Guy Harvey Magazine — Spring 2016

LOUISIANA S p e c i a l e d i t i o n

LA Seafood 7 Hot Recipes

50

The Art of Ocean Conservation VOLUME 6, ISSUE 23 SPRING 2016 $6.95

Marsh Madness Cruising Cajun Country for redfish, specks, tuna, snapper & more

Blue Marlin on Fly Fast Action in Panama

Complete Angler: Striper of a Lifetime | 5 Quality Downriggers | Dr. Bob Shipp talks Red Snapper in the Gulf 1 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

The Hobie MirageDrive® opens up a new world of angling possibilities.

Discover a new way to fish on a Hobie. hobiefishing.com

contents

SPRING 2016

fllouisiana hot spots

26

fishing at high speed

You want to know what the fishing is really like? We talk to charter

focused on fishing. GHM's many web initiatives help you do just

captains across six of the state’s best fishing zones to find out what

that, and none are better than GHM's The Online Fisherman. It will

bites, how to catch it and where to celebrate when the day is done.

put the twist back in your Bimini.

BY GHM staff

fisherman's paradise

48

flavor fusion Landing a fish is only the beginning. In Louisiana, dining on your catch

Louisiana is filthy rich with great fishing habitat, and you can catch

involves as much passion and artistry as coaxing it from the water. We

everything from a crappie to a blue marlin in a single boat ride. While

feature some of the state’s best chefs and their awesome eats.

not practical, it’s still possible in a state where the water never ends.

BY GHM staff

BY captaiN deviN deNmaN

36

louisiana hot spots

If you can't be on the water, you can usually be online and still

BY fred gartH

30

41

41

under construction

56

tag team An army of volunteer anglers is tagging, releasing and recapturing

Louisiana's artificial reef program takes full advantage of the state's

Louisiana’s fish. The data collected from these programs is

longtime association with the oil and gas industry— but don't think

improving redfish, speckled trout, snapper, tuna and other popular

that's where things stop. From inshore waters to off, reef building is

fish stocks.

in full swing.

BY daryl carsoN

BY Nick HoNacHefsky

photo portfolio

60

DEPARTMENTS

14

60

a taste of louisiana

tim mueller

Everyone needs to visit the boot-shaped state and

We view the Sportsman’s Paradise through the lens of a

sample the two f’s—fishing and food.

resident photo pro.

BY gUy Harvey, phd

16

exclusive online content

80

hooked on la heaven

Discover the latest in digital opportunities in the GHM

Fishing (and staying on) the bayou is something you

universe.

have to experience to believe.

BY fred gartH

18

news, notes & gear Guy gets a chance to inspire a young artist, we find some of the coolest gear to hit the market and catch you up on the latest conservation news.

BY GHM staff

on the cover: Yellowfin

by Guy Harvey

CONTENTS

SPRING 2016

Dig Deep

68

DOCK BUZZ

Smiling in the Surf

72

76

FEATURE

Lucky 13

We all want to catch the fish of a lifetime, but when

Thomas Gorman is a serious fly fishing addict and his

it happened to our man Nick, it brought a flood of

quest for a blue marlin landed him in Panama. It was a

emotions and one paralyzing question—what to do

heart-pounding, roller coaster ride.

next.

BY DANNY THORNTON

BY NICK HONACHEFSKY

70

BACKLASH

Dr. Bob Shipp

76

GEARHEADS

Dig Deep An increasing number of anglers are using downriggers

Never afraid to speak his mind, Dr. Shipp is recognized as

to get their bait to depth. Whether you chase tuna, king,

one of the world’s experts on red snapper. GHM interviewed

grouper or swords, a quality downrigger can make the

the man with the plan for extended catch limits.

difference between success and striking out.

BY FRANK SARGEANT

BY DARYL CARSON

CompleteAngler Angler(CA) (CA) our “magazine within the magazine,” Complete is is our “magazine within the magazine,” dedicated

dedicated to fishing hard-core fishing enthusiasts & delivering to experts, to hard-core enthusiasts and delivering access toaccess experts, the the latest in fishing gear, and the hottest fishing spots on the planet. latest in fishing gear and the hottest fishing spots on the planet.

GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE OFFICES: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA Fred Garth, Editor-in-Chief

ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE WATCHING PERCHES IN THE CITY – NY TIMES

MIAMI, FLORIDA Ozzy Delgado, VP, Sales & Marketing NEW YORK, NEW YORK Merrill Squires, Partner SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA Scott Smith, Partner

CREDITS TO: PUBLISHER

WWW.BOURBONHOUSE.COM 504.522.0111 144 BOURBON ST. NEW ORLEANS, LA

Lost Key Publishing Art Director Carly Stone Managing Editor Daryl Carson Marketing Director John Guidroz Circulation Director Penny Jones Director of Sales & Marketing JJ Waters Marketing Consultant Justin Gaudin Editor, Complete Angler nick Honachefsky Accounting Karen Belser Copy Editor Kerrie allen Contributing Editors Dr. Guy Harvey, Danny Thornton Contributors Capt. Theophile Bourgeois, Capt. Daryl Carpenter, Capt. Devin Denman, Capt. Josh ellender, Capt. Mike Gallo, Tim Mueller, Capt. Mary Poe, Capt. Olden rodrique, Frank Sargeant, Crystal Stevens Editorial Advisory Board Dr. Guy Harvey, Chad Henderson, Bill Shedd, Dr. Mahmood Shivji, Harvey Taulien, David Wilkinson

WE RECYCLE:

We’re proud that Guy Harvey Magazine is printed on recycled paper. However,

using recycled paper is just the first step. Finding an environmentally-friendly printer is even more important.

That’s why this magazine is printed at Publishers Press in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Publishers Press recycles more than 50 million pounds of paper products each year, which saves 10 million gallons of oil, 35,000 trees and 14 million gallons of water. Publishers Press also recycles more than 300,000 pounds of aluminum printing plates annually and no hazardous wastes are ever sent to a landfill, but are recycled and reused. additionally, they

recycle 217 tons of plastic each year and have set aside 550 of the 700 acres they own to be used for conservation and recreation.

Guy Harvey MaGazine, Issue 23, Spring 2016. GHM is published four times per year (quarterly) for $24.95 per year by Lost Key Publishing, LLC, 7166 Sharp Reef Road, Pensacola, Florida 32507. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Guy Harvey Magazine, PO Box 34075, Pensacola, Florida 32507. no part of this magazine can be reproduced without express written permission from Lost Key Publishing. Occasionally, we may make all or part of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and/or services that may interest you.

EVERY BOAT NEEDS A PROTECTOR.

1.800.PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates.

CONTRIBUTOR’S PROFILE CAPT. DEVIN DENMAN Devin Denman grew up fishing the marshes of St. Bernard Parish, and it’s in that vast saltwater prairie where his heart lies. upon graduating from high school, he joined the Marine Corps and became homesick after several deployments overseas. after separating from the Marines, he moved back home, where he spent his time in the pursuit of speckled trout and redfish. in the mornings, you could find him leaving the dock under cover of darkness and returning in the afternoon sunburned from a long day of fishing. in the evening, he took time to detail his trips in fishing reports. For a time, Denman operated an inshore fishing charter out of Shell Beach, Louisiana, before discovering that his true passion was not just

D.O.A.’s new Swim Bait is available in 36 fish catching colors.

Specially designed for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

The incredible action and variety of rigging options of this 5” lure have made it a “go to” bait for many anglers.

in the pursuit of his quarry, but in writing about it and helping others become better anglers in the saltwater marsh. Today, Captain Devin owns and operates a resource for inshore anglers in Louisiana called the Louisiana Fishing Blog.

www.doalures.com

TIM MUELLER Tim Mueller, a Louisiana-based professional photographer, spends much of his time traveling and exploring the people and places of the Southeastern united States.

His photographic experience began in his hometown of St. Charles, Missouri, and was developed further at the university of Missouri.

He then spent 16 years sharpening his skills while working at The Advocate newspaper in Baton rouge, the city in which he and his family continue to make their home. it is finding the sometimes unexpected beauty in everyday life and nature that inspires Mueller’s photography and life. Tim’s curiosity in Louisiana’s native people sparked the publication of the book, Nations Within, a portrayal of Louisiana’s four federally recognized indian nations.

FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME, GET HOOKED WITH THE LOUISIANA CHARTER BOAT ASSOCIATION

WWW.LASALTWATER.COM

GUY TALK

A TASTE OF LOUISIANA When I talk with people about fishing, many of them think

guided by some guys who claim to know their local waters as

that I’ve fished in every lake, river and ocean in the world.

well as they know how to cook blackened redfish. And that is

But the truth is, there are a myriad of places I have yet to fish.

saying a lot!

That’s not by choice. These days, I have so many commitments

After a couple of days of fishing the delta, we’ll be

and appearances that are geared towards marine education

traveling up to New Orleans for a very special night—a Guy

and research, that fishing sometimes gets pushed to the back

Harvey Ocean Foundation fundraiser. It’s the first of its kind

burner. Not to mention, I also spend a lot of my time painting.

in Louisiana, and it’s shaping up to be an incredible event.

After all these years, I still love painting and getting new art

On the evening of Saturday, June 11, we’ll be gathering at

out to the public.

Galatoire’s, one of New Orleans’s most prominent restaurants,

Yet, there are times when the planets line up and I’m able

founded in 1905. Amazingly, its location on Bourbon Street

to catch two fish with one hook, so to speak. Meaning, I get

has actually been a restaurant since 1830! After 186 years,

to fish and promote marine issues all in the same trip. Such is

they must have figured out the secret to success.

the case in early June when I visit Southern Louisiana. Believe

In addition to what will certainly be some fine cuisine,

GUY HARVEY, PhD is an internationally-acclaimed

it or not, I have never fished the waters of the famous (and

we’re also going to get serious about raising money. As I’ve

artist, fisherman, scientist, and

infamous) state of Louisiana, although I’ve always wanted to.

always said, it takes cash to care. So we will be auctioning

world traveler, who devotes

Of course, I’ve heard the incredible stories of monster redfish

various fishing-related items, including some of my original

much of his time and money

and trout inshore and big tuna and billfish offshore, but this

artwork. I’m told that we may even have some local celebrity

toward ocean conservation.

will be my first chance to hook up on some Cajun fishing. I

athletes and actors at the event, but we’ll have to wait and

guess one advantage of being well known is that I’m being

see. I do feel compelled to mention something I’m very

proud of—that 90 percent of all monies raised by the GHOF goes to education and research. No salaries are paid by our charity, and only 10 percent go to administrative cost. Making sure a vast majority of the money we raise goes to the right source is something I’ve always been extremely adamant about.

While I’m excited about the fishing (and eating), as an artist, I can hardly wait to experience the Louisiana cultural scene. Some of the world’s most creative artwork originates in that region and I’m always inspired by seeing other artist’s talent and dedication to their craft.

Oh, in case you’re wondering why I’m so focused on Louisiana and why all of this fishing and eating and fundraising is happening, you just need to review the table of contents in this issue of Guy Harvey Magazine. Our excellent editors, writers and photographers have tossed in all of their chips to cover Louisiana’s extraordinary fishing and prolific fishery from one end of the state to the other.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, the state has had to battle back. I’m pleased to say that, from what I’m hearing (and soon will be witnessing), they’ve done an admirable job.

Fair winds and tight lines!

From the Portfolio, Pg 60. Photo: Tim Mueller

Un’Shucking’ Believable How Louisiana’s oyster shells make the incredible journey from reef to table and back to reef

The Perfect Tackle Box Saltwater and freshwater enthusiasts, what do you need in your tackle box?

The Lure(s) of Tarpon Fishing in Charlotte Harbor The 3,000 year history of fishing in Charlotte Harbor

Famed Keys Artist to Build Sculpture from Recycled Materials

Guy Harvey Beer in the USA? Raising money for marine conservation and shark research with every delicious glass

See the amazing centerpiece for the Blazing Mako Tournament and Festival 2016

GUYHARVEYMAGAZINE.COM | GHMOF.COM

NEWS, NOTES & GEAR

Super-Fan At just 10 years old, Nolin Godwin is already living the Guy life.

