Flora-Bama Mullet Toss returns in pandemic: ‘This is normal’

“You don’t get this in Iowa. You throw cow pies in Iowa. This is better than a cow pie.” — STEVE GORDON OF IOWA CITY, IOWA

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Sarah Watkins stepped into the small circle outlined on the Florida sand Saturday and launched a 1-pound dead fish into the air in hopes of breaking her past record.

Thump! The fish landed following a toss of 89 feet, or 1-foot shy of a personal best of 90 feet.

Watkins was in the lead for her age group of women, 36- 49. She was hoping to win for the third year in a row.

“This is so fun,” said Watkins, a Stapleton resident in the northern part of Baldwin County. “I was super excited when they announced they were doing this again. People just want to get out. This is normal. It’s the Mullet Toss.”

Indeed, a sense of returning to normalcy was embraced during the Mullet Toss — an outdoor event on the Florida side of the famous FloraBama. For the first time, the event was held in October after having been delayed from its traditional late April time slot due to strict government regulations during the early portion of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was held only in the state of Florida

this year due to looser restrictions than what are currently in place in Alabama. Traditionally, participants toss the dead fish from Florida into Alabama.

In late September, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted all remaining restrictions on restaurants and bars that had been in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus. In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey’s latest “Safer at Home” order — which requires mask-wearing and social distancing — remains in effect until Nov. 8.

“The goal was that we said we were postponing it, and not canceling it, and that we’d be able to hold it at some point,” said Jenifer Parnell, spokeswoman with the Flora-Bama. “We wanted to do it, but didn’t know when. After this last order that came out, we said that we’re the perfect event with outdoor capacity and we’re on. We planned it in two weeks.”

Few masks were worn inside or out of the FloraBama and social distancing was limited especially inside the Florida establishment where musicians played through the day and a bikini contest was held. The entire event had the look and feel of a pre-coronavirus era activity even if none of it was held on the Alabama side of the beach.

“Everyone is ready to get back to normal, whatever that might be,” said Steve Gordon, 56, of Iowa City, Iowa, who traveled with his wife, Heather, to attend their first Mullet Toss outside the bar where they got engaged several years ago.

He added, “You don’t get this in Iowa. You throw cow pies in Iowa. This is better than a cow pie.”

The event was occurring around the same time coronavirus cases continue to increase nationwide, but appear to be leveling off on the Alabama Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle.

Zachary Adams and his 3- year- old daughter, Zoe, of New Orleans traveled to spend the weekend with family and participated in his first mullet toss. He launched one of his tosses 148 feet, and another 111 feet.

Soaking up the sun and enjoying the event was a nice break from months of the pandemic and assisting family during the recovery of Hurricane Sally, he said.

“We brought gas and water and helped to clean up and stuff like that … [ attending the Mullet Toss] has been their ‘ thank you’ for us, basically,” said Adams, who brought two pallets of water and food with him during the initial recovery following the Sept. 16 hurricane that badly damaged coastal Alabama including the FloraBama. The worst damage occurred to the FloraBama Yacht Club, a nearby outdoor restaurant and grill that had been closed until Wednesday.

Said Parnell, “They are finally open and we’re completely back. Our marina is operating, but the docks are not fully built back yet.”

Parnell said the plan moving forward is to have the Mullet Toss in April, and not to permanently shift it to October. She said the crowds during this year’s event were “not overly packed,” but represented a “good vibe” on a typical summer day for the popular beachside bar.

“We’ve never skipped one of these before,” said Parnell. “It’s why we wanted to try and do one in any way, shape or form.”