Inshore Fishing
Trout smackdown in the Grand Isle surf
After a long wait since the middle of last summer, Sammy Romano had been eagerly anticipating catching fat speckled trout in the surf again on Grand Isle.[…]
Fishing
News Breaker
Feds set 9-day recreational red snapper season
If you blink, you might miss it.
The always elusive red snapper recreational season was announced Wednesday, and anglers will have a whopping nine days this year to venture into federal waters in search of a fish that no one but the feds believes is threatened.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Video: Night footage captures speckled trout feeding frenzy
With April’s full moon last week, plenty of impatient anglers are finally heading into prime speckled trout fishing time across Louisiana’s coast.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Top 5 live pogie tips to catch big Grand Isle trout
Carl “Tommy” Vidrine was in full-on beast mode Monday — not intent with just catching specks, but focused instead on reeling in some true hammer trout on Grand Isle. […]
Field Notes
Palm baitcasting reel to feel subtle trout bites
When you’re deepwater jigging for speckled trout, palm your baitcasting reel when the lure is falling through the strike zone to detect subtle bites.[…]
Fishing
Put your hitch ball on TV
When hooking up to your boat trailer, how many times do you have to get out of your tow vehicle and walk back to check on the stormy relationship between its hitch ball and the trailer’s coupler?[…]
Columns
Fishing facts vs. fiction
Isn’t it strange how some myths and misinformation seem to enjoy immortality? Some myths arise regularly, just to confirm they are still out there waiting for the perfect opportunity to create fresh confusion.[…]
Freshwater Fishing
Snagged 120-pound blue cat doesn’t qualify as new state record
Justin Coco reeled in a giant blue catfish for the ages early Sunday morning, but the big fish won’t qualify as a new No. 1 for the Louisiana record books because it was snagged — not hooked in the mouth.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
Alleged kayak cheater booted from tournament trails
When money is on the line, sometimes it brings out the worst in human nature, and a Kentucky angler will have kayak tournament directors across the country taking a closer look at photos submitted in CPR events nationwide.[…]
Bass Fishing
Target shad spawn to find Toledo Bend bass
Although there might be a smaller, secondary spawn on the horizon with this Friday’s full moon, for the most part the spring spawn is over and bass are starting to head back to deeper water at Toledo Bend, according to a local fishing guide.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Sight-fishing tips for Point-aux-Chenes reds
High-dollar powerboats are certainly nice for big water and they can handle waves, but they cost a lot of money.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Don’t let ‘dirty’ Lake Pontchartrain water discourage you, guide says
Despite lots of dirty water still in Lake Pontchartrain, one fishing guide said April’s recent windy weather — more than any clarity issue — has been a bigger hinderance so far in catching springtime speckled trout this month.[…]
Fishing
Mike Wood not done yet
Mike Wood isn’t putting all the decades of knowledge he has gained on a shelf. He has opened a consulting business to help owners of smaller, private waters manage their resources properly.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Braided line puts more fish in boat
Braided line has come a long way in the past few years. From equipment-tearing, rough, four-strand line to round, smooth, eight-strand braid, there has been much improvement in the popular lines. […]
Fishing
Opportunities and challenges
When asked about the biggest opportunity he sees ahead for Louisiana’s freshwater fishing, retired biologist Mike Wood didn’t hesitate.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Tie this knot on your baits for more strikes
You wouldn’t think something as simple as a knot would get you more bites when fishing hard-plastic baits but Capt. Charlie Thomason said it does.[…]