The 11th annual Thunder’s Fishing Rodeo hit a high point on Friday with more than 100 fish tickets turned in. The second day featured two rodeo records, including a five-year-old record fall to a 13-year-old from St. Martin as the event looks to wrap up today with the scales open from noon to 6 p.m. ”It was a slow day for the most part,” weighmaster Steve Vanderkooy said. ”But we had a new record and that was good to see. It was steady and we’re excited about the final day.”
The new redfish rodeo record belongs to Michaela Griffith at 33.43-pounds. That catch broke the old mark of 32.7-pounds set in 2008 by David Floyd.
Ironically, the Thunders Tournament marked Griffith’s first competitive “adult” fishing event since winning the 2008 Kids Queen Fisherette Award at the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.
”I was fishing with my dad, Michael Griffith,” she said. ”We were fishing off the Ocean Springs beach with 40-pound test line and a whole mullet. We had already caught a shark so I went to the truck.
”When it hit, I was trying to take a nap in the truck and my started father yelling at me across the street on the beach. At first I thought it was another shark. After I walked across the street to fight the fish, I had to wade out in the water barefooted. Thinking it was a shark, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, it wasn’t. I am so proud because that was my first adult fishing tournament and I set a record. Pretty cool.” Read more….