The Social Science Side of TBS – Old Salt Foundation’s 31st Annual ‘King of the Beach’ Tournament

One of the six Tampa Bay Surveillance study objectives is to survey local people of the Tampa Bay region to determine patterns in seafood consumption. Dr. Heather O’Leary (Assistant Professor, Anthropologist and co-Principal Investigator for TBS) leads this social science component and is responsible for the design, collection and analysis of results from fisher interviews conducted in the area. This data provides valuable insights into the diverse perspectives of various fishing-oriented stakeholder groups, ranging from subsistence fishers to recreational anglers.

Earlier this year, surveys were distributed to attendees of the 2024 Gulf of Mexico Conference (February 19-22). Attendees were primarily coastal scientists and stakeholders from state and federal government, academia, non-profit and private sectors involved in Gulf research, policy and management. Dr. O’Leary and the TBS team got to know the crowd and distributed surveys throughout the 4-day event with analysis of 447 responses currently underway!

Last weekend, Dr. O’Leary and anthropology graduate students Myriam Rodriguez Mora, Holly Shuff, and Eric Campbell surveyed the crowd at the Old Salt Fishing Foundation’s 31st Annual Fall ‘King of the Beach’ Kingfish Tournament in Bay Pines, FL, November 14-16. King of the Beach is a king mackerel fishing tournament, and this year 185 teams and boats competed with high-stakes prizes in 11 different categories.

Read on to experience the tournament through the eyes of anthropology graduate student and researcher, Myriam Rodriguez Mora.

The event was vibrant and full of sensory details, with the smell of BBQ on the left side of the venue blending with tropical perfume and the taste of smoke in the air, partly due to the many Cuban cigars being smoked and the BBQ pit working full time. Food trucks and boats surrounded the area, creating an artificial wall that separated the everyday life from the King of the Beach tournament, perfect for getting into a fishing and celebrating mindset. The majority of attendees were drinking beer, with a few opting for mixed drinks. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfectly complementing the sunny weather and the loud rock ‘n’ roll music on Saturday and the live music on Thursday, which featured classic hits like Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”.

The crowd was mostly white men of various ages, from teens to seniors, with more teens present on Saturday. Women were generally accompanied by others, and families with children tended to have female or both guardians present. The event felt like a close-knit community, with many hugs and social interactions, creating a welcoming environment.

When it came to the survey, most attendees were receptive, but a few anglers expressed frustration with the length and repetitiveness of the questions, claiming it took longer than expected to complete. Some attendees voiced concerns about the survey’s potential to breach personal data, and worried about fishing regulations impacting their activities. Many also mentioned that it was unrealistic to expect survey participation after an early start and long exposure to the sun on Saturday. However, even then, some participants were eager to share their thoughts, expressing concern for the health of the ocean, particularly regarding red tide.

Overall, there was a strong sense of community, with many participants keen to voice their opinions not only on fishing, but also on environmental issues and changes throughout time.

Anthropology graduate student and researcher Holly Shuff’s biggest take-away was how important it is to continue to bridge the gap and collaborate with the community and local stakeholders. She emphasized how these populations provide first-hand experience and new perspectives on what’s happening in our waters and how they’re being affected.