Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Tarpon Rodeo to TIFT

PORT ISABEL, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The largest and one of the oldest saltwater fishing tournaments on the Texas coast is set for July 31 and runs through August 4.

Some 1,500 anglers and 500 plus boats are expected to participate in the 84th Annual Texas International Fishing Tournament, with weigh-in set for Friday and Saturday at South Point Marina in Port Isabel.

It all started back in 1934 when J.A. “Doc” Hockaday founded the Rio Grande Valley Fishing Rodeo.

The rodeo moniker was in reference to bucking, and leaping tarpon and the silver kings did not disappoint the initial 107 anglers that landed 63 “sabolo magnifico.”

The tournament was designed to promote Port Isabel’s phenomenal fishing and focused primarily on abundant tarpon.

In the early 1920’s the areas fishing popularity was boosted by a visit from President Warren Harding, and the early tarpon rodeos featured scores of the magnificent fish stretched in front of the Port Isabel lighthouse.

Tarpon continued to be plentiful for decades, and in this photo from 1948 Charles Burnell and his sister Helen pose with their impressive catch.

Charles was born in 1934, the same year of the first tarpon rodeo and was 15 when the photo was taken.

“My father was captain on the boat and four or five years in a row we won the tournament," said Burnell.

Charles, who is 90 now, went on to become a successful shrimp boat owner, and recalls how his sister out fished him.

“If I remember right her tarpon was 6-foot-6 and 120 pounds and mine was 6-foot-4 and 116 pounds. She beat me, and she won the rodeo that year," he said.

It wasn’t until the late 1960’s that the Rio Grande Valley Fishing Rodeo morphed into the Texas International Fishing Tournament.

Recreational fishing has changed dramatically since that first Tarpon Rodeo, and modern sport fishing boats now venture far offshore seeking Blue marlin and sailfish.

While tarpon are not as abundant as they once were, the upcoming 84th Texas International Fishing Tournament features a popular catch and release category.