His artistic abilities and passion is such a part of who he is that even at school during free time his classmates crowd around asking him for his drawings. He likes

BY CRYSTAL STEVENS

to leave his mark on any suitable writing surface, and has crafted his signature to A few months ago, Ruth Harrell called the GHM office to thank us for posting

give a nod to his idol, Guy Harvey. Guy has been the source of Nolin’s inspiration

a story about her nephew, Nolin. It soon became clear that there was more to

for quite some time. That’s why last year his family took him to the Cayman Islands

learn about this young marine artist. So we exchanged numbers and arranged

to meet the Man himself. Nolin, always his own man, entered Guy’s studio with a

a meeting. Nolin and his mother drove down from Atmore, Alabama, about

drawing in hand to show the good doctor and get his opinion. Guy was impressed

an hour away from our office in downtown Pensacola. Ten-year-old Nolin was

with Nolin’s work and gave the young artist some pointers. He suggested that he

proudly holding a 16x20 canvas with a

“turn the tail of the sharks around” so that

picture he’d painted in bright acrylic hues

it appears to be coming out toward the

of a shark chasing a marlin. Dressed in a

viewer, and that Nolin include references

salmon-colored button down and khaki

to the surface in his work. He even let his

cargos, sporting a summertime-spent-on-

protégé set up shop at his desk and work

the-water tan and light blonde hair, he’s

on his drawings while he painted. So their

your typical Southern boy. I offered them

friendship was established. Later that year,

some cookies, and when Nolin bypassed

Nolin and his family met Guy again in

the chocolate chip for the oatmeal raisin, I

Panama City, Florida, at an event where Guy

knew he wasn’t your typical 10-year-old.

was busy filming his documentary Sharks of

Nolin launched right into his story. This

North America. He even featured his young

kid knows what he’s about. His mother

fan in the special. Summer came and went,

filled in details Nolin skipped over in his

and along the way, Nolin broke his arm

excitement. We started with the cursory

while go-carting. This unfortunate accident

things—he plays football, but likes soccer

led him to a wonderful discovery. Nolin was

better because he gets to run more. He

limited in his activities, so his Aunt Ruth

likes to draw, paint (pause to breathe) and

bought him a set of paints. Turns out, Nolin

really likes fishing.

is not only adroit at drawing, but also at

Nolin sounded so much like someone

painting. Later, at a signing at the Bass Pro

else we know it was rather spooky. But that’s the reason he was here. He began

Shop in Malbis, Alabama, Nolin once again Nolin Godwin | Photo: Crystal Stevens

drawing when he was two years old. Not

met up with his hero and friend. His mother promised Guy they were not stalking him,

puppies, not flowers or trucks or airplanes, but sharks. From an early age, he was

and Guy was genuinely pleased to see them. Nolin had brought Guy a “Thank You”

absolutely obsessed with sharks to the point of preferring National Geographic

note for all of his time and attention while in Cayman, and for the interview. Nolin

Channel, Discovery Channel and documentaries over cartoons (raisins vs.

also told Dr. Harvey that he wanted to start selling his paintings. Guy answered

chocolate chips). Any time he isn’t fishing or running around on the practice field,

him very seriously that he thought he should. Nolin made a promise to Dr. Harvey

he has his pencil in hand drawing the animals from these shows.

that he was going to give $1,000 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

Armed with the blessing of his mentor and a cause worth fighting for, Nolin

at the end of their dock by Guy, and joined Dr. Mahmood Shivji and Guy’s

went to work. For several months, Nolin painted away and sold his art to family

daughter, Jessica, for a stingray tagging project. Nolin was tasked with helping to

and friends around his town. All in all, he raised $1,500. After giving some to his

get the stingray in a net. His partner, one of the researchers (and Nolin doubled

church, and purchasing some diving gear, Nolin had his $1,000 for the Guy Harvey

over at this) fell over the side of the boat and landed in the drink. “She literally

Ocean Foundation.

did a flip right into the water!” Nolin also got in the water (intentionally) with the

July of last year brought the Godwins and extended family back to the Cayman

stingrays and researchers. Guy gave him the tail of a tuna to feed the rays, and

Islands and back to the company of their old friend. Guy was happy to see them,

they covered him completely trying to get a bit of lunch. Nolin exclaimed, “I had

and was utterly surprised by Nolin’s gift of $1,000 to the GHOF. Just like before,

no idea these things were so eager to eat!”

Nolin set up shop in the gallery, and when a tour from a passing cruise ship arrived, Guy proudly introduced Nolin as a future marine biologist.

My favorite part of our interview was when Nolin described his day out at Stingray City with Guy and his team. The Godwin group was picked up promptly

Clearly, Nolin is a super-fan. The future of science and conservation depends on kids like him, young people who admire and desire to emulate more than sports heroes, pop singers and movie stars. Rather, they want to use their talent to make the world a better place through hard work, humility and generosity.

Charge Your Doohickeys Anywhere Almost every day, we get requests from companies asking us to write about their new, amazing product that will transform the world as we know it. At least that’s what the marketing peeps claim. Lots of times, they’ll send the product for us to try out for ourselves. Sometimes we like them, sometimes we hate them. Sometimes they don’t even work. A few months ago, we received the myCharge Hub Plus portable

Introducing thethe Introducing INE W ELDER Tauten L Tauten LINEWELDER

charger, which eliminates the need to bring a bag full of

TM

TM

TM

charging cords. Folded neatly into the side of the deck-ofcards-sized device is built-in wall prongs, so it’s easy-peasy to charge it. Then you can use its Apple lightning cable and/or micro USB cable to charge your iPhone or Android device. The 6000 mAh Hub Plus is designed to recharge four times faster than other power banks. It can also recognize the type of device you plug into it so the right level of power is delivered to your device without frying it. Of course, most fishermen love anything fried, except their phone. Oh, this is one of those things we love.

MSRP $100 mycharge.com

TH DV NTUR IS CATCHING!

GPS Can’t Do This!

Art comes in many forms—from the truly magnificent to the absurdly strange.

Lodged somewhere in the middle is a new art form made from navigational charts. Cleverly named NavChartArt, a new company is offering decorative charts that can be ordered online and that are suitable for a whole range of applications, from framing and hanging on your wall to wrapping your center console. The custom charts can be used as wallpaper, window tinting or just about anything you can think of. NavChartArt scans actual charts at such a high resolution that there’s almost no size limitation. So, if you’re hungry to wrap your big charter boat or ostentatious RV in colorful charts, you can. And, you get to pick your colors from a list of 16 choices or find a custom color to match your favorite fish, if that’s your thing. Charts are all printed on double-weight Epson fine art matte media, which renders a high-end art print. Once you place your order online, they’ll ship it out in a couple of days.

MSRP $N/A navchartart.com

Stuck On Top Love to fish but tired of your rods banging around in the bed of your truck? Or can’t fit your favorite 7’ inshore fishing stick inside your car? MAGNERAK offers a solution in their magnetic fishing rod roof rack. Ideal for nearly any size vehicle it transports 1- or-2 piece rods up to 12’ long that are paired with spinning or conventional reels. The rods can even be rigged and ready for action. The M1 model attaches to the roof of your car without tools or hardware. Four scratchresistant, magnetic feet make it virtually impossible to move once attached and it’s rated for speeds up to 85 mph. The system holds three to five saltwater or freshwater rods in various combinations depending on heavy or light tackle setup: two rods up to 12’ and one up to 9’, or three to five rods up to 7’ long.

MAGNERAK is made with durable ABS plastic with UV protection and a glossy black finish. The device has a stainless steel hinge and lockable latches with keys, keeping your fishing investment safe. Equipment is secured inside with Velcro straps and comes with a release strap to help you detach the device with ease. For vehicles equipped with a roof rack, MAGNERAK also makes the C1 model. Instead of using magnets, it simply clamps onto the rack’s crossbars for a secure ride.

MSRP M1 $299 MSRP C1 $259 magnerak.com

Bimini Big Game Club Tuna Dolphin Tournament

Upcoming Tournaments

Bimini, Bahamas May 19–22 www.biggameclubbimini.com

Florida Keys Dolphin Championship

With the Gulf Stream just a mile offshore, Bimini has been a fishing mecca for

Florida Keys, FL

decades. Legendary figures like Ernest Hemingway have added to the reputation

May 13–15

for big blue water action. This year’s Tuna Dolphin Tournament is just one event in

www.floridakeysdolphinchampionship.com

the Club’s 2016 tournament series.

Fish from Miami to Key West in the world famous Florida Keys Dolphin Championship. You can register and weigh your dolphin in at one of five different

MBGFC Memorial Day Tournament

locations from Miami to Key West. This registers your team for the prizes and

Mobile, AL

trophies for that location as well as the overall tournament, which is the first

May 27–30

through fifth place overall largest dolphin and the largest dolphin over 55 pounds

www.mbgfc.org

Seahunter bay boat prize.

The Mobile Big Game Fishing Club has two of the five largest big game tournaments annually in the United States, while holding the designation of the

Orange Beach Billfish Classic

largest tournaments in the Gulf of Mexico in the history of big game fishing. Join

Orange Beach, AL

the chase for the $1 million state record blue marlin prize.

May 19–23 www.orangebeachbillfishclassic.com

Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic

The OBBC is a strictly non-profit billfish tournament with 100% of all net proceeds

Venice, LA

donated to qualified 501(c)(3) conservation organizations. The OBBC is an all-

May 31–June

volunteer effort, so there is no overhead to deduct from the financial support that’s

www.comefishla.com

provided to various conservation beneficiaries.

The 2016 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic features a modified-release format for billfish species, along with prize money for blue marlin, tag and release, dolphin, tuna, and wahoo—something for everyone. This tournament is also part of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown.

“Everyone benefits from healthy marine ecosystems.

That’s why “I DO” keep my Florida fishing license up to date and you should, too. If we all work together, we can help to ensure a healthy future for marine life in Florida and all over the planet.”

© 2014 Wildlife Foundation of Florida. All rights reserved.

Guy Harvey Marine Wildlife Artist, Biologist, Diver, and Angler

THE “I DO” PLEDGE • I DO support conservation-minded, sustainable fishing.

• I DO support science-based fishery management.

• I DO support a path to connect kids with the outdoors; to become anglers and stewards of the resource.

FloridaFishingLicenseCampaign.com — J O I N O U R C O N S E R VAT I O N PA R T N E R S

—

Wildlife Foundation of Florida | P.O. Box 11010 | Tallahassee, FL 32302 | 800.988.4889 | WildlifeFlorida.org info@WildlifeFlorida.org

fishing at high speed If you like to troll the web, GHM’s Online Fisherman is always a hit.

BY FRED GARTH It’s hard to admit that I was already a veteran magazine guy before

history. It’s Guy Harvey Magazine’s Online Fisherman (www.ghmof.com) and

websites were invented. And, before email. Uh, and also before fax machines.

we’re reaching more than a million fishers per month with our amazing

I think we had trains but I can’t recall. It’s all a bit fuzzy. I did have a car, I

articles, videos, photos and super active forum. Each month we produce 36

remember that.

original video fishing reports so you, our esteemed readers, will have the

In 1994, I met a dude in California who was experimenting with this weird thing called the Internet. Sidenote: his real job was a cameraman for The Price is Right with

latest and greatest info about where, how, when and what to fish for. You already know the “why” part.

GHM’s Online Fisherman has an “Ask the

Bob Barker so his credentials were, uh, very odd.

Captain” section in which you can ask any

Nonetheless, he built a cool website and showed it

question, no matter how smart or how dumb.

to me. It ran slower than a snail on Vicodin. But all

Our resident expert, Capt. David Remont, will

websites were glacially slow back then.

do his best to answer you. No question goes

Now, of course, everyone would die and the

unattended. Capt. Dave is a stickler. The vast,

world would explode into a massive fireball if the

almost infinite, information on GHM’s Online

Internet disappeared. At least that’s what my kids

Fisherman would take a lifetime to read but

say on their Snapchat messages to me. Fortunately,

you can break it up into small, digestible and

the Guy Harvey Magazine family is always refining our web position. In the

enjoyable pieces. Perhaps the foundation of the site is the prolific amount

past five years, we’re reconfigured our website five times. We’ve added

of “how to” stuff, like, “how to catch a red snapper” or “how to tie a Bimini

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites that cause me

knot” or “how to break up with your girlfriend because she doesn’t like to

irrational fear, but are still somehow important.

fish.” Okay, that’s not really on there but I’ll bet Capt. Dave has some good

Our most recent website iteration is by far the most incredible in our

suggestions. When you get a chance, drop him a line and find out.

