Lafourche Parish to host international event Dec. 4-10
Kayak anglers from all over the world will be hoping for an early Christmas present when they come to South Louisiana this December for the 6th Annual Hobie Fishing World Championship.
More than 50 competitors from 25 countries will fish in identically-rigged Hobie Pro Angler 14s for trout, redfish and flounder out of Leeville in Lafourche Parish. The tournament will be a traditional CPR (catch, photo and release) format, with each competitor entering his three best lengths in aggregate each day.
The angler with the highest cumulative length over the three-day event will be crowned champion.
U.S. team captain Benton Parrott, who already punched his ticket into the tournament by winning the 2015 IFA Kayak Tour Championship last fall in Chalmette, expects the international anglers to be impressed with the fishery.
“The area is beyond good,” Parrott said. “Every friend I take says he can’t wait to go back. I promise you, we should all catch good fish.
2014 World Champion Steve Lessard expects competition to be stiff in the waters around Leeville this December.
“Anyone can win it. A variety of techniques will catch the same fish. Topwater catches redfish and trout. Jigs are effective for all three species,” Lessard said. “A small variety of gear — a light, a medium and a heavy set up — covers you for all three.
“The international anglers will adapt very quickly to our species.”
