News Breaker
Wahoo thick out of Cocodrie
Trolling with anything that resembles bait around the Green Canyon and Ship Shoal blocks will most likely land a wahoo right now, Capt. Tommy Pellegrin said.[…]
Year: 2013
Columns
Sheep herding
Mark Sagerholm is an avid kayak fisherman and a self proclaimed “sheep herder.” Sagerholm has developed a great respect for sheepshead — what many Louisiana fishermen consider trash fish.[…]
News Breaker
359 rigs slated for decommissioning, leading scientist says action is detrimental to red snapper plan
The number 359 has taken on a new meaning for some Louisiana anglers and conservationists: That’s the estimated number of Gulf of Mexico rigs and platforms scheduled for removal this year, according to a release by DecomWorld distributed on Jan. 15.
And according to Dr. Bob Shipp, chairman of the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences, that number is way too high because removal of any decommissioned rig is premature, if not blatantly detrimental to reef fish habitat.
“As a fisheries scientist, I think it’s a very big mistake,” he said.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
ALBC adds youth division to tournament offerings
The state’s largest non-professional bass-fishing group has added a junior division to its offerings in an effort to add new blood into the sport of tournament bass fishing, the Association of Louisiana Bass Clubs announced recently.
Participants in the ALBC’s junior division will consist of young anglers 14 to 18 years of age who are enrolled in high school.[…]
Bass Fishing
Poverty Point Reservoir produces second 12-pounder in a week
Ken Chapman of Crowville had initially planned to fish a bass tournament on Saturday, but the 30-year-old angler inadvertently turned off the alarm instead of punching the snooze button.
“Well, guess I’ll be going to Delhi this morning,” the angler said to himself when he did finally wake up.
In retrospect, the angler admitted that was one of the best turn of events that has ever occurred to him.[…]
Columns
Bass Kandi’s Coastal Crippler
Mike “Redbone” Holland of Ragley, who owns Bass Kandi Baits — a Southwest Louisiana artificial lure manufacturing company specializings in soft plastics — and his 11-year-old son Payton were deer hunting the week before Christmas near Kerrville, Texas.[…]
General
Coastal-restoration projects approved in St. Tammany, Terrebonne parishes
In late January, the Coastal Wetlands, Planning, Protection and Restoration Act Task Force, better known as CWPPRA, approved construction of marsh-building projects in both the Bayou Bonfouca area in St. Tammany Parish and Terrebonne Parish’s Lost Lake.
The projects are sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in conjunction with the state. CWPPRA projects are funded by the federal government with a 15-percent funding match coming from Louisiana.[…]
Events & Announcements
$35,000 up for grabs in Louisiana Sportsman Open Bass Championship
The Louisiana Sportsman Open Bass Championship is scheduled for March 16-17, and there is a lot of money up for grabs. The team that rises to the top of the two-day event will walk away with a cool $12,000.
And the rest of the top-25 teams will split $23,000.[…]
Columns
Turkey hunting in 2013
The work that has been done the past two years will determine one’s hunting success in the upcoming turkey season.[…]
Bass Fishing
14-inch minimum size limit for Atchaflaya Basin bass should go, LDWF says
The 14-inch minimum size limit imposed for Atchafalaya Basin bass following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew will be a thing of the past in a few months if a Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries proposal receives final approval.
And that’s fine with Denham Springs angler Darren Cooper.
“It’s hard to catch 14-inch fish,” Cooper said. “How many fish do you catch in that 13-inch range?”[…]
Bass Fishing
Poverty Point angler lands 12-pound bass
On Wednesday, veteran bass angler and Vietnam War veteran James Bryan of Delhi left his home a mile away from Richland Parish’s Poverty Point Reservoir State Park to do what he enjoys — bass fishing.
That decision resulted in his catching the biggest bass of his life — a fish that topped the 12-pound mark.[…]
Waterfowl & Duck Hunting
How to score on a Conservation Order goose hunt
Late-season goose hunting is tough, even with the benefit of expert calling and prime locations. New birds are a long-forgotten luxury, and existing flocks have been educated by three months worth of advanced hunting-pressure classes.
Hunters can tip the odds of getting one last waterfowl shooting fix in their favor with a large decoy and rag spread, said Goose Guide Inc.’s Clint Matthew. The Kaplan native has been guiding hunters to robust bags of specklebellies and, to a lesser degree snow geese and lesser Canadas, for more than 20 years.[…]
Fishing
Plano introduces new tackle satchel
Plano has introduced the Flex ‘N Go Tackle Satchel for the angler on the go. This adaptable system allows fishermen to be prepared for largemouth bass today, striperd bass tomorrow and even your favorite saltwater species for the weekend.[…]
Breaking News
LDWF proposes sweeeping changes to 2013-14 deer-hunting season
If Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries managers have their way, wholesale changes are coming to Louisiana deer-hunting seasons — one of the most striking being the re-implementation of designated either-sex days.
So-called “doe days” were ended in 2006, the LDWF said.
Changes listed in a notice of intent issued by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission yesterday (Feb. 7) also included the addition of three new hunting zones.[…]
Columns
Sweet-tooth sac-a-lait
At the homestead, the 14th day of February is more than just Valentine’s Day: It also marks the birthdate of my wonderful wife Emelise, often referred to in this column as Mrs. Catch.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
Tippets
We’ve had so much rain this winter that I’m starting to see animals gathering in pairs looking for a large boat. With all this runoff, the big challenge for fly anglers will be to find clear water.[…]