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A local captain pays tribute to the swampy, salty wonders of Louisiana fishing.

BY CAPT. DEVIN DENMAN

The boat

moved down the bayou and I could hear the sound of water rushing around the hull.

The four-stroke motor worked quietly, and I took a look backwards to see if anyone was trailing me. All was clear. It was a warm, summer morning and the sun wasn’t over the horizon yet, but I could see orange and yellow rays making their way through the cypress trees.

Nobody knows Louisiana for her sunrises, I thought to myself. I finally cleared the swamp, leaving tall cypress trees laden in Spanish moss behind me, and entered a freshwater marsh. Onward the boat pressed, for I had a long trip ahead of me. I was exploring a new part of Louisiana to fish. Despite spending my life fishing her vast estuary, I had not yet seen it all and today was the day to check off one more area. As I trekked further south, the salinity rose, crab traps appeared, saw grass was replaced by spartina grass and I could see PVC poles marking oyster leases. I knew I was finally where I wanted to be. Today, I was scouting for redfish, otherwise I had just run over miles of great fishing for bass, sacalait, catfish and more.

I took the boat off-plane to assess my surroundings and look for good redfish ponds to sight fish. We have the best sight fishing in the world and nobody knows it. Indeed, there were no other boats in sight. The only sign of human life was my wake fading away across glass-calm water.

I looked up from the GPS and took a moment to appreciate the vista. The sun was over the horizon, shining through a mass of clouds that diffused her light into a spectrum of color. I looked over the marsh, knowing there was more over the horizon and more past that before there was the Gulf of Mexico. I looked behind me, where I came from, knowing that is where the mighty Mississippi once flowed eons ago, building this land mass and abundant fishery.

I picked out a spot only a few hundred yards away where I killed the outboard, dropped the trolling motor and climbed in the sighting platform. The sun was just high enough I could see into the crystal clear water. There she was, what I came looking for: a gorgeous, golden, bronze beauty of a redfish.

I remember that fishing trip like it was yesterday. I launched out of Westwego and made my way down Bayou Segnette to fish the area around Lafitte. In fact, you can run from the freshwater swamp 20 minutes from Bourbon Street all the way down to Grand Isle on the Gulf Coast. The run is about 50 miles. There is a lot of prime fishing real estate and it’s not the only part of Louisiana that is so vast. There is the Biloxi Marsh, Cocodrie, Delacroix and a whole bunch more. With such expansive, aquatic real estate, it should come as no surprise that “Sportsman’s Paradise” has long been the tagline on Louisiana license plates.

More Means More There is a joke where I am from. When people visit from out of town and want to go fishing we tell them that we do not go fishing. Confused expressions are usually passed around the room before they predictably ask, “Well, what do you

Louisiana, well known as a redfish and inshore fishing haven, also supports a prolific tuna fishery offshore.

do?” We always reply, “We go catching.” Like any

Photo: Capt. Devin Denman.

Charter captain Tanner Persac of TradeWinds Marina and Lodge in Cocodrie, Louisiana, pulls in a red snapper caught near an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: Tim Mueller.

good joke, what makes it funny is that it’s largely true.

Louisiana has excellent freshwater, inshore and offshore fishing, for everything from largemouth bass to yellowfin tuna. Not only do we have a variety of angling,

many places in the world can do that. Even though the limit has been 25 speck for years, the fishery remains prolific.

Our freshwater fishing is also top notch, with people bringing in a daily creel

but we also yield generous creel limits. When people think of inshore saltwater

limit of 10 largemouth bass per angler each day. Slot sizes vary throughout the

fishing, they think of Florida. They may envision beautiful, bikini-clad women

state, but that didn’t keep Kevin VanDam from winning the Bassmaster Classic in

working a salty, green flat, casting a fly for an elusive redfish. Florida is pretty and

2011. He pulled 69 pounds and 11 ounces from the waters of Lake Cataouatche,

looks great on a magazine cover, but if those same women came to Louisiana and

the heaviest five-fish catch of the Bassmaster Classic. He left Louisiana remarking

mistakenly wore a bikini, they would be carried off by an air force of mosquitoes,

about its incredible estuary, calling it the “best fishery in North America” and that

gnats and deer flies. However, if they covered up and embraced the less-than-sexy

he had “never seen anything like Lake Cataouatche.”

appeal of the Louisiana marsh, they would have a blast catching and releasing the most redfish and speckled trout they’d ever caught in their lives.

To illustrate this point, in Florida, the creel limit for speckled trout is 4–6 per

Freshwater fishing in Louisiana holds more than great creel limits of bass; it also holds excellent fishing for other species like sacalait and catfish. The creel limit for sacalait, better known outside of Louisiana as crappie, is 50 per angler

person each day, depending on what zone you are in. In Louisiana, the limit is 25

each day. In case you didn’t know, sacalait is a French phrase, “sac a lait,” or “bag of

per person each day. Years ago, when I once operated an inshore fishing charter,

milk” when translated to English.

I promised a two-fish guarantee and I was not the only guide to do so. Not too

Perhaps you have heard of KVD cleaning house in the Bassmaster Classic or

our awesome inshore fishing, but if there is one thing Louisiana is never pegged

bayous that run straight, long and true. These bayous

for is her offshore action. Yet the boot-shaped state is home to some of the

originated from the river and have names like Bayou

nation’s best offshore fishing and is a world class tuna destination.

LaLoutre, Bayou Terre aux Beouf and Bayou Lafourche. These

It’s not uncommon to load the boat down with blackfin tuna, catching as many as 20 blackfin in a night. Yellowfin tuna are considered more difficult to land, but avid offshore anglers routinely bring back four to six yellowfin each trip.

bodies of water are where the river once flowed, eons ago, building up a land mass on each side of her mouth.

The Mississippi is often called “Big Muddy” because of

Louisiana is also blessed with great catches of various species of grouper and

the sediment load she carries in her current. This load of dirt

snapper, mahi mahi and even blue marlin.

is taken from other parts of the North American continent,

Gumbo Anyone?

suspended in her waters and transported downstream

So why is Louisiana fishing so rich? Like a good gumbo, it takes just the right

toward the Gulf of Mexico. It is there that the current slows down and the sediment comes out of suspension and settles

ingredients. First, Louisiana’s wetlands are expansive, making up approximately

on the bottom of the water column, creating land mass. In

41 percent of the nation’s coastal wetlands (that’s right, nearly half the coastal

turn, habitat for a variety of marine species is formed. It is

wetlands in the entire U.S.). This entire area varies in habitat. Some areas are

not difficult to imagine this giant of a river having so much

swamp laden with live oaks while other regions are defined by prairie marsh with

sediment to build vast tracts of land when you realize she

brackish water flowing through with the tide. The real key is understanding how it

drains water from as far east as New York to as far west as

all got there in the first place.

Montana. The confluence between nutrient-rich river water

These swamps and marshes didn’t grow by accident; they were put there by the Mississippi River. If you look closely at a map of Louisiana, you will see many

and high salinity salt water is a dynamite combination.

The resulting wetlands create a productive nursery for all

Left: Capt. Denman sports a nice redfish. Louisiana’s vast inshore habitat allows for high creel limits, typically up to 25 specks per day.

Right: The marsh is full of life, from gators to the ubiquitous redfish. The latter are less sensitive to water temperature changes and can be targeted all year.

Photos by: Capt Devin Denman.

kinds of marine denizens.

Another key ingredient in Louisiana fishing is the oil and gas industry, which has a huge presence in the state. I’m pretty sure we became famous for it in April 2010 with the BP oil spill. The images we all saw of that disaster were chilling, to

In turn, things like aquatic grass, barnacles, oysters, clams and coral can grow on these surfaces. From there, the rest of the food chain stacks, creating a significant contribution to the surrounding environment.

Finally, Louisiana has also been active in managing its aquatic resources, both

say the least. It is something that needs to never happen again, but what a lot of

in monitoring the health of the fishery and integrating recreational anglers into

people don’t know about the oil and gas industry is how great it has been for the

that effort. Just one example of this is a cooperative marine tagging program

marine environment in the Pelican State. Are you shocked? Let me explain.

called TAG Louisiana enlists the aid of inshore anglers looking to become citizen

In the swamp, you have a lot of benthic structure, or any kind of structure

scientists. An angler can enroll in the program, receive a tagging kit and begin

that rises from the bottom of the water column toward the top. In a nutshell, this

tagging speckled trout, redfish and more to help marine biologists track their

creates habitat for marine life. Some examples include fallen logs and hydrilla

movements and growth rates. It is a program I participate in, and since it is

grass. In the saltwater marsh, there is little to no benthic structure. At best, you

cooperative, I get to see how my fish have grown and traveled whenever they are

have oyster beds that rise no more than a few feet above the surrounding sea

recaptured.

floor. The Gulf of Mexico is even worse, sporting a flat and featureless bottom

In fact, the redfish I saw on that morning is out there swimming right now.

with few domes and canyons to break the current and provide a habitat that

She was oriented away from me, unable to see the boat when I made a cast

will hold fish.

beyond her, then retrieved the bait across her field of view. Moments later, she

Yet, in recent history there has been a change in this trend. Louisiana’s

was in the boat, protesting as I took her measurements, inserted a tag into her

booming oil industry of the 20th century built oil and gas platforms that dot

back and released her in great condition. She made that glorious Louisiana sunrise

her wetlands. The steel legs of these man-made structures extend through the

that much better and, if you come to our awesome fishery, there is a chance you

entirety of the water column, a phenomenon not found naturally in Louisiana.

can catch her, too.

Under Constr UCtion

Obsessed with building reefs, Louisiana strives to improve fishing at every depth.

BY NICK HONACHEFSKY

The state incentivized oil and gas companies in a cost benefit way to decommission their rigs. Essentially, the state has made it cheaper for the companies to remove, clean and float a decommissioned rig to a planning area where it then becomes reef habitat. These planning areas are agreed upon zones where rig material can be sunk for reef material, and are a positive example of how Louisiana’s reef program got the usually frictional recreational and commercial fishing industries to work together.

There were sit down meetings with members of both communities to hash out the best plan possible. The planning areas do not intrude on shrimp trawling grounds, and are favorable spots where recreational anglers prefer to fish - known to anglers as a win-win “fish-uation”.

Indeed, the Rigs to Reef initiative is the highlight of the Bayou State’s reef concept and their success has served as a model for others, but their reef building program incorporates four distinct zones in both state and federal waters.

They are inshore, nearshore, offshore and deepwater. The inshore zone consists of 30 manmade reefs within Louisiana’s Coastal Basin, between the Louisiana Intracoastal Waterway and the Louisiana coastline, including Lake Pontchartrain. Reefs in this zone are made from

Offshore fishing and rig fishing are nearly synonymous in Louisiana waters, and the state is still aggressively working with the oil and gas industry to keep existing structures in place as fishing reefs.

varied low-lying material, including limestone and recycled crushed concrete.

Prefabricated material such as reef balls create a piscatorial paradise for anglers searching out sheepshead, redfish, speckled trout, black drum and flounder.

The Nearshore zone, consisting of five reef sites at Sulfur Mine, the Pickets, South Timbalier 86, Rabbit Island Pass, and the Nickel Reefs exist between the coastline of Louisiana and the 100-ft. depth contour, where a majority of oil platforms exist. These reefs also include rock piles and additional materials, including limestone and recycled concrete.

A large influx of funds from the BP oil spill settlement, allowed the state to build reef systems that are accessible to small boat anglers who can’t make the long distance runs offshore. Currently, the Sulfur Mine stands as the world’s largest artificial reef, comprised of 30 structures including platform material and 1.5 miles of old bridgework, while the Pickets contains 13,000 tons of limestone rubble and is designed to conserve and enhance the natural undulations on the seafloor. Those accessible reef systems will give anglers

Left: Underwater, the interlacing legs of an oil or gas rig (inset) become a platform for

the ability to target both a mix of inshore and offshore species such as king

life, supporting an entire food chain, from colorful encrusting sponges to baitfish to the

mackerel, gray snapper, redfish and even seatrout.

predators anglers love to target, including dolphin, tuna, snapper, grouper and more.

