Captain, I ain't tryin to rain on anybody's parade; especially a guy who's brave enough to take several beautiful 13 y/o young gals out for a fun fishing trip. BUT, appears you have all deeper water offshore fish in that box, including a REDFISH I think I see in there. Very likely much more than 3 miles from coast and in Fed Waters. You also mention first stop catching those fish, including the redfish. A big, big, big No No. Hey, if you happened to stop in at the rocks on the way to the pass and caught him; then my bad and apologies in advance.........but it sure don't look that way. Just sayin.....I'm always amazed at the number of people offshore who are not up on all regs.

Capt Bob Lake-The REEL IN LODGE & GUIDE SERVICE

Last year's Picture and what I'm looking forward to next week. The Oil States Energy Services Fishin

Nice catch Capt, looks like ya'll had a blast. I'm going down to the island to fish for snapper next week for the 1st annual Asshole oilfield rodeo at Bridgeside marina. Any pointers?? I know Scott knows that area as any guides down there. The Pic here was our last year's trip.

Thanks Capt. Bob. I had a blast with the girls. As far as pointers, if you know Scott, he's who you need to talk to.
Latchknee, I'm not well versed on the regs. but my friend Scott is out there alot. He actually told me to keep the reds as we were legal at these rigs. He did say we could not go out further with reds in the boat. I could also still see land at the rigs the reds were caught at.
Good thing I didn't know how bad the damage was to my boat till after the trip. Good Luck!

looks like they had fun and caught plenty of fish.

i didn't know fish could read signs about where there at. a fish is a fish no matter where you catch it. maybe its time we the people tolds the feds where the sun don't shine... and that's where they can take all thier outdated fish management numbers and hide. i don't even fish in federal waters. lucky to breathe my next breath. oh oh i feel a tirade coming on i'm done.

Easy there Tiderunner. Don't get to worked up over it. I agree with your federal lines. I look for the line on the water , guess the waves washed it away. LOL

oh i just get fed up with all the laws. here in fl i can't even keep a fish if its the 5th tueday of the month in the 13 month of the 2022. you went out had a good time with you daughter and one stop by a officer would have ruined your day whether you knew the law or not. even after the cold winter several years back and a healthy snook poulation, the game and fish decided to keep it closed one more year. redfish in abundant numbers, but the game and fish let us keep 4 trout above 15 with one over 20. thats why i go to louisiana to do my sltwater fishing. if i could sell my 41 acres with a nice home,deer turkey, dove, i would move in a heartbeat. i'm back on my ran't see ya

Guys, I feel your pain and don't disagree about over regulation; but the shallow and idiotic comments about fish reading sings and lines in the water is the type of mentality which can cause you grief and ruin a good day of fishing. Come on Capt., you appear to be a licensed charter captain and should simply know better; whether you fish out that way (offshore) or not. Your Bud was just plain WRONG. Maybe he would annie up for the citation. I have been fishing and diving that area for 34 years and patroling it for 13, and there's not one rig out of Caminada within 5 miles, much less three miles, where you could have caught that variety of fish. Simply put: It's a serious violation. Ask Brett A. of Lafayette who has made two trips to Fed. Court in the Western District of Louisiana for possession of redfish in Fed Waters. Catching them isn't the problem: POSSESSING them IS. Hey, I agree with all of you. Federal regulation may may be getting ridiculous, but 'it is what it is'. We have killed Reds offshore pulling up from depth despite having our 'required' vent tool and venting them properly. I usually just move off of the rig if I find they are too thick. No use killing them needlessly. Sure, it's a ridiculous waste. Point is: You had an awesome day of fishing with a bunch of kids and a beautiful box of fish to show for it. It just would have been an extreme bummer to get busted with that one fish over three miles out. Then again, who knows????? If I were a Fed. agent running Fed Waters at that time, I definately would have only given you a warning. I recognize you didn't have a boat load and were not intentionally violating. I gave six warnings for fire extinguishers alone two Saturdays ago. Guess I could have ruined those fine folks nice day also, but common sense does have to prevail. Just food for thought.

