rodeo staffers recently accompanied University of South Alabama scientists on a research trip.

“I can tell you that sharks are plentiful,” he said. “A lot of bull sharks, a lot of tiger sharks. And that’s why, again, we work with South Alabama, to make sure we’re not catching things we aren’t supposed to, protected species or endangered species.”

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 schedule of events:

Thursday, July 17 – Pre-rodeo festivities at the rodeo site start with the annual Capt. T-Bone Liar’s Contest at 6 p.m. The Wrong Terns will perform from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, July 18 – Fishing begins at 5 a.m., marked by a ceremonial cannon blast at the rodeo site. The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The Molly Ringwalds will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 19 – The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Hamilton Gardner will perform at 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 20 – The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. with a ceremonial cannon blast. The Big Reveal performs at 3 p.m.

Monday, July 21 – The rodeo awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at The Grounds in west Mobile.

For full Rodeo information, visit www.adsfr.com. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/ADSFR.