Louisiana Sportsman

1,000-pound-plus bluefin tuna landed in North Carolina

January 20, 2015 Dusty Wilson

Bluefin tuna fishing around Morehead City, N.C. is shaping up to be one of the best in years, and last Tuesday, it may have hit its peak.[…]

LDWF currently upgrading ROLP website

January 12, 2015 From News Reports

The website where anglers can apply for Recreational Offshore Landing Permits is being upgraded starting today, and could be down for up to three days during the work, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.[…]

Back-to-back bluefin total more than 1,500 pounds in North Carolina

January 7, 2015 Craig Holt

The crew of the Grady Bunch, fishing the first two days of 2015 just outside Beaufort Inlet, may not have landed a state-record bluefin tuna, but the three men and a boy almost certainly accomplished a feat no other North Carolina saltwater crew has duplicated: Catching two bluefin tuna on consecutive days that combined to weigh more than 1,500 pounds. […]

State’s recreational red snapper season to close Dec. 31

December 19, 2014 From News Reports

The state’s recreational red snapper season will close on Dec. 31, but the opening date for 2015 has not yet been determined, according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.[…]

LWF Commission approves Notice of Intent modifying Recreational Offshore Landing Permit

December 4, 2014 From News Reports

At its meeting on Thursday, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a Notice of Intent to modify regulations pertaining to the Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP).[…]

LDWF conducting yellowfin tuna research project in Gulf of Mexico

November 14, 2014 From News Reports

Reeling in a big yellowfin is rewarding in itself, but if you’re lucky enough to catch a fish involved in a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries research project, you’ll get more than just a nice tuna steak.[…]

Passage of Reef Fish Amendment 40 raises lots of questions, provides few answers

November 3, 2014 Patrick Bonin

More questions than answers remain in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s vote last month to approve Reef Fish Amendment 40, which basically divides the recreational red snapper quota between private fishermen and for-hire charter and head boat captains.[…]

Two Bridge City men sentenced for illegal red snapper sales in 2012

October 30, 2014 From News Reports

Two men pleaded guilty this week to illegal red snapper sales relating to a Sept. 9, 2012 incident when agents were able to purchase 655 pounds of fish from them in Bridge City.[…]

Construction beginning on artificial reefs at the Pickets

October 16, 2014 From News Reports

Construction is set to begin this week on three artificial reefs designed to protect scour holes created at Ship Shoal 26 out of Dularge and Cocodrie, known to many Louisiana speckled trout anglers as the Pickets.[…]

Chum! It’s what’s for breakfast

October 15, 2014 Jerald Horst

Chum, and plenty of it, is a critical part of catching fall tuna ghosting under shrimp boats. Chum can be almost anything fishy, and it doesn’t have to be fresh.[…]

Taking care of the ride

October 15, 2014 Jerald Horst

For fishing 50 or 60 miles offshore, the single most important piece of equipment is a fisherman’s boat and motor.[…]

Why October?

October 15, 2014 Jerald Horst

Tuna fishing as described here is not a year-round sport. While yellowfin can be caught off of the Louisiana coast all year, October is special. After a couple of cold fronts, the hot-blooded fish come nearer to shore from their usual deep-water haunts.[…]