Offshore, of course, are the planning areas for oil rigs and these are

Above: Lousiana’s reef program covers both inshore and offshore waters and anglers

predominantly in the 30- to 70-mile range where 66 offshore reefs contain over

can find reef locations by visting www.fishla.org.

350 structures. Those are the hot spots to target more pelagic fish like yellowfin

Below: A beautiful orange cup coral reef.

tuna, cobia and even marlin. And, as a result of the oil and gas industry moving even further out to prospect for fuels, Louisiana’s reef program is also expanding into deep water over 400 feet. The longer distance from land results in higher decommissioning costs, thus more incentive for companies to reef the materials. Currently, there are eight deepwater reefs, some of which are composed of multiple structures including Eugene Island 384, Garden Banks 236, Green Canyon 6, Mississippi Canyon 486, South Marsh Island 205, South Pass 89, Vermillion 395 and Vermillion 412.

Reefing a rig is also a good preventative method against hurricanes which can beat up or even destroy oil platforms. So, rather than having the costs of disassembling and removing the rigs, the oil and gas companies join the program, cut the footings off the rig and float them into the planning areas where they are then sunk and laid on their sides so as to avoid being navigational hazards.

Perhaps what sets Louisiana’s reef program apart from other states has been the ability to get everybody working together, from oil and gas companies to fishery managers to recreational and commercial anglers. The results have been good for all sides, and more importantly, a boon for the fishery itself.

For anglers, there are more good things to come, no matter how deep they like to fish.

HOT SHOT

Guy Harvey photographed this skyrocketing short-fin mako shark on the morning of April 13 during a tagging expedition near Isla Mujeres. After the mind-blowing aerial show, the shark was brought to the boat, tagged and released. To see the entire series of photos go to: www.ghmof.com To follow the satellite tracks of this and other sharks go to: http://cnso.nova.edu/sharktracking/

Louisiana Hot Spots

BY GHM STAFF

Louisiana saltwater fishing is legendary, both for its endless estuary and its offshore reefs and deep water. Inshore anglers enjoy high creel limits on redfish, speckled trout and other gamefish. Offshore there are thousands of rigs and other artificial reefs that hold big-bodied snapper and grouper. In deeper waters, voracious pelagics such as tuna, wahoo and marlin are always ready to bite. Most amazing of all, you can access all of these fisheries in a single boat ride, though that’s a lot of fishing for just one day. We suggest you pick a spot, take your time and soak in the adventure. We’ve interviewed captains in six different regions to help you decide the best place to start.

Pontchartrain Basin—Capt. Mike Gallo Angling Adventures of Louisiana ww.aaofla.com

Conservation issues: One thing in our area is that the LDWF, in conjunction with LSU, started a telemetry program about three years ago. They got guides and recreational anglers to fish at specific times, then take their catch to a “surgery boat” where a transmitter is inserted in that fish. There are 90 something antennas around Lake Pontchartrain, so they can track both fish movements and local conditions. So far, the data has been very interesting for speckled trout, redfish and sharks, and we’ve learned a lot.

After the catch: I’m 5’10”, 240, and I keep my figure by going to Southside Café (wws.southsidecafe.net). It’s a relaxed atmosphere and great food— everything from seafood platters to po-boys.

Grand Isle/Fourchon—Capt. Daryl Carpenter Reel Screamers Guide Service www.reelscreamers.com

Photo: Courtesy of Capt. Mike Gallo.

Top seasons and species: The speckled trout bite doesn’t pick up in the spring until water temps are over 60 degrees. When you hit 68 degrees, with longer days, specks will spawn and then eat anything in sight. That happens in late April to mid-May. Trout are hot from then to mid-June. Redfish are more durable and withstand a wider temperature range, so we catch them year ‘round.

It’s similar for black drum. July through September, I’m making a lot of trips to the Biloxi marsh and catching redfish. That coincides with speck spawning until mid-September, which sets us up for tremendous fall fishing in October through early December.

Favorite tackle or technique: With the possibility of catching specks

Photo: Courtesy of Capt. Daryl Carpenter.

and reds in the same water, a lot of times we fish a plastic on a plain jig head— weight is dependent on depth or current. We fish anywhere from 1/8 to ½ oz. jighead. You can catch redfish on one cast and a speck on the next. Of course, we

Top seasons and species: Inshore, we chase speckled trout—but it’s

do fish with live bait as well.

weather and water dependent, but typically the hottest time is May to November.

What makes this region unique? We are about as far north as

Redfish are year ‘round with the big bruisers and bull reds primarily a fall and winter fishery. Offshore, we have not just red snapper, but also abundant

you can go and still be considered saltwater. Because of that, water temperature

mangrove snapper. (They’re not stupid like reds; you have to fish for them.) We’ve

is a big deal for us. (Down in Venice, they haven’t seen 52 degrees in a long

got various reef fish and cobia right off the beach in the summer, too. We fish both

time, so they enjoy more aggressive fishing.) If we get a slow lingering cold

natural bottom and wrecks. Swordfish are getting to be a big thing here, as well.

front, the water temp goes down and specks slow down, but the reds will

You can drift deep daytime or night. We’re within just 30 miles of the canyon, so I

still bite, so you just watch the weather.

can get to 1,700 feet of water or better.

Favorite tackle or technique: For big bulls, you want to fish cut bait

redfish. Redfish are available 365 days a year and are not as affected by tough weather conditions as species such as speckled trout. Even in the dead of winter

in the passes. In the marsh, we catch slot reds. We do a lot of live bait cocahoe

and heat of summer, anglers can catch 50 to 100+ redfish a day. Late summer and

minnows, or mud minnows under a popping cork. Sometimes the reds will eat the

into fall is the bull red run, and fish from 20-40 pounds can be caught on light

cork first. For specks, we fish live croakers during spawning season; otherwise, we

tackle until a fisherman literally gives up. Tuna are also available throughout the

use plastics or live shrimp.

year, but obviously periods of calm weather are going to be more productive.

What makes this region unique? Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island in the state. In a 300-yard walk you can go from bay to beach. You get access to offshore and to the marsh and estuary that grow the shrimp that

Spring through fall is very popular, but winter can be excellent between fronts.

Late winter also brings in a world class wahoo run with fish occasionally topping 100 pounds.

feed everything else. Most visitors also appreciate that we’re a fully functional

Favorite tackle or technique: As an inshore guide, I am very partial to

coastal town, and the only one in the state of Louisiana. Bring the family! Mom can

light tackle fishing. We typically use seven-foot, medium action rods with spinning

play on the beach, and dad can fish.

or casting reels. If we are throwing jigs, top water, etc., I prefer casting gear; but

Conservation issues: Our biggest issue is dealing with the Feds. Red

if we are throwing popping cork rigs, I much prefer spinning gear spooled with 30 lbs. Power Pro Braid. The absolute most consistent technique is a live shrimp

snapper is somewhat limited now because of ridiculous management. But other

two feet under a popping cork. This will produce both redfish and speckled trout.

than that, the great thing about Louisiana is that we have an overabundance of

Since Venice typically has high turbidity waters, noisy popping corks are very

fish. You can keep five reds per person and twenty-five specks. The state managed

effective, even if using artificial soft plastics instead of live bait.

species are flourishing.

What makes this region unique? Being at the mouth of one of the

After the catch: Grand Isle’s got several great eating establishments. For

largest rivers in the world, Venice is where massive amounts of nutrient-filled

upscale, I point people to The Hurricane Hole (www.hurricanehole.net). But if

freshwater meet the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The mighty river has

you’re still covered in scales, you’ll be welcome at Yum’s Cafe (3059 LA-1, Grand

deposited silt and built a bird foot delta over thousands of years. The delta has

Isle) or Starfish Restaurant (3027 LA-1, Grand Isle).

built out many miles from other locations on the northern Gulf Coast. This makes for much shorter runs to offshore fishing grounds and also hundreds of thousands

Venice—Capt. Brandon Carter Reel Shot Guide Service www.reelshotfishing.com

of acres of prime and fertile inshore habitat. We can be sight casting to reds in two feet of water and with a 10-minute run be catching red snapper in 100+ feet of water. By the same token, we can catch speckled trout, redfish and largemouth bass in the same locations during the fall season.

Photo: Courtesy of Capt. Brandon Carter

Conservation issues: Venice, and Louisiana in general, is very lucky to have enough fish to allow for very liberal limits. With that being said, we always encourage the release of the many bull reds we catch throughout the year in order to preserve the breeding stocks. However, the biggest issue we face is that of coastal erosion. Many areas we fished just 5–10 years ago are completely gone. Channelization of the Mississippi River has increased current velocity and decreased the amount of sediment suspended in the water, thus resulting in a subsiding coastline as most silt is blown out into deep Gulf waters. Slowly, we are achieving some success in gaining projects to slow the loss, but we are a long way from where we need to be.

Top seasons and species: Venice has so many species readily available all year, but the two top species that have made it famous are yellowfin tuna and

After the catch: The Crawgators Bar & Grill located at Venice Marina (www. venicemarina.com) will cook up your fresh catch for you while you enjoy a cold beverage from the bar.

Lafitte Barataria Basin—Capt. Theophile Bourgeois Bourgeois Fishing Charters www.neworleansfishing.com

Conservation issues: Our conservation issues are really the same as all of coastal Louisiana. We deal with erosion and saltwater intrusion, the big things that just go with having people live in this region and the levees that have been built to direct the Mississippi River. But on a local level, things are very good.

After the catch: I’m a fan of the Catch and Cook program. I can bag and tag a customer’s fish and they have 12 hours to get it to any restaurant in New Orleans, or to any location that participates in the program. They can have the chef cook it up any way they like. (For a list of restaurants: www.fishla.org/catchand-cook.)

Capt. Olden Rodrique—Cocodrie/Dulac/Dularge Inshore Coastal Charter Services www.coastalfishingcharter.com

Photo: Fred Garth.

Top seasons and species: Our season runs from mid-March into December, and that’s a pretty big window. The two main species are redfish and speckled trout. We do spin and fly fishing and we’re the only facility that offers seaplane trips to the Chandeleur Islands. Out there, we focus on a lot of topwater fishing for trophy fish. For the bucket list guys, we’ll also target jack crevalle and sharks.

Favorite tackle or technique: Almost all our fishing is done with

Photo: Courtesy of Capt. Olden Rodrique.

Top seasons and species: Redfish and speckled trout, but we have different ways to target each. We like to hit the shallow duck ponds to sight fish

plastics. A four-inch mud minnow in black and chartreuse is hard to beat.

for reds while they are tailing; and, of course, we typically fish the deeper passes

Personally, I’m topwater all the way and like to use the bone colored Badonk-A-

for bull reds. Speckled trout migrate right through our area each year and we also

Donk by Bomber.

catch them in the Gulf and around the rigs in summer. In late winter months, we target sheepshead and catch the big 6- to 7-pounders.

What makes this region unique? We run out of Lafitte. For us, it’s 40 miles straight south to the Gulf and 90 miles southeast down to Venice, so it’s kind

Favorite tackle or technique: When sight fishing for reds, we use gold

of a big triangle, but we have that whole area. You could fish 30 days and never

spoons and topwater lures. We’re usually fishing in two feet of water for reds.

cross your own boat wake. And we’re the only coastal area with this kind of bayou

Occasionally we’ll use plastics, but there’s typically a bunch of grass. One thing

system—different from what you find in Florida or Texas or anywhere. It’s a big

that has caught on is bowfishing. It’s a challenge even for someone who is used

nursery that runs all the way to the Gulf.

to deer hunting or shooting targets. I have 35 LED floodlights on a big flat marsh boat and they light up everything. You see the redfish, drum, sheepshead, even

giant alligator gar. A 7-foot gar fish is a pretty awesome sight, but redfish are the

most active in the late spring and summer months.

primary target. There’s no catch and release on a bow, but you can pick the size

Favorite tackle or technique: I generally target red snapper by bottom

fish to shoot, so it works out pretty good.