Latchknee, Your right. Good food for thought.Thanks

Not tryin to start a whine and rant battle but I have a question. I try to avoid posting on here because of all the turmoil that seems to inivetably pop up from even the most positive reports and comments BUT curiousity has gotten the best of me. I guess maybe LatchKnee can answer it? Since federal waters are now at 10 miles, wouldn't that mean that redfish can be taken up to 10 miles? I heard that the federal water were already in effect to 10. Maybe that is not the case? Any informed comment would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Guys-
I only fish Grand Isle once or twice a year, but a few years back I was stopped at one of the first couple rigs out from the island and was told that we were still in state waters due to the way the island runs, the boundary line goes way out further than 3 miles. Could some one please chime in that knows what's going on down there. I'm going down in a few days and don't want to get wrote up.

This is what ive read. Im not 100% positive im right but here goes. As of now according to STATE law louisiana waters extend out to 10 miles but according to FEDERAL law its still 3 miles. So if you get stopped by LDWF between 3 and 10 miles out with redfish you are legal. However if you get stopped 3 to 10 miles out with redfish by federal agents you are in violation of the law.

Its actually 10.4 miles.

Read the last few lines on this article. http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=4044

Just seems like someone wanting to tell someone else what they should do. This world would be a lot better off if people quit sticking their nose in other's business.

Capt. Ricky and Capt. Bob, no hard feelings, but seems like some here wear pink panties which get wadded if someone simply makes comment and offers advice based on good info. Hey! The Capt. was out there with a bunch of kids showing them a good time. Very comendable! Just don't want to see that fun ruined is all. By the way, each of your youngsters aboard your boat, Capt. Ricky, would have received 'Got Caught' t-shirts from me had I stopped you for a spot check! Excellent to see each of them wearing their PFDs. First, regardless of what our Legis. does in designating alleged state coastal boundaries, the state action must be confirmed by congressional act in this case. This is a very complicated issue. Fed law controls here prohibiting POSSESSION of red drum in Federal waters. If the rig you are at is designated by marking as state waters, you're good for possession of redfish. If not, Fed Waters. Can go out to Fed waters and catch all the snapper, tuna, mangroves (can be found at closer rigs) and AJ's you want and still get your Redfish on the way in. Even if stopped and checked at the pass, no problem! No proof you had POSSESSION of Red Drum in Fed Waters or whether you caught them at 2 mile rigs. The angler is legal in this situation.Second, if any of you with snide comment in doubt can take me aboard your boat on any rig within 3 miles of Caminada Pass (or father!, AND marked as a state rig) and catch the Red Snapper, Amberjack, Bonita and other reef fish as stated and seen in the cooler in this post, I will pay you a reward of $1000.00 in cash. If not,you simply offer me a beer, a hand shake, then admit you were wrong. There is some good advice from others here. Like some have opined; it's just not worth the risk for a redfish that most of us release (usually the large female spawners) inshore while speck fishing. If not sure (ie: you have run 2 hours since the pass due south and can't find numbers on rig, LOL!); probably not a safe bet to keep redfish. While I realize we are all very busy with life and hoping to fish every chance we get, it would do so many a world of good to simply GET A REGULATIONS PAMPHLET and READ! Keep it on board for reference. It also gives peace of mind in knowing that you're legal. But hey, then again, maybe it's just me. Be safe out there and have fun on the water.

Latchknee, I meant it when I said thanks for the heads up. I am aware of the fed. water rules concerning reds as this is also a concern on my normal fishing grounds out of Bayou Dularge. I guess my biggest mistake was not knowing for sure myself what was the fed. line. Thanks again. Now this post has gotten way off base from what I had intented as a great trip for 5 young fisherladies. I'll say again I had probably more fun than they did and would encourage anyone to do it if they can. I would be better informed though. Good luck!

Capt. Rickey I'm sorry I didn't comment earlier.

Great catch and it was great to have you and your crew follow me.

Just to clear up the confusion with all the other comments. The Fourchon rigs out of Bell Pass or less than 3 miles out which puts them well inside State waters.

Also with the limits so few on Red Snapper it is easy to run out 12 miles catch a few Snapper and come in to the Fourchon rigs to catch other fish to make the expense worht the while.

I'm thank full for the concerns but this time it is all good.

SR