Deep Sea Roundup History The Deep Sea Roundup, the oldest fishing tournament on the Texas coast, is sponsored by Port Aransas Boatmen Inc. – an organization with an equally long and illustrious history. For more than nine decades, members of the Boatmen have served as town mayors and city councilmen, guided governors, dignitaries, and a president on fishing trips, supported many community activities with manpower and funding, and helped Port Aransas gain and maintain its identity as a world-class fishing community. In 1932, the Boatmen Association sponsored the Tarpon Rodeo. The 3-day tournament featuring a shotgun start focused on catching tarpon and the first winner’s name placed on the perpetual trophy was North Millican with the winning fish (which the museum believes was caught by his fishing wife,Totsy). In 1934, Dorothy Fair of San Antonio would be the first (but not the last) woman to be on the perpetual trophy. But 1936 to 1950, men would dominate the tournament with anglers like Ed Basse Senior and Junior. Virginia Schott would secure 3 of the final spots in 1959, 60, and 62. The last plaque put on the trophy would be secured by Butch Howard, without a guide. Guides were listed on the plaque with their winning angler with Boatmen like Don and Barney Farley, Ed Tarrant, Ted Mathews, and Bubba Milina. The tournament ran every year except during WWII. In 1949, the Boatmen purchased the land and built the Community Center to hold the awards ceremonies. They later gifted the building and land to the city. The building was later doubled in size by the city, rebuilt again in 2008 by the Boatmen when the Port Aransas Historical Museum was moved next door. It is still used today for community activities and events. During its early years, there were plenty of tarpon available to be caught in Port Aransas, a town previously called Tarpon, Texas. As time went on, tarpon numbers diminished due to a combination of pressures and environmental changes. In addition, boats were being built that could go further, seeking big game fish like the pelagic blue marlin and yellowfin tuna. In 1947, it was called the Tarpon Rodeo and Deep Sea Roundup. Later, in 1965, it would become solely the Deep Sea Roundup. More pelagic fish categories were added as boats continued to explore deeper waters off Port Aransas. By the 1970, we outgrew having the ceremonies in the Community Center and moved the activities to the new Civic Center with weigh in at the City Harbor. We saw a big increase in the boats in the offshore and inshore divisions. Into the 80’s, it was a 3-day tournament with a play day in between-ropewalks, “reel the bucket”, and “wire and gaff” contests were some of the activities. The early Tarpon Rodeo Queen contests continued from 1932 into the 80’s but by the Mens’ Sexy Legs Contest gained popularity (or hilarity). The Piggy Perch contest for the younger anglers was added to the events to provide entertainment for the whole family. This part of the Deep Sea Roundup has grown to attract over 200 contestants in some years. There were also dances on the last night of the tournament with a live band. In 90’s, Bill Horn spearheaded the addition of a Fish Fry before the awards on Sunday, a tradition that continues in his name. Today, the tournament continues to attract hundreds of families and individual anglers to Port Aransas to fish, compete, and have fun.