What makes this region unique? We’re located right smack in the

fishing. I drop a piece of squid or Spanish sardine down with a 6-oz. sinker and let

middle between the Atchafalaya River outlet and the Venice area. Terrebonne

grey snapper, I free line a live croaker or minnow into the legs of an oil rig and wait

Parish has five main bayou areas that run out of it, so it’s a big mixing and

for them to slam the bait and then try to yank them out without getting cut off by

breeding ground for everything. Our marsh is pretty endless. There’s a lot of

the sharp objects on the rig’s legs. It can be extremely exciting when a 10 lb. grey

opportunity.

snapper slams your bait and starts ripping off line like a tuna.

them smash it. The exciting part is never knowing what you will catch. As for as

Conservation issues: Coastal erosion is the biggest problem we have. An

What makes this region unique? What’s unique about our fishery

island that we’ll fish one summer may be completely gone the next. You’ve got to

is the abundance and size of our stock, not to mention the amount of places we

be out there every year and looking around to stay up on things. On the positive

have to fish. There are certain places we can go where you won’t see a boat all day.

side, we have an ongoing tag and release program that anyone can get involved

This lack of pressure and healthy habitat make for big fish.

with it. Once you sign up, you do a little training and then if someone comes behind you and catches that fish it goes in a database. It’s been pretty successful.

Conservation issues: The big talk in the Gulf of Mexico is the red snapper.

I’ve seen us catch three tags in one day, which is not common, but it happens.

The species is back and healthier than ever, but the federal government, NOAA,

After the catch: There’s a little restaurant my family owns called Classy

keeps mismanaging it.

Cajun. It’s seafood and mama’s cooking (10627 E. Main St., Houma).

After the catch: Two of my favorite places are Nancy’s Seafood Shack (www.nancysseafoodshack.com) and 1921 Seafood & Oyster Bar (1522 Barrow St.,

Capt. Josh Ellender—Terrebonne Basin Offshore Ellender Charters www.ellendercharters.com Photo: Courtesy of Capt. Josh Ellender.

Houma).

Calcasieu—Capt.’s Jeff, Mary & Nick Poe Big Lake Guide Service www.biglakeguideservice.com

Top seasons and species: Our offshore targets are red and grey snapper.

The red snapper for the table fare and the grey snapper for the table fare and the challenge. Red snapper has a season that starts in June and closes whenever the Feds think we’ve caught enough. Grey snapper don’t have a season but are usually

Photo: Courtesy of Capt.’s Jeff, Mary and Nick Poe.

Top seasons and species: March–December are our primary months for fishing the inland waters of Calcasieu Lake. We also venture to the oil rigs just offshore in June, July and August. Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are

Pontchartrain Basin

the main targets, but cobia and tripletail are always a target when fishing at our nearshore oil platforms. We use light tackle, both spinning and baitcasting, and specialize in topwater and suspending twitch bait fishing for both speckled trout and redfish. We also cater to fly fishermen, as well as paddleboard fishing off our custom Dragonfly Boatworks paddle boards. This is usually how we target redfish in shallow marsh ponds.

Favorite tackle or technique: Our go-to tackle includes 13 Fishing’s Concept C on a Sarge Custom Rod in the 6’5” length. We spool these medium light

Grand isle/Fourchon Venice laFitte Barataria terreB Bonne Basin, cocodrie calcasieu

actions with 15-20 lb. FINS WINDTAMER braid with about 6’ of 20-25 lb. Seaguar Flourocarbon.

The opportunities for fishing Louisiana’s marshy coast are nearly endless, but these six key regions offer both excellent

What makes this region unique? Calcasieu Lake, also known as “Big Lake” to locals, is a 52,000-acre bay, which opens to the Gulf of Mexico. What makes this bay unique is the Calcasieu ship channel. The channel is 40’ deep by 400’ wide and runs inland all the way to Lake Charles, La. This offers plenty of salinity to our estuary. The largest speckled trout in the state of Louisiana are consistently caught in Calcasieu Lake all due to the ship channel. It offers protection from extreme cold and extreme heat due to the deep water.

Conservation issues: We have many conservation orders in place on Calcasieu, but our speckled trout limit was a big achievement. The entire state of Louisiana sets their limit of trout at 25 per person. Calcasieu is set at 15 per person and we are only able to keep two trout over 25 inches. This is to promote our trophy trout fishery. As far as any issues we see with the estuary, there has been a decline in oysters over the past several years. The LDWF is working feverishly to reseed those that we’ve lost, but we aren’t seeing much difference in oyster growth. This is our main area of concern at the moment due to the importance of oysters in every estuary.

After the catch: For something more upscale, a local favorite is Mazen’s Steakhouse in Lake Charles (www.mazengrill.com), and on the casual side, Darrell’s (www.darrellspoboys.com) is hard to beat. Both are within 30 minutes of Calcasieu Lake.

access and incredible fishing. The captains interviewed here all represent a different Lousiana Hot Spot.

Louisiana food is a mash-up of flavors as diverse as the people themselves. European, African, and Caribbean influences have produced a spicy and uniquely New World cuisine. No trip to the state is complete without a stomach-distending feast, one filled with shrimp or crawfish or oysters, redfish, grouper or tuna. To pay tribute to the sheer tastiness of Louisiana, we offer a modest sampling of some of New Orleans’s best cooks and their awesome eats.

BY GHM STAFF

Sherry Glazed Shrimp Servings: 4 1 qt

Canola oil

1/2 cup

Cornstarch

1/2 cup

All-purpose flour

2

Lemons, sliced thinly, no seeds

12

large Wild-caught Gulf shrimp,

peeled, deveined, head and tail on 3 tbsp

Sherry

1 tbsp

Sherry vinegar

1 tbsp

Worcestershire

1/4 cup

Shrimp or chicken stock

1 tsp

Cane syrup

1-1/2 tbsp Unsalted butter 1 tbsp

Parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: In a large sauce pot, heat canola oil to 325°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, salt and pepper. Toss lemon slices in flour mixture until lightly

Chef Harrell’s creations have been described as “deceptively simple,” in that they pair honest, Southern flavors with a clean, Mediterranean style of cooking. The result is seasonal dishes with incredible flavor. And Harrel knows Southern food. A native of Southeastern Alabama, he spent his childhood weekends on his grandparents’ Gulf Coast farm digging potatoes, picking berries and figs, and then hitting the kitchen with his father to cook it all.

coated. Fry lemons in canola oil until they turn a pale, golden color and are crisp.

Remove from the oil and set aside. In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil over medium heat. Pan must be large enough to hold all of the shrimp in an even layer. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shrimp to sauté pan and cook on one side until shrimp starts to turn pink.

Flip shrimp and add the sherry and sherry vinegar. Allow liquid to reduce. Add the Worcestershire, cane syrup and stock to the shrimp. Remove the shrimp from the pan and divide onto four plates evenly. Whisk the butter gently into the Worcestershire mixture to incorporate the butter into the liquid. Pour the sauce over the shrimp and garnish with a few fried lemons and

Chef Alex Harrell of Angeline

chopped parsley.

Chef Dana Honn of Carmo

Preparation: Wash and pat dry the catfish fillets. Cover them evenly and generously with 1/2 cup sea salt and place them in a Pyrex bread loaf dish, layering as needed. Place plastic wrap over dish and apply a 1+-lb. weight to the top, distributing the weight as evenly as possible. Refrigerate for 4–6 hours, then

Chef Honn is inspired by and committed to New Orleans and believes that “this city invites us to see beyond convention, through

Des Allemands Smoked Catfish Fritters Servings: 20 fritters 1 lbSmoked Des Allemands (or

a looking glass of history and tradition to find those things which are superbly unique,

pour any excess liquid out. Sprinkle the remainder of the sea salt on the fillets and refrigerate for another 6–8 hours. After pouring off any excess liquid and patting the fillets dry, they are ready for the smoker.

other high quality, wild-caught)

Use a wood that imparts a subtle flavor, such as

catfish fillets

pecan or alder. Smoking times depend on the device

2 cups Chilled mashed potatoes (no butter, cream or milk added)

you’re using. A stove-top smoker could take as little as 15 minutes on medium heat, while a vertical

it’s a conduit for creativity, originality and

1/4 cup Scallions

charcoal smoker could take up to an hour or more.

coincidence. I guess that has some relevance

2 tbsp Italian parsley (chopped)

Make sure the fish is cooked thoroughly, and firm to

3 large Eggs

the touch. When done, brown the garlic in olive oil

2 tbsp Garlic, minced

and add (including the oil) to the mashed potatoes.

1

Poblano pepper, finely minced

Flake the fish into very small pieces and fold it into

1

Scotch bonnet or serrano pepper

the mixture, along with the other ingredients. Taste

3

tbsp Olive oil

for salt and adjust as needed. The consistency should

as far as what excites me most as a cook, discovering the essence of a recipe, taking it back to its origins, reinterpreting and eventually presenting it on a plate at Carmo, hopefully to the delight of our diners.”

2/3 cup Sea salt for curing catfish

be thick enough that it stands up on its own,

1/2 cup cornmeal

without spreading out. Next, using a tablespoon,

Peanut oil for deep frying

form into 2-oz. elongated, football-shaped portions (about 3 in. long) and dust with cassava or cornmeal.

Deep fry at 360° F for approximately 3 minutes.

GW Fins Parmesan Crusted Flounder Meuniere Servings: 4 2 lbs

Skinless, boneless Flounder filets

16 each Trimmed asparagus spears 2 tbsp

Drained capers

½ cup

Grated Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp whole butter 1 tbsp ½ lb

Chopped parsley Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat

2 tbsp

whole Butter

4 tbsp

Olive Oil

Vegetable oil spray Salt and pepper 2

Cast iron skillets

Preparation: Fry the capers in about 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium high heat, until crispy.

Drain well. Cook the asparagus in salted, boiling water for 3 minutes and shock in

Since launching GW Fins more

iced water. Season filets lightly with salt and pepper. Spray filets with vegetable spray

than a decade ago, Chef Flynn has

and dredge liberally in gra ted Parmesan

developed a reputation as one of the

cheese. Preheat two large cast iron skillets.

Add a tablespoon each of oil and butter.

most knowledgeable and discriminating

Place the flounder, cheese side down in the

seafood chefs in the country. Chef Flynn

skillets. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes and don’t turn until a golden brown crust

is a master of his craft, but one who is

forms. You can use a spatula to lift the edge

completely unassuming. That is, until you

to check if it is brown. Turn and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes. Transfer

ask him about seafood. Then his wealth

to 2 pie tins or baking sheet and put it in the

of knowledge and passion about seafood

oven at 250°. Drain the oil from the skillet and place it back on the fire on medium

is unmistakable. A seafood icon, asked to

to high heat and add the 2 tablespoons of

judge national seafood competitions and

whole butter. Stir until butter browns and foams, being careful not to let it burn. Add

provide cooking demonstrations for fellow

the parsley and crabmeat and remove from

chefs and consumers, Chef Flynn has

the heat.Heat the asparagus and divide it onto four heated entrée plates. Place the

become a national celebrity for his weekly

flounder on top of the asparagus spears,

cooking segments on the syndicated

sprinkle with the fried capers and spoon the

Chef Tenney Flynn of GW Fins

brown butter over the fish.

fishing show, The Big Fish.

A mainstay of French Quarter dining, the seafood delivered by Dickie

Redfish on the Half Shell Servings: 1 10–12 oz Scale & skin one redfish fillet Brush with minimal amount

Brennan and his culinary team is local

of olive oil, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

and always fresh. A true taste of New Orleans, the restaurant serves up classic Creole dishes along with a selection of

1/4

Red onion, sliced and grilled

2 oz

Frisée lettuce

2 tbsp

Balsamic vinegar

1/4 lb

more contemporary fare.

Red creamer potatoes, boiled with 3 tbsp Zatarain’s complete crab boil in the water

Chef Dickie Brennan of Bourbon House

Lemon Beurre Blanc Servings: 8 1 Shallot, chopped 1 tbsp

Oil

2

Lemons, peeled

1 tsp

Fresh thyme

1 tsp

Peppercorns

1

Bay leaf

1

cup White wine

1/2

cup Cream

2 lbs

Unsalted butter, chopped and chilled

Kosher salt and white pepper to taste

Lightly sauté shallot in oil. Add the lemons, thyme, peppercorns, bay leaf and white wine.

