Three takeaways from Flora-Bama's Mullet Toss from a first-time thrower

Sports Editor Cole McNanna takes in the interstate fish throw at Flora-Bama

BY COLE McNANNA
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/2/23

I had been looking for an excuse to finally go visit the Flora-Bama since I’ve lived in Alabama for a year as of earlier this week. Last weekend’s Mullet Toss was the perfect …

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Three takeaways from Flora-Bama's Mullet Toss from a first-time thrower

Sports Editor Cole McNanna takes in the interstate fish throw at Flora-Bama

Posted

I had been looking for an excuse to finally go visit the Flora-Bama since I’ve lived in Alabama for a year as of earlier this week. Last weekend’s Mullet Toss was the perfect opportunity.

It’s the busy season of high school sports with baseball, softball, golf, soccer and track and field postseasons underway for many of Baldwin County’s teams so once I was able to finish up my work last week, I had Sunday free to head to the state line.

Although I saw some pictures and videos from previous events, I didn’t fully know what to expect when I got to the nationally famous bar but from the minute I arrived until I left I had nothing but fun.

While I did indeed enjoy a day off, I can never get too far away from work so I wanted to share some of my takeaways and what I’ll be doing differently next year to improve my mark at the interstate fish toss.

I also wanted to take a moment here to thank everyone for their support of the high school sports coverage we’ve been doing over the last year. May 2 was my first workaversary at Gulf Coast Media and I’ve only continued to meet great athletes, coaches and people around Baldwin County while being supported by an all-star squad in the office.

Not only that, but I’m fired up for what’s to come in Year 2 so if you’re not already, follow @GCMSportsAL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for immediate updates and bookmark gulfcoastmedia.com/sports for all the latest sports news from around Baldwin County. Thanks again, now let’s get back to the party.

Be prepared to wait in line to throw

I knew I wasn’t going to waltz right up and be able to throw in two minutes but I also didn’t quite plan, beverage-wise, to wait in line for two hours before I got my chance in the circle. I did try to pick Sunday thinking it’d be a lighter crowd but it still felt like there were a ton of people ready to record the top throw so I was cool to wait my turn.

We just had to maneuver some adversity in acquiring some libations to pass the time but that brings me to my next takeaway.

You run into people you know

Like I said, I can never get too far away from work and while waiting in line, I saw a pod of Dolphin football players from Gulf Shores High School not too far ahead of me gearing up to try their hand at throwing a mullet and only searching for water in their beverage hunt.

Luckily, my newly made friends and line-waiting partners held my spot while I got some video and photos of a handful of athletes I’m familiar with.

In the group were Will Langston, a five-star kicker, and middle linebacker Dylan Byrd. I was sure it would be Langston that tried to punt the fish, since he was also rated a 4.5-star punter by Chris Sailer Kicking, but it was instead Byrd who tried his foot at launching the fish — and it did not go well.

It’s harder than it looks

And that brings me to my final point, that even if you use proper technique, it’s still harder than it looks.

Since baseball was the sport I played the longest I thought I might have a decent shot at pulling out a long throw but we also faced a strong headwind that day so I’ll factor that into the result.

No matter what, my throw of 68’ 9” didn’t get me into the finals so I’ll get in the lab and start working since there are only 363 days left until next year’s Mullet Toss.