By Kathy harrison 654-8452 | @DestinLogKathy

kharrison@thedestinlog.com

Editor’s Note: Longtime Log Photographer Kathy Harrison has seen the rodeo from behind the lens for more than a decade, but during the 66th Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo she was able to experience the rodeo from the deck of a boat. Here’s her firsthand experience.

They make it look so easy, or so I thought.

When a boat brings in its catch, especially during the rodeo, it never occurred to me how much work it in-volved. So after many years of looking for an opportunity to go on one of the charter boats during the rodeo, it fi-nally came through Monday morning. Sunday night I got the green light to go aboard the Destiny.

I had a hard time sleep-ing that night, as I went over and over again in my head what to take on a six-hour fishing trip. I packed lunch and my equipment and lots of water and made it in to the dock at 7:30 a.m.

As I stood at the end of the dock, I waited in line to board the party boat along with 31 other passengers who looked more prepared than me.

I was there to take pic-tures and capture the ex-perience, after all I have never fished before, and to be honest, I was not much interested in fishing. People quickly tagged their fishing poles with color-ful towels, and some with a cigarette box. I realized that these must be die hard fishermen and that things were about to get serious.

We got an introduction from the captain and off we went on our way to the first spot. The people, who tagged their fishing pole with their cigarette box,

were next to me. They were Kevin and Laurie Gray, a local couple, who have been married for 14 years. She loves to fish, especially during The Destin Fishing Rodeo. Once she started, Laurie was hooked.

Also next to me were Linda and Jason Kirwan from Santa Rosa Beach. They had colorful towels and brought their own fish-ing poles. Not only did they fish this day, but they had a 10-hour trip on the books for the rodeo finale Friday.

I made my way around and met Ray Siminski from North Carolina who was visiting his son who recent-ly moved to the area. Ray hadn’t been to Destin in 50 years and remembered when it was underdevel-oped and was surprised at how much it has changed throughout the years.

Three years ago while fishing in another tourna-ment, he entered a striper fish that weighed in at 36.12 pounds, which beat the first place by 4 ounces. The fish won him $5,000, which was quite the sur-prise he told me.

A couple spots next to Linda and Jason, I met Richard and Vonnie Hol-sapple from Kentucky. The two knew each other back in high school and re- connected years later and were married. After retir-ing, they fish regularly, especially during Vonnie’s birthday in the month of October. They both love to fish with Captain Reid Philips and Captain Chris McConnell and their crew, who always make the trips fun and memorable.

And soon as we made it to the first stop, it became very real. The two mates, Christian Holden and Jor-dan Colson, set up the sta-tions with an empty basket and a bucket filled with squid for bait. After a brief explanation of the basics, it

was time to fish. As I stood to the side

of the boat watching those around me get ready and wait for the first horn, the one that lets you know that it is OK to drop your line, I got ready to capture the moment that I was waiting so long to photograph.

What does it take to bring in a fish? What is the excitement all about? Is it really that difficult? Then it happened. I got asked if I would like to fish. Oh boy, me? There I was, about to experience fishing for the first time! Yes, I said, and before I knew it I was hold-

ing my own fishing pole over the rail of the charter boat. I was fishing.

I held the fishing pole tight, making sure I didn’t tangle my line up with oth-ers and waited for my first fish to bite — a big one; I was ready; I was ready for it. I could not wait to go to the weigh-in, wait for weighmaster Bruce Cheves to say, “time is ... ”

And then it happened, a quick tug on the line. I started to reel my line in as quickly as I could. It was more difficut than I thought.

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Local Destin Log | A5November 1-4, 2014

Bringing in more than a fish

photos By Kathy harrison | The Log

Jason and Linda Kirwin caught this red snapper moments before the end of a six-hour trip. The couple had a very successful fishing trip and look forward to their 10-hour trip scheduled for the last day of the Fishing Rodeo on Friday. At right, mates on board the Destiny party boat, Jordan Colson, left, and Christian Holden help prepare the customers with their fishing poles and their baits for a fun and exciting fishing experience.

see fish a7

Wow, it must be a big one, how lucky. Come on, come on. All of the sudden, there it was, the end of the line coming all the way up, I leaned over the rail and to my surprise there were two Mingos. Oh boy, not one, but two. I screamed I was so happy. Take my picture, take my picture. I felt myself posing with the biggest smile holding what to me was the biggest fish in the rodeo.

Not really, they were barely big enough to keep, but they were like a tro-phy to me. At the end of the six-hour trip, no one caught a fish that was big enough to weigh. No one was disappointed though. In fact everyone looked happy and some were

looking forward to their next trip.

