Louisiana Sportsman

Inshore insights: Keep your tackle tangle-free

July 26, 2018 Devin Denman

Rod socks and hook bonnets are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to prevent your rods and reels from becoming a tangled mess.[…]

Three cited for allegedly shocking fish on the Ouachita River

July 26, 2018 From News Reports

Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited three Columbia men for allegedly shocking fish on the Ouachita River in Caldwell Parish.[…]

According to the LDWF, about 237,000 pounds of red snapper remain to be harvested before the state reaches its annual recreational allocation of 743,000 pounds.

LDWF: Red snapper harvest edges up to 506,000 pounds

July 26, 2018 From News Reports

Through July 15, Louisiana’s recreational anglers have harvested slightly more than 506,000 pounds of red snapper — or 68 percent of the state’s annual private recreational allocation of 743,000 pounds.[…]

Marsh Man Masson vid: How do various topwaters look, sound to speckled trout?

July 25, 2018 Todd Masson

Catching trophy-sized speckled trout on topwater lures is no less exhilarating than hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to win game seven of the World Series. There’s just something about hearing the staccato rhythm of a clacking plug being interrupted by a cupped slap and frothy explosion. It turns the knees to jelly.[…]

St. Bernard man cited for alleged crabbing violations

July 25, 2018 From News Reports

Enforcement agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited a 65-year-old St. Bernard man for alleged commercial crabbing violations on Monday.[…]

20th Faux Pas Lodge Rodeo set for July 26-28 in Venice

July 25, 2018 From News Reports

The 20th Annual Faux Pas Lodge Rodeo is set to kickoff Thursday morning out of Venice Marina, but if you’re not registered yet, unfortunately you’re out of luck: Registration is closed for this year.[…]

2018 Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo cranks up Thursday

July 25, 2018 Patrick Bonin

The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo — billed as the oldest fishing tournament in the United States — will get underway Thursday, July 26, at sunrise.[…]

Capt. Johnny Nunez with a good eating-sized redfish out of Shell Beach.

Three keys for Shell Beach specks

July 24, 2018 Rusty Tardo

Capt. Johnny Nunez, AKA the Fishing Magician (504-239-3159), was born and raised in Shell Beach and has spent his life pulling fish of every kind from the surrounding waters. When Nunez speaks, fishermen listen — and he told me the keys to speckled trout success this month are rocks, reefs and rigs.[…]

Marsh Man Masson vid: What’s biting on the rocks? Apparently everything

July 23, 2018 Todd Masson

Daily west winds mean the outer bays are rough and muddy and the interior marshes are lower than the average politician’s ethical standards. So South Louisiana anglers could do a whole lot worse right now than finding stretches of protected rocks and catching whatever will bite.[…]

Through July 8, LA Creel estimates that offshore recreational anglers have harvested about 407,000 pounds of red snapper so far, or 54 percent of the annual allocation of 743,000 pounds.

LDWF: Red snapper landings at 407,000 pounds

July 19, 2018 From News Reports

Through July 8, recreational offshore anglers have harvested just over 407,000 pounds of red snapper, according to the LA Creel program with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.[…]

LDWF schedules August drawdown on Henderson Lake

July 18, 2018 From News Reports

In conjunction with St. Martin Parish Government, the town of Henderson and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be conducting a drawdown on Henderson Lake beginning in August.[…]

A rip line is a great place to land a big bull dolphin like this 45-pounder, caught with Capt. William Wall of Pelagic Charters.

Rip lines provide lots of options out of Venice

July 18, 2018 Capt. Martha Spencer

Summer is in full swing, and that means rip lines and red snapper.[…]

Marsh Man Masson vid: Catching redfish after wicked west winds

July 18, 2018 Todd Masson

Westerly winds have been as much a part of the South Louisiana fishing scene this summer as humidity so thick you can almost drink the air while you breathe it. Winds from that direction empty the marshes in a lot of areas, and can make usual hotspots drier than fine red wine.[…]

Fishing