The Coastal Conservation Association’s (CCA) Louisiana Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo (STAR), presented by Chevron, begins its 29th year of competition on Saturday, May 27.
It is one of the largest and richest saltwater fishing tournaments in the country, offering over $750,000 in prizes. The tournament spans the entire Louisiana coast and is open to all types of anglers. If you fish saltwater, STAR has something for you!
“STAR continues to grow and we continue to add more prizes and this year is no different,” said Rad Trascher, STAR Tournament Director and CCA’s Executive Vice President. “We have added new prizes for Kayak and Yellowfin Tuna, so if you and your family fish in saltwater, get registered today!”
A family and friends affair
The STAR tournament has established itself to the point it needs no explanation for veteran anglers. Testimonies like the following one are easy to find.
“Me and my entire family register each year,” said Rudy Valenciano, past winner of STAR. “You don’t get on my boat without a STAR entry, and I have made a lot of people happy with that rule.”
Between Rudy, his sons, and their friends, they have won Mangrove, Cobia and placed in numerous divisions over the years.
“You would have to be crazy to fish without a STAR ticket,” he said.
STAR’s signature division, Tagged Redfish, will once again tag 100 redfish with red tags along the coast. The first STAR entrant to catch a tagged redfish wins a new Chevy Silverado sponsored by the Super Chevy Dealers of Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
The second registered angler to catch a tagged redfish wins an RV, courtesy of Bent’s RV. The third angler wins a wrapped 195 XTS NauticStar bay boat and Mercury Outboard courtesy of Michelob Ultra and, if this prize isn’t claimed by an angler, Michelob Ultra is going to give it away anyway to one of the lucky participants by random drawing. In addition to many more prizes for the red tags, be on the lookout for blue tags as well. Those will net you a year’s worth of beer.
With over 25 divisions, probably the most competitive division is the Speckled Trout Division, sponsored by NauticStar and Mercury. STAR anglers have a chance to win four beautiful boat packages, one in four zones: east, southeast, southwest and west. Those who finish 2nd or 3rd in each zone take home $5,000 and $2,500 tackle packages.
Latest addition
Don’t forget about the Hancock Whitney Offshore Divisions and STAR’s latest addition, the Yellowfin Tuna Division. The angler with the heaviest Mangrove Snapper (sponsored by Otto Candies LLC), Lemonfish (sponsored by K2 Coolers), and Red Snapper (sponsored by Hancock Whitney Bank) will each win a $5,000 tackle package. And the heaviest Yellowfin Tuna will win a brand new golf cart from Interstate Batteries of Acadiana.
The Kayak Division has a new sponsor and new prizes this year as well. Bonafide has stepped in and are supplying four prizes (valued at $2,300 apiece) of a soon to be revealed new model. The prize is new to their lineup and will surely excite anglers! CCA will unveil the product this summer when Bonafide reveals it to the world.
And the easiest way to win is to enter your kids and grandkids into the Youth Division sponsored by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Kids, 17 and under, fish the tournament for free with their current CCA membership. They can register a speckled trout or sheepshead, at participating weigh stations or e-mail a picture to CCA, to be entered into a drawing for one of four 14’ boat, motor and trailer packages donated by Redmond Marine and Mercury Outboards. Plus, they are eligible for all the adult divisions as well.
You must be a CCA member to participate in STAR and the entry fee is only $35. To register as well as see a complete list of divisions, weigh stations, sponsors and rules, visit CCASTAR.com.
For more information about STAR, contact Rad Trascher at (225) 952-9200 or rad@ccalouisiana.com.