Deer Hunting
2013 Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest set for March 15-17
The Louisiana Sportsman Big Buck Contest is back, and it’s set to be bigger than ever.[…]
News Breaker
Coastal Projects
Pace of Louisiana’s coastal erosion quickening, study shows
Stunning new data not yet publicly released shows Louisiana losing its battle with rising seas much more quickly than even the most pessimistic studies have predicted to date.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
2013 Bassmaster Classic title goes to Mississippi’s Cliff Pace
Mississippi’s Cliff Pace claimed the title of Bassmaster Classic champion today, even though he came one fish short of his five-fish limit.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
Mississippi’s Pace claims sole possession of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic lead on the second day
A consistent Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., not only kept his first-day lead in the Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, he pulled away from the pack by 7 pounds in the second day of competition for $500,000 and the biggest trophy of pro bass fishing.
Pace shook off the angler who tied him for the lead Friday, Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
Iaconelli, Pace tie for Bassmaster Classic lead after first day of competition
Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., and 2003 Bassmaster Classic champ Michael Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., tied for the first-day lead at the 2013 edition of the world championship of bass fishing on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
They both brought 21 pounds, 8 ounces to the scales at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Friday, the first of three days of competition for the $500,000 top prize of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.[…]
Inshore Fishing
Target best weather days to up fishing odds for trout and reds in Hopedale, Delacroix
The fishing around Hopedale has been a little spotty lately, and the stormy weather has not helped out much. […]
Events & Announcements
Construction of latest Lake Pontchartrain artificial reef to add fishing opportunities
Work that began recently on an artificial reef near the St. Tammany Parish Fishing Pier south of Slidell will increase fishing opportunities for shore-bound Lake Pontchartrain anglers, the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana said.
The work is being done between the new westbound span of Interstate 10 and the pier — the latter of which is part of the old Interstate 10 Twin Spans Bridge that partially collapsed during Hurricane Katrina. The pier opened on Lake Pontchartrain in 2012 to enormous support, but has been closed since Hurricane Isaac battered Slidell last August. […]
Hunting
Proposed 2013-14 hunting season dates released
Specific dates for proposed 2013-14 hunting seasons have been made public by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
Anacoco angler catches a 13-pounder during Toledo Bend FLW EverStart
In more ways than one, a fog lifted over Toledo Bend on Friday (Feb. 15) for 34-year-old Casey Martin of Anacoco.[…]
News Breaker
Wahoo thick out of Cocodrie
Trolling with anything that resembles bait around the Green Canyon and Ship Shoal blocks will most likely land a wahoo right now, Capt. Tommy Pellegrin said.[…]
News Breaker
359 rigs slated for decommissioning, leading scientist says action is detrimental to red snapper plan
The number 359 has taken on a new meaning for some Louisiana anglers and conservationists: That’s the estimated number of Gulf of Mexico rigs and platforms scheduled for removal this year, according to a release by DecomWorld distributed on Jan. 15.
And according to Dr. Bob Shipp, chairman of the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences, that number is way too high because removal of any decommissioned rig is premature, if not blatantly detrimental to reef fish habitat.
“As a fisheries scientist, I think it’s a very big mistake,” he said.[…]
Fishing Tournaments
ALBC adds youth division to tournament offerings
The state’s largest non-professional bass-fishing group has added a junior division to its offerings in an effort to add new blood into the sport of tournament bass fishing, the Association of Louisiana Bass Clubs announced recently.
Participants in the ALBC’s junior division will consist of young anglers 14 to 18 years of age who are enrolled in high school.[…]
Bass Fishing
Poverty Point Reservoir produces second 12-pounder in a week
Ken Chapman of Crowville had initially planned to fish a bass tournament on Saturday, but the 30-year-old angler inadvertently turned off the alarm instead of punching the snooze button.
“Well, guess I’ll be going to Delhi this morning,” the angler said to himself when he did finally wake up.
In retrospect, the angler admitted that was one of the best turn of events that has ever occurred to him.[…]
General
Coastal-restoration projects approved in St. Tammany, Terrebonne parishes
In late January, the Coastal Wetlands, Planning, Protection and Restoration Act Task Force, better known as CWPPRA, approved construction of marsh-building projects in both the Bayou Bonfouca area in St. Tammany Parish and Terrebonne Parish’s Lost Lake.
The projects are sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in conjunction with the state. CWPPRA projects are funded by the federal government with a 15-percent funding match coming from Louisiana.[…]
Events & Announcements
$35,000 up for grabs in Louisiana Sportsman Open Bass Championship
The Louisiana Sportsman Open Bass Championship is scheduled for March 16-17, and there is a lot of money up for grabs. The team that rises to the top of the two-day event will walk away with a cool $12,000.
And the rest of the top-25 teams will split $23,000.[…]
Bass Fishing
14-inch minimum size limit for Atchaflaya Basin bass should go, LDWF says
The 14-inch minimum size limit imposed for Atchafalaya Basin bass following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew will be a thing of the past in a few months if a Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries proposal receives final approval.
And that’s fine with Denham Springs angler Darren Cooper.
“It’s hard to catch 14-inch fish,” Cooper said. “How many fish do you catch in that 13-inch range?”[…]