As predicted, the opening of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion early last decade has led to a bass-fishing boom in the marshes of St. Charles Parish.
That productivity hasn’t gone unnoticed by region-wide bass anglers, who regularly flock to the area to lure strikes on spinnerbaits, jigs and plastic frogs.
But has the pressure on the fishery gotten too intense?
Rep. Robert Billiot (D-Westwego) thinks that perhaps it has.
Billiot has introduced a concurrent resolution in this legislative session that would “urge and request the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt slot limits on bass in Lake Cataouatche and certain areas of the Salvador Wildlife Management Area.”
Billiot said he made the proposal after hearing from his bass-fishing constituents.
“The ones who approached me feel that the area’s eventually going to get fished out,” he said. “They think it’s going to turn out like Caernarvon.”
The Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion produced a similar run on bass during the 1990s. Fishing there today is still considered good by most anglers, although it’s certainly not at the levels that it once was.
Under the terms of HCR 75, the slot limit would extend from 16 to 21 inches, with anglers allowed only one fish over 21 inches.
Although concurrent resolutions do not carry the weight of law, Billiot plans to attend the May 4 commission meeting and request that the regulatory body order that the issue be studied by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Click here to email Billiot and let him know what you think, but remember to use your real name along with contact information and your town of residence.