Offshore Fishing
Pulling the trigger on trigger fish
Gray triggerfish are a prized bycatch to red snapper fishing. Their delectable table qualities are evident in their nickname “armored snapper.”[…]
July 2015
Bass Fishing
Water movement is key to Basin bass
The Atchafalaya River is influenced by the Gulf of Mexico tide, and that affects water movement far into the swamps.[…]
Bass Fishing
What rod is best for crankbaits?
The biggest argument with crankbait anglers is centered around rod selection. The big question is whether graphite or fiberglass rods are best.[…]
Hunting
More on ‘black panthers’
While reports of “black panther” sightings have persisted for years, there is no scientific evidence that such coloration exists in mountain lions.[…]
Bass Fishing
Crankbait color matters
If an angler wants to match the hatch, size matters when selecting a lure. But so does color.[…]
Fishing
Tippets
On the coast, most of the action for speckled trout will come in the surf or in the larger lakes and bays. Start with poppers — such as Skipping Bugs — at first light. Around midmorning, switch to sinking flies. In the surf, that would be either a Deep Clouser or weighted Seaducer pattern. Let the fly sink for 10 seconds; then strip. Inland, that would be a clouser or weighted shrimp pattern about 30 inches under a VOSI.[…]
Bass Fishing
Other heavy finesse bass-fishing tactics
Drop-shots aren’t the only finesse rigs that can be beefed up to provide bass a bite-enducing curve ball. Here are some other options:[…]
Fishing
How to peel a blue crab
As wonderful as blue crabs are to eat, there is no doubt that their meat is tough to get out of the shell. Follow these steps to culinary heaven.[…]
Bass Fishing
How to get bottom rigs unhooked when bass fishing
If the heavy finesse strategy has a hang-up, then we’ve punned our way into the explanation — hang-ups, snags, entanglements.[…]
Fishing
Louisiana crabbing regulations
Recreational crabbing requirements are minimal, both license- and gear-wise. But, according to Sgt. Mike Garrity of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, some licenses are required and there are some rules to the game.[…]
Columns
Trout trailers
Success, as usual in the artificial lure manufacturing business — or anything else, for that matter — begats success.[…]
Columns
Summertime fun
While fishing is good this month, there is much to do in the fields and woods to get ready for the fall season.[…]
Columns
Hit ’em with your best shot
All fishermen are liars, but fly fishermen embellish with style.[…]
Ask Captain Paul
Position format is important
Dear Capt. Paul,
I have some coordinates directly from a buddy’s GPS, but they are not bringing me to the same location as his GPS? Is there more than one way to measure/input coordinates? What are we missing here? Why won’t they work?[…]
Columns
The secret lives of red snappers revealed
The secret lives of red snappers revealed[…]
Contents
Bank busters — Where to bank-fish in Northeast Louisiana
Years ago, news editor Jimmy Hatten would sit across from me in the Monroe News Star office. When things slowed, we turned to talk fishing. Jimmy and his wife loved to fish every Sunday afternoon.[…]