Gone Fishin’

Some anglers compete to put trophies on their shelves.

Others, like Tammy Spaulding, do it for the green they get to stuff into their wallets.

“I go fishing quite a bit and always look for tournaments that award money prizes,” she explained.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Spaulding is helping organize the 10th annual Hook, Line and Drinkers Social Rodeo, which returns to Coco Marina in Cocodrie Aug. 17-19.

The annual tournament awards cash prizes to first- ($300), second- ($200) and third-place ($100) finishers in bull red, redfish under 27 inches, drum, speckled trout, flounder and sheep head divisions.

A special stringer of trout category presents $100 to the angler who reels in five trout with the heaviest combined weight.

“(Hook, Line and Drinkers) is a little traditional and a lot of fun,” Spaulding said. “We found in the past that it’s best to give winners money prizes.”

The MYOBs (the Mind Your Own Business club) and Cajun Egyptians host the tournament. Both groups ride floats in the Krewe of Cleopatra.

“We used to do car washes and bowling tournaments to raise money for our floats, and then we decided to try out a rodeo,” said Spaulding, who works as treasurer of the MYOB. “Now, this is the only fund-raiser we need to do.”

The rodeo’s 2007 entertainment lineup will include Friday and Saturday night musical performances by The Groove, a five-piece ensemble that specializes in dance and rock.

A $20 entry fee includes a rodeo T-shirt and a ticket in a $500 drawing.

A portion of the proceeds will go to charity.

“(Hook, Line and Drinkers) is basically a whole bunch of friends getting together and competing against each other in a fun way,” said rodeo organizer Aimme Grabert. “And with gas prices being so expensive these days, cash is a better prize to win.”

For more information, call Spaulding at (985) 637-5910 or Grabert at (985) 852-1669.

• In southern Louisiana, competition isn’t restricted to the football fields.

It’s also alive and well at the fishing tournaments that dot the summer calendar.

And the Terrebonne Sportsman League’s International Fishing Rodeo is certainly no exception.

This, according to Sportsman League secretary Moise Waguespack, will be evident when the 57th edition of the annual event returns to Pointe Aux Chenes Aug. 3-5.

“Our people are all sportsmen, fishermen and boaters,” Waguespack said. “They all want to get out there and beat each other. It’s a lot of good fun.”

But the tournament isn’t solely reserved for the advanced angler.

“It’s a family rodeo – that’s the key,” explained Kevin Whitney, a board member of the Sportsman League. “Everyone can be in this rodeo. You’ll see a lot of moms and daddies and kids… everybody is mixed together.”

The Terrebonne Sportsman League’s International Fishing Rodeo was launched in 1946, but underwent several name changes during its fledgling years before finally settling on the moniker it uses today.

Over time, it blossomed into a sizeable event that now includes offshore, shoreline, blue water, freshwater and scuba divisions.

Last summer, Jeff Atkins caught a sea catfish that tipped the scales at eight pounds, 12 ounces – the heaviest in rodeo history.

Andrew Henry set another tourney record in the scuba division by hauling in a stingray that weighed 141 pounds, eight ounces.

This weekend’s rodeo could potentially produce even more record-setting snags, as 600-plus competitors will battle it out to win first-place prizes.

This year, 6500 Abu Garcia Ambassador C3 Casting Reels are on the line – in addition to bragging rights, of course.

“This is a really big event and it’s one of my favorites,” Whitney said. “It’s a lot of fun, and a really good time of year to fish.”

Tickets are $15 (the price includes a rodeo hat, T-shirt and rule booklet).

Concessions include hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, soft drinks and snow cones.

For more information, call Whitney at (985) 851-4537 or Larry Jordan at (985) 601-4110.

• Anglers at the Krewe of Hercules Annual Redfish Rodeo will see a lot of fish.

And if they’re lucky, a lot of money.

“We have one of largest fishing rodeos in Louisiana that pays cash,” said tournament organizer S.P. LaRussa. “The top redfish and trout payouts are $1,000.”

The Krewe of Hercules Redfish Rodeo will be held Aug. 10-12 at the Harbor Light Marina Pavilion at Harbor Inn in Cocodrie.

A one-time entry fee of $25 includes Saturday night entertainment (courtesy of the Don Rich Band), a Sunday fish fry, fishing towel and measuring tape, rodeo T-shirt and koozie.

Participants will also be able to enjoy an auction and jambalaya cook-off.

“We’ve been doing this (rodeo) for 18 years,” LaRussa said. “A lot of people look forward to coming. It’s a blast.”

For more information or ticket sale locations, call LaRussa at (985) 872-0444.

Gone Fishin’