Duck numbers in the northern breeding grounds have increased an estimated 11 percent over last year and 35 percent over the long-term average, according to a preliminary report released yesterday (June 30) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[…]
Five Houma-area men were cited Monday (June 27) for alleged illegal activity on Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
Agents cited Tony Vaughn, 27, of Montegut; Craig Vogel, 25, of Houma; and Jamie Theriot, 31, of Houma for not abiding by WMA rules and regulations after agents allegedly observed the men crabbing on one of the WMA dams after legal sunset.[…]
The Palo Alto Rod and Gun Club and three Donaldsonville men on June 24 pleaded guilty to Migratory Bird Treaty Act violations in Federal Middle District Court in Baton Rouge, and were ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Riedlinger to pay a total of $34,810 in fines and assessments for the violations, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported today (June 29).[…]
The 2011 recreational season for gag grouper will begin on Sept. 16, and will continue until Nov. 15 in state and federal waters, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced yesterday (June 27).[…]
Ten boaters were arrested this weekend (June 24-26) as part of a concerted effort to clamp down on operation of boats by those under the influence of alcohol, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
The push is part of Operation Dry Water, which started in 2009 and is a joint program of the LDWF, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard.[…]
Anglers can win up to $275,000 in cash and prizes during the Geaux Fish tournament being held along the entire Louisiana coast July 2 through Sept. 5. And there’s absolutely no cost to enter.
The tournament, sponsored by BP and the Louisiana Charter Boat Association, will feature prizes for anglers catching 50 specially tagged speckled trout, which will be released in waters stretching from Breton Sound to Lake Calcasieu.
One of the fish is tagged as the grand prize, and is worth up to $250,000.[…]
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.
[…]
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.[…]
Lake Bruin will be lowered to 4 ½ feet below pool stage beginning Sept. 6, and will remain lowered through Dec. 15, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced today (June 21).[…]
Bradley Roy of Kentucky, injected new life into his sagging season Saturday (June 18) at the Bassmaster Elite Series season finale on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake by bringing in 17 pounds, 10 ounces to jump four places and take the lead with 50 pounds, 5 ounces over three days.[…]
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.[…]
The 19+-pound snapper caught by a rig worker last week, thought to be a mangrove snapper, was actually a dog snapper.[…]
Construction of Louisiana’s largest artificial inshore reef at the eroded Independence Island wrapped up Monday (June 6), the Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana announced.[…]
Offshore oilfield worker Marty Trahan thought he had caught the fish of his life last summer when he landed a 31-pound red snapper, but Trahan cranked up a fish Monday (June 6)that may propel him into Louisiana’s fishing immortality.
While between shifts on a platform in South Marsh Island 128, Trahan and some other workers decided to kill time dropping baits to the myriad fish in the aquarium-clear water beneath them.
“We were on one side catching red snapper, and I told the guys, ‘I’m going to go catch some mangroves,'” Trahan said.[…]
Anyone can fish this weekend (June 11-12) without purchasing a fishing license, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.[…]
Dustin Huggins said he and Arkansas Tech teammate Evan Barnes were in panic mode. It was 11:30 a.m. and the team had only one fish in the well, and their Day One lead in the 2011 Mercury College B.A.S.S. West Super Regional was in serious jeopardy.[…]