Reduce by one-third. Add the cream and reduce by half. Add the butter, piece by piece, stirring to incorporate after each addition.

Season to taste with salt and white pepper.

Strain through a China cap before serving.

Preparation: Brush the flesh side of the redfish with olive oil and season well with kosher salt and black pepper. Place the fillets on a hot grill, scale side down, for 5 minutes, or until the skin is seared. Remove the fish from the grill and place it in a broiler set at 350° F for 3–5 minutes. Toss the red onion and frisée with the balsamic vinegar. Top the redfish with the warm onion salad. Serve with the creamer potatoes and a small dish of warm lemon beurre blanc.

Shrimp, Blue Crab and Avocado Stack Servings: 6 Herb Oil

Assembly 6 Tail-on, peeled and de-veined grilled jumbo shrimp

1/4 cup

Rough chopped basil leaves

12 Chive stems

1/4 cup

Chopped parsley sprigs

Chunky Avocado Guacamole

1/4 cup

Chopped scallions

Blue Crab Salad

(green part only)

Spicy Tomato Coulis

2 tbsp

Lemon juice

Herb Oil

1 cup

Olive oil

Place a 2-1/2” wide by 1” tall ring mold on the

Salt & white pepper to taste

center of a dinner plate. Fill with 3 tbsp. of

Place all ingredients in a blender.

Chunky Avocado Guacamole in the ring mold,

Spicy Tomato Couli

and lightly press with a spoon, creating a leveled

1 cup

Peeled and chopped tomatoes

layer. Next add 3 tbsp. of Blue Crab Salad on

1/2 tsp

Tomato paste

top of the Chunky Avocado Guacamole and

1/4 tsp

Tabasco Sauce

press lightly with a spoon. Layer an additional 3

1 tbsp

Lemon juice

tbsp. of Chunky Avocado Guacamole on top of

1 tsp

Sugar

Blue Crab Salad and lightly press with a spoon,

1/2 cup

Olive oil

leveling with the top of the ring mold. Remove

Salt & pepper to taste

the ring mold and spoon 2 tbsp. of Spicy Tomato

Place all ingredients in a blender.

Coulis in a circle around the molded ingredients.

Chunky Avocado Guacamole

Next, drizzle dollops of Herb Oil around the Spicy

2 cups

Diced avocado

Tomato Coulis and place a grilled jumbo shrimp

1/2 cup

Diced tomato

on top of the molded ingredients and garnish

1/4 cup

Diced red onion

with the chive stems.

1 tbsp

Chopped cilantro

2 tbsp

Lime juice

1/4 tsp

Tabasco Sauce

Salt & white pepper to taste Fold all ingredients in bowl

Criollo Restaurant, located in the heart of the French Quarter,

Blue Crab Salad 2 cups

Lump crabmeat

2 tbsp

Minced chives

features a menu that highlights

2

Egg yolks

the blended flavors and cultures of

1/2 cup

Olive oil

1 tsp

Minced garlic

New Orleans. Led by Chef de Cuisine

1/4 cup

Lemon juice

Joseph Maynard, Criollo’s dishes are

Salt & white pepper to taste

infused with the traditional Creole flavors of French, Spanish, Italian,

Preparation: In a small bowl, using a thin wire whisk, blend the egg yolks, chives, garlic and lemon juice.

Caribbean and African with new

Once well blended, whisk vigorously while

spices to create dishes in the style

streaming in the olive oil, creating a well emulsified aioli. Fold in the lump crabmeat

it calls Louisiana Fusion.

and season to taste.

Chef Joseph Maynard of Criollo

Baby Maker Oyster Poor Boy Servings: 1 12–14

Fresh Louisiana oysters

3–4 strips Applewood smoked bacon 1

Tomato, sliced

10-in loaf French Bread Vegetable or peanut oil Seasoned flour Shredded lettuce Dill pickle chips Mayonnaise Sliced cheddar Cheese Remoulade Sauce (see below)

Remoulade Sauce Preparation:

Mike Lena of Parkway Poorboys

1/2 cup

Mayonnaise

1/4 cup

Ketchup

1 tbsp

Creole mustard

1 tsp

Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp

Crystal hot sauce

1/2 tsp

Horseradish

Juice from 1 squeezed lemon

The po-boy, more properly called “the poor boy,” is a New Orleans staple, and Parkway Bakery and Tavern has been serving it up since 1929. A neighborhood place that first opened in 1911, Parkway spent decades selling sandwiches to the workers of the nearby American Can Company, operating 24 hours a day to feed workers on every shift. Though the neighborhood has changed, Parkway is still selling this working man’s sandwich.

Begin by splitting the French bread and lightly toasting it in the oven.

Dredge oysters in seasoned flour and deep fry in vegetable or peanut oil until golden brown. Remove and drain over paper towels. Place bacon on a flat grill or pan and cook over medium heat until it reaches a light crisp. Remove and drain. On one half of the French loaf, place a layer of oysters, top with shredded or sliced cheddar cheese, and melt under a broiler or salamander. Once melted, remove and drizzle with remoulade sauce. Dress the other side of the loaf with mayo, shredded lettuce, sliced tomato and pickles.

Top with bacon strips and fold the sandwich closed to eat.

A new program begun last year in Louisiana allows participating restaurants to cook fresh fish brought in by anglers.

Dubbed the Catch and Cook Program, it means fishermen who spend a day on the water can have their catch prepared by a local restaurant chef and enjoy it with friends and family. For visitors, it’s the perfect way to get the most out of your fishing trip without transporting a cooler full of fish back home.

The angler must bring the fish already cleaned, filleted, refrigerated and in a zip-top (or similar) bag. The bag must be labeled with the angler’s name, date and time the fish was caught. If fishing with a local guide, this preparation is usually provided as part of the fish cleaning service. Once the restaurant receives the fish, they must prepare and serve it within four hours—just enough time to drop off your fish, get cleaned up and meet back with your group for an incredibly fresh seafood dinner.

The program is still growing, but already more than a dozen restaurants in the New Orleans area offer the Catch and Cook option, and another dozen establishments in other parts of the state participate as well. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.fishla.org/catch-and-cook.

Ryan Gall of TPC Louisiana Avondale

If you like your food with a bit Louisiana Gulf Shrimp Tacos Servings: 4 Gulf Shrimp 1 lb.

3 tbsp

of sport, that is with serious golf, then TPC Louisiana is the place to

71-90 Gulf shrimp

mix the two. The PGA-quality course

(peeled & deveined)

hosts tour events and is open to

Paul Prudhomme’s Seafood Magic Seasoning

both members and guests, and its

2 tsp

extra virgin olive oil

restaurant delivers top-shelf New

8

oz cabbage (mix of red and green)

12

White corn tortilla shells (usually

1

whole hass avocado

Orleans cuisine from chef Ryan Gall.

1 package)

Salsa

Preparation: In a mixing bowl place the shrimp and coat

3

Roma tomatoes

with seasoning on all sides; let sit about 5

2 oz

Yellow onion, diced fine

minutes to dry. In separate bowl, mix salsa

1

Jalapeno, thinly sliced, diced and

ingredients and set aside. Heat a skillet

pithe removed

over medium heat, toast the tortilla shells

Quarter bunch cilantro leaves (chopped)

and place on plate. In the same skillet, add

1

lime, juiced

oil and sauté the shrimp until done; place

Salt & pepper to Taste

evenly in center of tortillas . Add cabbage

Garnish

to sauté pan and lightly toss to warm, then

Quarter bunch cilantro leaves

place over the shrimp. Spoon salsa over the

2 oz.

Ricotta salata cheese (substitutes:

cabbage. Slice avocado into long slices and

queso fresca, feta or pecorino

place over the salsa to garnish. Crumble

romano)

ricotta salata over the top of entire dish.

4

squirts Sriracha

A few sprigs of cilantro may be used as

2

Lime wedges

garnish. Add a little sriracha to the plate to spice it up, and a few lime wedges for a citrus bite to finish it off. Enjoy!

Savvy diners know that just because a restaurant is located near the water doesn’t mean the seafood they serve is local or fresh. In many cases, the contents of a shrimp cocktail have come from a farm in Asia, not from the water you can see from your dockside table.

To counter this trend and promote sustainable seafood practices, consumers can look for (and ask for) Certified Louisiana Seafood. The label means the product in question was caught in the Gulf of Mexico or Louisiana coastal or inland waters by a licensed Louisiana fisherman, landed at a Louisiana dock, and processed and packaged by a Louisiana-based company.

The program provides additional education for docks and processors on best practices for safe seafood handling and seafood sanitation guidelines. There are also strict chain-of-custody requirements that provide traceability to ensure that seafood with the Certified logo is really a product of Louisiana waters.

Best of all, it means the money you’re spending on seafood is going to support a sustainable and wellmanaged fishery. www.louisianacertifiedseafood.com

Photo: LDWF

Tag Team A volunteer army of anglers is making a big impact on Louisiana fishing. BY DARYL CARSON One of the most exciting aspects of the tagging program is when a fish gets recaptured, because both the tagger and the lucky angler who caught the fish receive a recapture report showing a glimpse of the life history of that fish. Taggers get satisfaction from recapture reports, because the fish becomes personal to them and they can watch ‘their fish’ grow and travel to new locations.

The vast majority of recaptures occur within five miles of the initial tagging location, but there are some fish that cover much greater distances, like a redfish tagged in Lake Pontchartrain and recaptured in Mobile Bay, 150 miles away. For offshore species, recaptures have also shown that some fish move while others seem to stay put. Red snapper have been documented to move hundreds of miles at times, while many are recaught at the same rig or reef. Yellowfin tuna, also caught around oil and gas platforms, have a shown a similar diversity.

Beyond conventional tags, there are several devices, ranging in cost from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars, which can help fisheries scientists unlock the secret lives of fish. These high tech tags help to fill in the gaps in fish movement between capture and recapture locations, through communication with remote listening stations, recording and archiving environmental data, or even transmitting to satellites in orbit. A current study in Lake Pontchartrain uses acoustic tags inserted in speckled trout and redfish to track fish movements. These little, battery powered transmitters are surgically implanted into the body cavity of the fish. The fish is released and the tag, which can last up to two years, is detected by a series of hydrophone receivers positioned in various habitats all around the lake. The Lake Pontchartrain acoustic telemetry project is a collaborative program with local anglers, universities, biologists and other agencies.

Above and Below: Reporting recaptures of tagged fish gives fisheries managers valabule information on fish movements, growth rates and more. Below right: Offshore tagging programs include red snapper and also yellow fin, which are sometimes recaptured near the same rig where they were first tagged.

Releasing recaptured fish helps keep the data chain going, and proper release techniques help insure high survival rates.

In addition to the 244 speckled trout and 64 redfish that have been tagged

it releases from the fish, floats to the surface and transmits its information via

since the study began in 2012, the acoustic array also tracks tagged bull sharks

satellite. Some of these tags are recovered by beachcombers after they wash

and Gulf sturgeon when they enter the lake. To implant the tags, biologists work

ashore. SPOT tags are used on fish that frequent the surface. Attached to a fin or

with recreational anglers who catch fish on the lake and then bring them to a

towed behind the fish, they transmit location information via satellite whenever

“surgery boat” where the fish are held for observation. Only the healthiest fish

the fish surfaces. The data derived from the tagging programs is posted to a fish

undergo surgery to implant the tag, then after a recovery period they are released.

tracking website that allows everyone to view the results for themselves. The

Not only are the fish’s movements recorded, but anglers can keep tabs on the

tracking website shows all of the acoustically tagged fish in Lake Pontchartrain, as

tagged fish through the state’s FishTracks website: https:// louisianafisheries.net/

well as a sample of the species tagged offshore, like sharks and tuna.

telemetry/. Fish implanted with these special acoustic tags are also marked with

As both technology and volunteer involvement continue to increase, the

a blue dart tag—as opposed to the yellow tags used in the conventional tagging

future of tagging research is looking bright. It may even evolve into a new kind

program. Anglers who catch one of these blue tagged fish are encouraged to

of fishing. The program’s top tagger, Captain Charlie Bush, tagged over 2,000 fish

release it so the data collection can continue.

this last tagging season and he promotes the program on each charter trip he

As with all tagged fish, anglers are asked to report recaptures. Rewards are

offers. While clients are welcome to keep their fish, he offers a discounted rate for

even offered to help encourage tag reporting. Rewards can be anything from

those who choose to participate in his tagging efforts. If a fish is later reported as

apparel to gift cards, with the higher value prizes going for the return of the most

recaptured, he also notifies the angler who help tagged the fish to let them know

expensive electronic tags.

the displacement distance, growth and number of days the fish was at large.

