In this episode of Between Two Rods, host Aaron Rich sits down with Chelsey Adami of Captain Anderson’s Marina and BJ Burkett of Hook ’Em Up Charters to talk all things Panama City Fishing Rodeo and the return of the PCB Seafood Festival. From kids’ fishing clinics and family-friendly competitions to live music, local seafood, and even fireworks over the lagoon, this community-driven event brings anglers, families, and food lovers together. Tune in to hear how the rodeo is growing each year, why it’s all about getting kids hooked on fishing, and what makes Panama City a top spot for both fishing and fun.
Transcript:
Hey y’all, welcome to another episode of Between Two Rods. I’m your host, Aaron Rich, and this is a fishing podcast where we talk about all kinds of things—fishing, life, cool events—and today we’re going to dive into some exciting things coming up in our community. I’m thrilled to have a couple of awesome guests with me today. But first, a quick thank you to our sponsor, basstacklesupply.com, for all your freshwater fishing needs. Go check them out—they support us, so let’s support them. Now, let me introduce our guests: Chelsea Adam, Marketing Director and Events Coordinator at Captain Anderson’s Marina and Event Center, and BJ Burkett, Captain at Hookup Charters and Vice President of the Bay County Boatsman’s Association. BJ is also deeply involved in organizing the upcoming fishing rodeo we’re talking about today. This will be the fourth year of the rodeo, which was created to boost business for Panama City’s charter industry and get the community involved in fishing. It’s not a high-stakes tournament with huge cash prizes—instead, it’s about participation, community, and fun, with lots of winners and categories. Kids who weigh in a fish even get a free rod and reel! There are several divisions, including land-based, kayak, paddleboard, and multiple private and charter boat categories. There are around 80 different categories total, broken up to increase the chances of people winning and to encourage widespread participation. BJ said the goal is to grow the event to the scale of the long-running Destin Fishing Rodeo. Sponsors like Bill Cramer Chevrolet and The Boat Center make it all possible, and BJ joked about being a frequent visitor at Cramer Marine due to his own boat mishaps—but praises them for their support and great service. One of the standout features of this rodeo is its focus on families and kids. There’s a kids’ fishing clinic on October 4th, sponsored by the Real Ladies of Panama City, where everything is provided—rods, reels, bait, helpers—and kids even win prizes. The rodeo runs from October 4th to October 12th and includes bouncy houses, face painting, seafood for sale, cast net demonstrations, and casting games. The Bay County Artificial Reef Association will also be there with displays of different reef designs. BJ and his wife, who is the Association president, are currently preparing a 60-foot tugboat to be deployed as an artificial reef off Panama City. All information about the event, divisions, and registration can be found at pcbfishingrodeo.com. Species included are based on what’s in season and may vary with regulations—expect everything from grouper and snapper to tuna, wahoo, redfish, shark, and Spanish mackerel. BJ says some days you catch one type, and other days you land a dozen species. That’s part of the fun of fishing in the area. BJ does both fresh and saltwater fishing and enjoys taking his seven-year-old kids catfishing and frog gigging. Last year, there was a lot of leaderboard movement on the final day as weather improved—some anglers held the lead all week only to be knocked off in the last hour. Even non-anglers are welcome to come out and enjoy the weigh-ins and festivities. Justin and Meredith from Chasing the Sun participated last year and took home a prize, which was later shown on Discovery Channel—putting Panama City’s rodeo on the map. The event has grown every year, and the more entries and sponsors they get, the more prizes they can offer. Sponsorship inquiries can be made via the website. BJ also shared that he prefers targeting whatever is biting rather than chasing specific species, unless it’s yellowfin tuna—his favorite. He sometimes heads out to the oil rigs or Louisiana for that. Chelsea, while not a fisherman herself, is immersed in the world of fishing through her work at the marina. Headboats at Captain Anderson’s participate in the rodeo, and passengers on those trips are automatically entered in the tournament. Kids under 12 who catch a fish also receive a free rod and reel. Even if you don’t have a boat, you can still participate by booking a trip with one of the marina’s boats or charters. Chelsea’s toddler will be fishing for the first time this year during the kids’ rodeo. Aaron, who stocks his neighborhood ponds with bass for local kids to fish, joked about doing it “for the children.” The rodeo wraps up with the PCB Seafood Festival, running from October 10–12, the same weekend as the tournament finale. It’s the first seafood festival in the area since 2013 and aims to highlight local cuisine and community. There will be live music, 75 vendors (including about 10 seafood vendors), bouncy houses, face painting, artificial reef exhibits, and fireworks over the lagoon Sunday night. Featured bands include Gage Coart Band, Nate Pennington, Salt Rock Revival, and Will Thompson. Vendors range from local favorites like Billy’s Oyster Bar and Bud & Rose Crab Shack to Anderson Seafood Market. Chelsea emphasized the importance of keeping the seafood local—not from a truck—and supporting area restaurants and seafood providers. The final weigh-in is at 5 p.m. Sunday, followed by awards at 6 and fireworks at 8:30. It’s going to be a fantastic community celebration of fishing, food, and fun for all ages.