As for me, in my search of learning the joy of fish-ing, I learned that the excitement comes along through those who love the sport and with a crew that is fun and full of knowledge like the ones on the Destin Princess.

I don’t know what it is to be a winner, or at least not this time, but as I walked back to my car I felt like a little kid carrying their first trophy after playing for the season. I had six filleted fish in a plastic bag, and a heart filled with memories of the people who have taught me the joy of fish-ing and the crew, who, yes, made it look easy because of their love for fishing.

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Destin F.D. is regressing, not progressing. 7 Fire/Medics quit. FIRE basedEMS is supported by I.A.F.C. to provide the BEST services, not least. 80%of calls are EMS, 20% fire related. I've contacted other Fire Officials tomirror their effective Fire/EMS policies which funds their budget and

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155AGENDA

REGULARMEETINGDESTIN CITY COUNCILNOVEMBER 3, 2014

DESTIN CITYHALL BOARDROOM6:00 PM

**Core Value of the Month – Sound and Fair Group Decision-Making**

CALL TOORDER, INVOCATION AND PLEDGEOF ALLEGIANCESPECIAL PRESENTATIONSAPPROVALOFMINUTES1. Request approval of the minutes of the October 6, 2014 regular councilmeeting

PUBLIC HEARINGS2. Second reading of Ordinance 12-13-PC, which amends Chapters 2 through13 of Comprehensive Plan: 2010, and adding a new chapter, EconomicDevelopment.

3. First reading of Ordinance 14-15-PC, a small scale Future Land Use Mapamendment. The proposed Ordinance amends Comprehensive Plan: 2010Map1-1 Future Land Use Map: 2010 by expanding the area contained within theAirport Future Land Use designation by approximately 0.5 acres andsubsequently reducing the adjacent MediumDensity Residential Future LandUse designation by approximately 0.5 acres.

PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAKONCOUNCIL PROPOSITIONSCONSENT AGENDA*4. Request approval to install 4 pilings and a boat lift / Mary Dixon / MarineConstruction

5. Request approval to add an 8’ x 16’ section to an existing dock, move a 6’ x 23’dock access section, and install 2 boat lifts / Tim Bell / Marine Construction

6. Local Agency Program (LAP) funding agreement and Resolution 14-19 forHutchinson Street Multi-Modal Improvements

7. Request approval for use of city streets for the Hog’s Breath Hog Trot 5k run/walk

RESOLUTIONSCOMMITTEE REPORTS8. Public Works/Safety Committee Annual Report andWork Plans

SCHEDULED PRESENTATIONS FROMTHE PUBLIC **PROJECT REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROMMAYORAND COUNCIL9. Councilmember Braden10. Councilmember Ramswell11. Councilmember Dixon12. Councilmember Foreman13. Councilmember Marler14. CouncilmemberWood15. Councilmember Trammell16. Mayor Ponder

STAFF REPORTS ANDRECOMMENDATIONS17. City Attorney comments18. City Land Use Attorney comments19. City Manager comments

a. RFB 14-06-PS, Miscellaneous Concrete Continuing Services Contractb. Summary of the Stakeholders Forum held October 16, 2014

COMMENTS FROMTHE AUDIENCEADJOURNMENT*All items listed under Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City

Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussionof these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the ConsentAgenda and may be considered separately.**To be placed on the Agenda under scheduled presentations, citizens must

contact the City Manager or City Clerk's office one (1) week prior to the scheduledCity Council Meeting by completing a Speakers Request Form and providing anyaccompanying documentation as requested in the form’s instructions.If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Council with respect to any

matter considered at this meeting, he/she may need a record of the proceedings, andfor such purpose, he/she may need to ensure that verbatim record of the proceedings ismade, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is tobe based. FS 286.0105.Persons with disabilities who require assistance to participate in this meeting are

requested to notify the City Clerk’s office at (850) 837-4242 in advance. Leg. 41101

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Local Destin Log | A7November 1-4, 2014

Photo and illustration by Kathy harrison | The Log

This week’s Picture Puzzler was inspired by a rodeo fishing trip. Can you spot the eight differences in these two pictures? If you are stumped, the solution can be found under the Picture Puzzler tab at www.thedestinlog.com.

destin Picture Puzzler fish from page a5

Kathy harrison | The Log

Husband and wife Richard and Vonnie Holsapple from Kentucky get ready to drop the line on one of their many fishing trips during the month of October.

Visit us at thedestinlog.com