The big-dollar, high-tech tags are the PSAT (pop-off satellite tags) and SPOT (smart position only tags) devices. PSAT tags record depth, temperature and position information. At a predetermined time (usually six months to a year),

To check out tagging programs, sign up to be a tagger or to check out the latest fish tracks, visit www.fishla.org.

TIM MUELLER

a photo portfolio

As the Ashigh the high tide goes tide out goesshrimpers out shrimpers trawl inland trawl inland waterswaters along Robinson along Robinson Canal asCanal they travel west toward Lake Boudreaux in Terrebonne as they travel Parish, west Louisiana. toward Lake Boudreaux in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.

Mark Allen of Allen’s Guide Service in Vivian, Louisiana, fishes for bass on Caddo Lake. The largest natural lake in the south, Caddo holds nearly 33,000 acres of water and straddles the border of Louisiana and Texas.

Kayakers paddle among towering cypress tress in Lake Martin in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Lake Martin and the

Tourists ride an airboat through the cypress forest of Henderson Swamp

Nature Conservancy’s Cypress Island Preserve is one of the

with the help of tour guide and airboat captain Byron Lemaire from

largest wading bird rookeries in North America.

McGee’s Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tours in Henderson, Louisiana.

Before sunrise a charter fishing boat glides to the dock at the TradeWinds Marina & Lodge in Cocodrie, La. to prepare for a day of fishing for Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

The skeletons of dead trees rise above the marsh across the water from nearby homes and fishing camps in Terrebonne Parish south of Dulac, Louisiana.

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 18 SPRING 2016

smiling in the surf • Dr. bob shipp • marlin on the fly • Downriggers

Smiling in the Surf It was December 28, 2015. After 41 years of chasing the trophy striped bass of a

promote the conservation of fully grown adult fish, as most of the time they are

lifetime, success came in one all too fleeting moment.

the breeders of the species. In front of me lay a 50-lb. class cow carrying millions

Northeast winds of 35 to 40 knots propelled a sleet storm that pummeled my

of eggs, possibly seeding generations of bass to come. I knew I should release it,

face while I stood on the beach looking at a nasty, 7-ft New Jersey surf. I punched

but this bass was the biggest I knew I would probably ever catch from the surf. It

an Ava 27 jig with an orange tail and a 5-in. Tsunami sand eel teaser through the

was literally like winning the lottery, the odds can be that profound. So naturally,

28-degree air and it landed just past the second breaker. When the jig hit the

high on the moment, I was going to take this bass home with me, contact a skilled

water, I clicked over the bail and it felt like my lure hit a piece of dock or telephone

taxidermist and pay for the most beautiful skin-mount striper. It would hang on

pole that had been sent adrift by the Noreaster’s pounding. But after a few

my wall for generations, paying tribute to the beauty of the linesider that took 41

seconds, it began to move, peeling drag off a 10,000-class reel and 12-ft. rod and

years of dedicated surf fishing to land.

heading out into the whitewater.

My adrenaline still pumping, I snapped three quick shots of the fish on the

The fight was long and arduous. I ran down the beach, staying in front of

sand and quickly put the camera back in my wader pocket. Then I just stopped

the fish to keep the hook lodged, knowing it was a

and stared at the fish before me.

class of fish I had never hooked into before and might

This was a striper—by boat or by

It was one of those quintessential

never see again. Finally, the spike dorsal fin breached

surf—that barely one percent of people

moments when time seems to

the surface in one foot of whitewater and I promptly walked backward, pulling the bruiser-striped bass

stand still and everything on

will ever catch in a lifetime of pursuit.

out of the surf and onto the sand. The blood rushing

the planet just comes to a halt.

I felt total calm, yet a lifetime of

to my head was almost enough to make me pass out—a striped bass worthy of

memories flooded my thoughts. I thought of being just six years old in 1980, when

a lifetime of angling was laying in front of me. I bent down and measured the

striper stocks were nearly extinct, and how my mother signed fake sick notes so I

surf striper at 50 inches long with a 30-in. girth. By IGFA calculations, it weighed

could play hooky from school and travel down to the Jersey Shore with my father

between 51 and 55 pounds. In the Northeast, this was a striper—by boat or by

and brother to surf fish. We’d catch little bass of 20 to maybe 30 inches to bring

surf—that barely one percent of people will ever catch in a lifetime of pursuit.

home to mom for the dinner table. I thought of years of casting for stripers with

I looked down at the bass and my mind reeled, faced with the greatest fishing conundrum of my career. You see, as a professional angler and writer, I always

family and friends, thousands of days when we took advantage of any available time to forget about the worries of life and just go fishing. I thought of my dad.

He would be proud to see that

and then with a violent shake,

fish mounted on my wall. He

slapped her big broom tail in my

would have said I earned it, and it

face, spraying me with water as

would prove the years of sleepless

I loosened my grip. She swam,

nights, lost relationships, missed

full of energy, back through the

work days and all the lost time

pounding surf. She was free, and I

otherwise spent with humanity

was even more free.

were somehow worth it.

There would be no pictures of

I bent down to unhook the

her on the scale at tackle shops,

teaser from the mouth of the

A 50-lb. class striper, and the fish of a lifetime just before its release.

or interviews with magazines and

striper, and in that moment, I

Photo: Nick Honachefsky.

TV outlets of the fish of a lifetime,

realized that I had yet to even

or even a mount to hang on my

crack a smile while catching

wall that I could show friends

this bass. It was then that I knew what I must do. I lipped the mouth of the bass

and family over the years. There would be no such glory. As I stood up after her

with my two bare hands, then shifted one underneath its belly and promptly

release, soaking wet and waves crashing over me, I realized a smile as far and

walked down into the surf, step by step, and lowered the bass into the crashing

wide as the sunrise breaking over the Atlantic horizon was plastered across my

whitewater. She slipped into the cold saltwater in a frozen moment of silence,

face. A smile that had been building for a lifetime.

214 ROYAL STREET

504.681.4444

CRIOLLONOLA.COM

Doctor Snapper

An IntervIew wIth Dr. BoB ShIpp

Dr. Bob Shipp is widely recognized as one of the most authoritative voices in red snapper management in the nation. He’s spent some 18 years—six separate 3-year terms—as a member of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, including three terms as chairman. He’s also chairman emeritus of the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Bob Shipp

Here are some of his thoughts on how we got to where we are today in Gulf red snapper management, deemed by most anglers as unnecessarily repressive on recreational harvest, and on where we need to go to make things better.

BY Frank Sargeant we’ve now gone too far the other way, to the point where

CA: How did we get to the current status of management?

DS:There was a time when red snapper was overfished and

we’re not getting maximum sustainable harvest out of this fishery or giving fishermen what they could be enjoying without harm to it.

undergoing overfishing—too many elements impacting

There were not a lot of harvest rules on either commercial or

CA: What factors have brought fish numbers back?

recreational anglers—anglers back then had a seven-fish bag

DS: First, the trawl fishery for shrimp is just a fraction of what

limit and no size limit. Maybe more importantly, there was a

it once was. The combination of cheap, farm-raised shrimp,

huge wild shrimp trawl fishery at the time. Studies showed

high fuel prices in the ‘90s and the requirement for use of

that the trawls in some areas were killing over 80% of the

fish excluder devices to allow escapement of juvenile fish

juvenile red snapper, so the whole system was disrupted.

all made shrimping far less profitable than it was once, and

There was no question that the numbers were way down,

a lot of boats just quit operating. So the destruction of the

particularly in the larger fish, and something had to be done

juveniles is no longer a significant problem from these trawls.

the stocks, both adult and juvenile. This was in the late ‘80s.

to preserve the fishery. Today’s rules are the result of an effort to turn that around, which we have done, but in my opinion

70 | www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com

Secondly, I think the cumulative numbers of artificial reef

structures placed in the Gulf over the last 25 years

to be 40 or more. A lot of the fish that are on the

from outside the catches of both recreational and

are having a huge impact on red snapper, which

reefs today will be there for a long time, in other

commercial fishing reports to give us a better overall

requires reef habitat for success. There are literally

words, with the protective rules we have in place.

picture of the actual red snapper populations.

thousands of reefs out there today, both put down by

Alabama Senator Richard Shelby helped to get a $10

fishermen and by government agencies, everything

million appropriation into the federal budget for

a 1,200-sq.-mile area of the northern Gulf, so we’ve

CA: Does this mean we can expect a lot of monster red snapper on the reefs in the future?

had a big change in the available habitat there,

DS: Not necessarily monsters, but probably a lot of

from a soft mud or bare sand bottom to all these

big fish. Snappers get most of their growth in their

structures that form the base of the food chain.

first 10 years—a 20-pounder might be 10 years

Some researchers argued early on that the reefs were

old, or it might be 25—they don’t keep on getting

simply concentrating the fish that were already there,

bigger indefinitely. Commercial fishermen actually

CA: If you were made the Gulf red snapper czar today, what would you do to make things right?

but that’s been proven to not be the case—the reefs

prefer two to four pounders because they bring the

NS: I like the IFQ commercial rules the way they are—

are a huge population multiplier.

best price on the market, but anglers all sort of feel

the fishermen can take their quota whenever it’s best

management for bigger is better, we know.

for them, there’s no derby causing fishing in unsafe

from washing machines to 300-ft.-long ships and discarded oil rigs; and the Corps of Engineers now actually encourages anglers to put them down in

this effort, and it looks like it should come into being soon—in the future, hopefully we’ll set limits based on current and accurate population information.

And, of course, the very tight harvest rules have also

weather, and there’s no glut on the market. The only

greatly increased the snapper population. The take

thing I would change there is to eliminate the right of

today is a fraction of what it was at one time, and all the factors together in recent years have resulted in a larger average size of the fish, so that the take, which is limited by poundage, has gone down in numbers of fish.

CA: How good are the stocks today, in your opinion?

CA: How has the management of these stocks, now apparently so healthy, gone off track, in your opinion?

fishermen to lease out their shares—they’d have to fish it themselves or lose it.

For recreational anglers, I think we could go back to something like in the early 2000s, when we had

NS: It’s definitely mostly a problem of the accuracy

180 days open and a four-fish bag limit—the stocks

of the population estimates. If we use flawed data

were still going up under those rules, and there are

that indicates we are harvesting too many fish for

a lot more fish, as well as more habitat today, so that

the population to maintain itself at the desired

should work and still preserve the fishery at a really

DS: I think there are more and larger red snapper on

level, then by law, the federal regulators have to put

high level. We may not see regulations that liberal for

average in the Gulf of Mexico today than there have

tighter restrictions on the fishery. I think that’s what

a while, but I’m hopeful we are definitely beginning

been in modern history. Not only are the traditional

we have today. For example, in 2014, NOAA Fisheries

to head in the right direction.

areas off North Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,

estimated about 1.5 million pounds of red snapper

Louisiana and Texas completely loaded with fish,

were harvested off Alabama. At the same time, the

Dr. Bob Shipp’s iconic Guide to the Fishes of the Gulf

to the point that reef anglers can’t get baits down

state of Alabama, with an extensive survey system

of Mexico is a book that belongs on every saltwater

for grouper and other reef species, but the larval

that’s generally recognized as far more accurate,

angler’s bookshelf. The volume includes color

distribution has restored a very good fishery off

found that only about 500,000 pounds had been

illustrations and photos of hundreds of Gulf species,

central Florida, where there had not been fishable

taken—one-third as much.

as well as a description of their life cycle and habitat

populations for generations. Adult snapper don’t

preferences. It’s $26.95, signed by the author, from

migrate, so the fish that settle on a reef will remain

There’s actually good momentum right now to

in that general area throughout their lives so long

improve this system. I just returned from a meeting

as the habitat doesn’t get covered with sand,

in New Orleans with 50 fishery scientists where the

and they’re long-lived fish—we think they might

primary topic was how we can generate “fishery

average 20 years or so in the wild, with a few living

independent data,” or information that comes

www.BobShipp.com.

