Fishing rodeo hits the water Friday

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WALA) - Anglers from all over headed to Dauphin Island Thursday to get ready for the 78th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo .

If you're fishing in the tournament, click here for the marine conditions.

Gene Fox is the vice president of Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. He said they have been anticipating the event for some time and are ready to hit the water.

"Everybody’s ready and have waited on it for a long time, and we cant wait for it to happen,” said Fox.

In 2010, the oil spill forced the event on land, which is not exactly what people come out for.

“Just wasn’t quite the same, but we're trying to look forward and not back,” said Fox.

Millard Austin has been fishing in the rodeo since the 70s. He said it was hard to hear about it being cancelled last year, but it just makes this year that much better.

"That was very unfortunate, but you know - the oil spill is unfortunate, but sometimes things happen,” said Austin.

Now it's back in all of its glory and people are ready for what the rodeo is all about: fish.

"Going to fish the rodeo on shore mostly - speckled trout, flounder. I’m not going out in the deep water. I used to do that but not this year,” said Austin.

Conrad Lau and his friend Mark Lamb traveled from south Florida to reel in a big catch.

“Right now, the king fishing on the east coast - it’s horrible, and I know we can come over here and catch some kingfish,” said Lau.

They are heading into deep waters and said they will come back with their biggest catch yet.

"Kingfish, tuna, wahoo, snapper, grouper - whatever bites,” said Lau.

The anglers will drop their lines at 5 a.m. Friday. They have 62 hours to bring in the biggest fish in a number of different categories and take away a piece of over $400,000 in cash and prizes.

Lamb said they won’t be going home empty handed.

"We know we got a good shot. We got a great crew," said Lamb.

Per tradition, the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo kicked off Thursday night with a liars contest.

It’s a chance for anglers to get their fishing tales out of the way before the rodeo starts. In the final weigh-ins, there is no fibbing allowed. They even have a polygraph test on site for the final results.

Some told stories about the larger than life fish they had caught. Others told about catches of a different kind. One guy brought a life-size cardboard cut out of Osama bin Laden.

Another took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend. After a long fishing story, she said yes.

For more information on marine conditions click here .