Fishing

News Breaker

23 billfish tagged, released in 39th New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament

June 22, 2011 From News Reports

The 39th New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament was held out of Venice last weekend (June 17-18), and a total of 23 billfish were caught, tagged and released by the 24 participating boat crews.

This tournament is regarded as the tournament that put Gulf of Mexico big-game fishing on the map and inspired the many offshore tournaments being held currently across the region.

The fleet found a beautiful rip-line about 54-miles southeast of South Pass and conditions that were conducive to great fishing.

[…]

Fishing

‘Operation Dry Water’ targets drunk boaters

June 22, 2011 From News Reports

Louisiana enforcement agents will be on the water in force this weekend (June 24-26) looking for those operating boats under the influence of alcohol, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.

The push is part of “Operation Dry Water,” and is an effort to lower the number of alcohol-related boating accidents in Louisiana.

Any boat operator verified to have a blood alcohol content of .08 or more is considered drunk understate law, and will be arrested for operating a boat while intoxicated, LDWF said.[…]

Columns

Falling Red River produces in June

June 21, 2011 Greg Hackney

The bass fishing on the Red River in Alexandria generally will start turning on in June, depending on the water level. The river still may be flooded this month, but under stable or falling conditions, a number of the bass will begin moving out to the remaining part of the river.[…]

Inshore Fishing

With spillway closing, Lake Pontchartrain enters next phase

June 18, 2011 From News Reports

Last Saturday (June 11,) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began closing the Bonnet Carre spillway. Closing 20 to 30 bays per day (river stage permitting), the structure may be entirely closed in a couple of weeks.

With the closure comes the next phase of impacts to Lake Pontchartrain. Lake users are asked to contact the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation if they happen to encounter anything out of the ordinary so the foundation can track locations of events.[…]

Breaking News

Portion of Atchafalaya Basin reopens to all boat traffic

June 14, 2011 From News Reports

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened all boat traffic for a four-mile long stretch in the Atchafalaya Basin in St. Martin Parish starting at noon today (June 13).

The department closed an area from the Henderson levee on the west side to the Butte La Rose levee on the east side to all boat traffic on May 26. The width of the previous closure ran from the Interstate 10 Bridge on the south side to a line 1/2 a mile north of the bridge on the north side.[…]