Louisiana Sportsman

Study of BP oil spill dispersants ‘scary,’ biologists say

August 2, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

Coastal fishermen have enjoyed great fishing since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster of 2010, but they have lived with the fear of potential long-term impacts to the ecosystem lurking in their minds.

A study released Tuesday on the Public Library of Science Web site indicates there is definite cause for future worry — but not because of the 200 million gallons of crude that spewed unabated into the Gulf of Mexico for over three months. […]

Don’t love hardheads? Cobia do!

August 1, 2012 John N. Felsher

Most Louisiana saltwater anglers hold hardhead catfish in contempt, but tough cobia love gulping down the spiked fish.[…]

Afternoon Delight: Tips for tarpon fishing out of Venice

August 1, 2012 David A. Brown

We were actually looking for kingfish, but a different king — this one also robed in silver — came to play, and the day turned interesting in a hurry.[…]

Tracking tarpon focus of Gulf study

August 1, 2012 David A. Brown

There’s more value to a tarpon release then, well, a released fish. That’s where forensic science offers a new tool for tarpon research — a tool that anglers throughout the Gulf of Mexico can help fisheries managers utilize.[…]

Old Gulf of Mexico oil rigs drive economic growth

August 1, 2012 Kari Dequine

In additional to the repercussions to the fish habitats and those who love to fish around the rigs, there is also a very big economic impact at stake.[…]

Coalition grows to oppose Idle Rigs policy

August 1, 2012 Kari Dequine

In early June, a coalition of recreational-fishing organizations requested a moratorium on the government’s stated plan to quickly dismantle more than 650 oil rigs.[…]

Reality of rig removals seem to belie official stance

August 1, 2012 Kari Dequine

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said rig removal has not been, as suggested, recently ramped up as a knee-jerk response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster; however, many of those who have been making frequent trips out in the Gulf see it differently.[…]

Rig removals killing offshore habitat

August 1, 2012 Kari Dequine

Earlier this year, one of spearfisherman Terry “Papa Smurf” Migaud’s favorite oil platforms was removed. It was the Main Pass 305 platform, which Migaud said hosted “wall to wall” grouper in the winter, and large schools of amberjacks and snapper in the summer — along with a large variety of tropical fish.[…]

Max Bait Trays keep trolling baits cool but not soggy

July 31, 2012 Jerry Dilsaver

Danny Sykes was tired of having soggy baits, but he needed to rig his offshore trolling baits the night before to be ready for hot action when he went fishing off the North Carolina coast.[…]

Cut Off angler hit in head with mackerel, hospitalized with severe injuries

July 18, 2012 Anthony Taylor

James Ledet was sitting on the front of the center console of a pristine 32-foot Yellowfin cruising at 45 mph. The next thing he knew he was in a hospital wondering what happened and why he was there, only to be told that he was pummeled in the jaw by a fish flying through the air at 50 mph.[…]

Snapper season closes with easy limits

July 17, 2012 Anthony Taylor

With the closing of snapper season, we find ourselves dreaming of next March and new regulations. There are no shortages of red snapper in the Gulf right now, and bagging a limit of some 10- to 15-pounders on the last day of snapper season (July 16) was almost too easy aboard the Cajun Venture with Capt. Chad Reinhardt.[…]

Final weekend of snapper season offers easy pickings out of Cocodrie

July 12, 2012 Anthony Taylor

Red snapper numbers in the Gulf of Mexico have grown to the point that snapper seem to be everywhere off the Louisiana coast.[…]

Outa Sight

July 1, 2012 Jerald Horst

Everywhere I go, I seem to bump into Casey McLaurin, director of operations for Acadiana Outfitters, a high-end specialty outdoor retailer located on the outskirts of New Iberia. Casey loves to fish for speckled trout and he loves to duck hunt, so our talk always turns to one of the two subjects.[…]

Put some boat under your butt

July 1, 2012 Jerald Horst

Running the long distances necessary for offshore trout fishing —up to 25 miles one-way from either Southwest Pass or the eastern end of Marsh Island — demands having a real boat under you. And after reaching those points, Vermilion Bay must still be crossed.[…]

Tis the season

July 1, 2012 Jerald Horst

Speckled trout fishing offshore of Vermilion Bay is a seasonal business, primarily because of the fickle behavior of the Atchafalaya River.[…]

Live bait life support

July 1, 2012 Jerald Horst

Live bait is considered critical for success by the anglers. Whether croakers, cocahoe minnows or mullet are used, live bait must, by definition, be kept alive to be used.[…]