News Breaker
Feds extend red snapper season
Louisiana’s challenge of federal red snapper regulations has scored a significant victory: a 15-day addition — from nine to 24 days — to its offshore season, which starts June 1.[…]
Offshore Fishing
News Breaker
Sportsman TV goes tuna fishing
On a fairly calm day in mid-May, Sportsman TV host Greg Hackney, Bowie Outfitters’ David Reynerson and Capt. Trey Pique of VooDoo Sportfishing Charters in Venice landed four tuna averaging 80 pounds each.[…]
News Breaker
Popular trout-fishing destination known as the Pickets being removed
The Pickets are hallowed ground in the Houma trout-fishing world. If you fish out of Cocodrie and Dularge during the summer, the odds are pretty darned good you schedule time at this perennial hotspot to add big specks to your box.[…]
News Breaker
Bill banning possession of red snapper moves forward in state Legislature
The drive by a state senator to outlaw the possession of Gulf red snapper for recreational and commercial fishermen, as well as everyone else in Louisiana, cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, and the debate now swims to the full Senate for further consideration.[…]
Columns
Hail the new snapper king
The gray snapper — usually called the mangrove snapper — is one of 14 Gulf of Mexico members of Lutjanidae, the snapper family.[…]
News Breaker
Sweep of Artificial Reef Development Fund pushing through the House
The House Appropriations Committee approved the required legislation earlier this week to transfer $20.6 million from the Artificial Reef Development Fund to help plug holes in the administration’s annual budget.[…]
News Breaker
Senator Allain: Administration could empty Artificial Reef Fund
If the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal moves forward with a $20.6 million transfer from the Artificial Reef Development Fund to fill holes in its budget for the next fiscal year that commences July 1, the administration will almost certainly come up short, the Senate Finance Committee was told today.[…]
News Breaker
Louisiana, Texas file suit to stop shortening of federal red snapper season
A lawsuit has been filed to prevent implementation of emergency rules by the National Marine Fisheries Service that would limit the federal red snapper season off the Louisiana and Texas coasts, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries announced today.[…]
News Breaker
Text of the letter from governors asking for state management of red snapper
The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Florida have signed a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, House of Representatives Speaker Rep. John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi asking that red snapper management be turned over to their states.[…]
News Breaker
Governors call for state management of red snapper in Gulf
Governors from four of the five states bordering the Gulf of Mexico are calling on Congress to allow states to manage red snapper off their coasts, according to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office.[…]
News Breaker
LWF Commission still considering suit to stop Artificial Reef Fund raid
A possible lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration involving the state’s Artificial Reef Development Fund is still in the works, the head of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission confirmed yesterday.[…]
Field Notes
More techniques for catching big red snapper
Capt. Art Jones of Orange Beach, Ala., shares his techniques for catching big red snapper, including the bait and line to use. […]
Offshore Fishing
Chumsicle
Biloxi’s Capt. Mike Moore’s favorite way to catch snapper is with a chumsicle — a fish popsicle that’s fished on a downrigger.[…]
Offshore Fishing
Drift-line for more and bigger snapper
If you learn to fish the drift-line technique of presenting a bait slowly and gently to red snapper, you can catch more of them on every trip.[…]
Offshore Fishing
How to boat big snapper
Orange Beach’s Art Jones said that pointing the rod tip at the water allows you to bring the rod straight up over your head when you get a red snapper bite.[…]
News Breaker
Federal bill would mandate state management of red snapper
Members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation have introduced the Offshore Fairness Act to extend the Bayou State’s jurisdiction in the Gulf of Mexico and solidify its position on the management of the red snapper fishery.[…]