This 300-lb. blue marlin charged and obliterated a teaser before being hooked up and hauled in for a clear release by Thomas Gorman. Photo: Thomas Gorman.

Gorman is an avid fly angler, traveling around the globe from his home in Hong Kong to target new species, but until recently, landing a marlin on fly had always eluded him. Photo: Thomas Gorman.

definitely left China on countless fishing trips to

it. Gorman figured, quite understandably, that he’d

a bunch of stoked up, bloody fishermen showing

If you Google, “marlin on the fly,” you’ll see

pursue his marlin dream. He has fished Australia,

never see those rods again. Dejected, he boarded

off their fly fishing prowess. For a lot of hard core

Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Florida, Malaysia,

the plane for David and tried to forget the months

fly fishers, a marlin is a bucket list thing. And, even

Guatemala and everywhere in between. In his travels,

he’d spent preparing for this moment. For the first

though a Google search proves that it’s possible,

Gorman has caught lots of blue water fish on the fly,

three days of the trip, he and his group caught black

don’t be fooled. It’s ain’t easy.

but the one that always eluded him was the

marlin, blue marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna up to 200

coveted marlin.

lbs., a lot of big dorado, and plenty of big pargo and

First of all, you have to go to a place where marlin live. So my buddy, who’s a fly freak in Tulsa,

Finally, in January 2014, he booked a trip to the

roosterfish—all on conventional fishing gear.

definitely has to leave Oklahoma. Then you have

Panama Big Game Fishing Club with one goal: to get

to find a captain who doesn’t mind fly line slinging

his first shot at a marlin on the fly. He spent months

and the months of preparation and anticipation

around everywhere. Let’s face it, non-fly fishermen

tying 12-in. flashy flies with removable popper heads.

building up to this trip,” Gorman said. “No doubt

don’t appreciate it when your fly zips an inch past

He rigged lines, leader, backing and connections to

about it, this was an area with plenty of big fish,

their ear. Sissies!

heavy 12- to 16-wt. gear. In short, he was ready. But

inshore and offshore. I felt confident I could have

the airlines were not. He checked three bags, one of

hooked a marlin on the fly.”

Of course, you also have to find the fish. Then there’s the required skill set one must have to hook a

which was his rod case that contained six rods. After

marlin, then get it to the boat. And, even if all of that

some 20 hours of flying from Hong Kong to Panama

works, you’d still better be damn lucky. Hard-core

City, two of his bags arrived, but the

fly fisherman Thomas Gorman had a lot of luck but,

rod case was a

unfortunately, much of it was bad. For years, he

no show.

traveled the world trying to hook a marlin on his fly

On the fourth day, like a miracle from God, his rods arrived. He rigged up a 12-wt. and a 14-16

Getting to and from Panama

rod. His success rate was zero. So, on the bright side,

City to PBGFC requires a one-hour

things could only get better.

flight to the city of David, then a

Gorman grew up in Chicago fly fishing in

“My mind was still preoccupied with fly fishing

one-hour drive, then a short boat

freshwater. In 1974, he visited Hong Kong for a few

ride. The airline said they’d do

months and ended up never leaving. Well, to be

their best to forward his bag to

Panama Big Game Fishing Club hosted Gorman

more specific, he never moved back to Chicago. He

the resort when, and if, they found

for his pursuit of a marlin on fly.

Gorman poses with a cobia, ready for release. Photo: Thomas Gorman.

wt. outfit, the former intended for sails and the latter for marlin. They headed to

hook. “I gripped the line between my gloved and wrapped fingers and the rod

nearby Montuosa Island, locally known as “Monster Island” because of the big

butt and yanked it directly backwards away from the fish,” he said. “It felt like a

marlin, which are attracted to its perennial huge schools of tuna. At long last, it

solid hook set, and even with veterinary tape wrapped around the index and

was marlin time.

second fingers of my right hand, her rocket-like acceleration after the hookset

Catching a marlin on the fly requires a bait and switch plan.You bring them in with bait then pull it out of the water so you can present them with the switch—

burned my skin.”

“What I realized after the initial blistering series of runs was the value of having

your shiny fly. Just south of Montuosa Island, the captain and mate deployed two

a gimbal butt on a fly rod when fighting a big marlin,” Gorman said. “Apart from

hookless bonito as the long teasers, placed about 30 yards from the stern of the

the comfort, it offers more leverage in lifting and regaining line.” The fight lasted

boat to act as skip-baits. The short teaser, a 20-in. custom-made, hookless marlin

two hours and 20 minutes. Captain Tati and Mate Narcisso did exactly what was

lure with a tuna belly bait sewed onto it, was run to the inside of the long starboard

needed when it was needed. Narcisso leadered the fish 12 times, but each time it

teaser and placed about 10 yards back.

was followed by a powerful surge away from the boat, taking Gorman back into

Gorman’s hands were sweating with anticipation as he stripped line off of his

the backing. As fate would have it, the 13th time was lucky. Having some 600 yards

14-16-wt.Thomas & Thomas to allow for roughly a 12-yd. cast. The 12-in. red, white

of Hatch backing gave Gorman comfort, along with having all of the right gear and

and pink popper fly he had tied was ready for action. In less than 30 minutes, a big

being completely prepared. Narcisso was able to bring the fish to the boat for a

blue marlin—estimated by Captain Tati and Mate Narcisso at 300 lbs.—aggressively

quick photo then release her. The 300-lb blue quickly swam away. Finally, after years

charged the short teaser, which was the 20-in. marlin lure. The big, blue female

of trying, Gorman had his marlin.

whacked the lure mercilessly and repeatedly, ripping the belly bait off in the process.

During the next two days, he only hooked up once more. That time it was a big,

With the marlin lit up, Captain Tati yanked in the short teaser, put the engine into

black marlin that broke his line and took his lucky lure into the depths of the blue

neutral and signaled Gorman to cast. The pressure was on, but he landed the fly just

Pacific. Still, the man who first fly fished 40 years ago in a lake in Illinois, was leaving

far enough to the side and behind the fish that when she began searching for the

Panama a very happy man. Despite the bad luck at the outset, the Universe finally

missing teaser, she spotted the big popper fly and switched her attention to it. For

smiled upon Gorman who, like any great fisherman, learns from his mistakes.

once, it all happened according to the script. She turned, inhaled the fly, and as she

“Next time, I’ll make sure to bring at least one rod as carry-on baggage.”

began heading away in the opposite direction from the boat., Gorman set the

That’s not lucky. That’s just smart.

DigDeep downriggers are becoming a more common tool in the arsenal of many saltwater anglers.

Gearheads :

In recent years, there seems to be a trend among saltwater anglers to fish deep.

This can be running lures deep to target grouper that might be holding on reefs or

BY DARYL CARSON natural rock bottom, or it could mean getting baits down so they entice a hit from a tuna or kingfish that refuses to eat anything offered at the surface. Really growing in popularity is drifting or trolling deep for swordfish, now a regular thing for many South Florida anglers and also some along the Gulf Coast. Of course, fishing baits deep—at least trolling them effectively at depth—requires special gear. Sometimes a planer or similar device will work for modest depths, but these can also tangle and interfere with retrieving a fish once it’s hooked. For dedicated deep water efforts, a downrigger is needed and there are a variety of options. From rugged, manual machines to high-tech, programmable electric rigs, there’s something for every boat and budget. We’ve chosen a range of models from three of the most respected downrigger brands in the industry.

Dowriggers are growing in popularity among saltwater anglers, who are using them to target tuna, grouper, swordfish and more.

Troll-Master seahorse Penn manual downriggers have long been a staple ffor saltwater pros, and today, that product has been reintroduced to the market by Troll-Master. Their Seahorse downrigger was inspired by the legendary PENN Fat Fathom-Master (and the company still services the original Penn Downrigger Downriggers that are still being used by thousands of anglers today). The Seahorse is built wi with the strongest corrosionresistant components for a lifetime of salt water troll trolling. The drag system allows for one-hand operation when lowering or stopping tthe downrigger weight and allows cable to pay out if the weight snags on the bo bottom. For added safety, the crank handle does not turn while the weight des descends. Precise depth meter allows for accurate bait presentations, and the optio optional swivel base rotates a complete 360°, locking in 36 different positions, allow allowing you to pick virtually any angle for your downrigger.

$359.99 www.troll-master.com

Cannon Uni-Troll™ 10 sTX-Ts For simplicity and reliability, Cannon offers the ma manual Uni-Troll™ STX in their Tournament Series. Built to take a beating and su survive the saltiest of conditions, it allows anglers to deploy a line with just one h hand. A 2:1 retrieval speed and ergonomic handle also make it easier to clear lines fast when the action starts.

The stainless steel spool comes loaded with 2 200 ft. of 150-lb. test, stainless steel cable and includes a line release. It can also be spooled up with mono line, which many experienced tournament anglers pr prefer. The heavy-duty telescoping boom has a range of 24–53” to allow optimal line positioning for your boat or trolling spread. An enclosed boom end pulley keeps the line from jumping o off, and a dual axis rod holder offers adjustments both front to back and side to side.

The unit’s three-digit depth counter allows for deadly accurate drops.

$449.99 www.cannondownriggers.com

Cannon digi-Troll™ 10 Ts If you want to go high tech, Cannon’s Digi-Troll offers enough features to impress even the savviest tech geek. The unit’s backlit LCD screen displays readings from IntelliTroll, which allows you to raise and lower the weight or program the amou amount of line you’re using. You can even cycle the weight up and down at preset interv intervals and depths, or use the Bottom Track function to automatically keep your bait at a preset distance from the bottom even as terrain changes. And get this, space cadets…you can also adjust Positive Ion Control, which uses the stainless cable to emit a fish-attracting electronic buzz (not the technical term). A stainless stee steel spool works with both cable and mono lines and the Digi-Troll has a retrieval rate of 250 ft. per minute. Includes mounting base, low-profile swivel base, fully adjustable rod holder and a telescopic boom that extends from 24–53 inches.

Includes two line releases, 400 ft. of 150-lb. test stainless steel cable and 20-lb. weight capacity.

$1,499.99 www.cannondownriggers.com

scotty 2160B high Performance downrigger scotty 1085 stongarm

This is Scotty’s bad boy electric downrigger loaded with 300 ft. of 250-lb.

With four decades in the business, Scotty knows how to build a

test Premium Fiber Braided Downrigger line. A 36–60-in. adjustable boom,

downrigger. Their manual 1085 model has a 30-in. boom and sucks up

16-position swivel pedestal mount and stainless rocket launcher rod holder

two feet of cable for every turn of the spool, while an extended handle

allows for flexibility in managing your trolling spread. Getting your bait to

provides leverage to reduce your workload. The spool comes charged

depth is easy with an illuminated digital line counter that is also resettable

with 200 ft. of 150-lb. stainless cable that can be deployed to just the right

and has a fully adjustable descent speed. Heavy duty pulling power handles

depth by keeping an eye on the positive-drive depth counter. The tilt-up

20-lb. weights and retrieval speeds of 260 ft./min. A clutch brake system

mounting bracket allows the downrigger to be rotated and locked in the

provides positive stopping power but will pay-out when needed to

upright position, and a fully boom-mounted rod holder makes it easy to

avoid losing gear.

position and manage your gear when running. The 1085 also uses a large clutch brake for positive stopping power, but in the event of a bottom hang-up, the system will pay-out line so anglers won’t lose their gear. A Power Grip Plus line release is also included.

$300.99 www.scotty.com

$827.99 www.scotty.com

LAST CAST

HOOKed On LA HeAVen I have no idea how many times I’ve made the three-hour

stories of catching trout and reds near Venice until his arms

drive from New Orleans back home to Pensacola. But,

were too tired to reel anymore. Like most fishing buddies,

I do know one thing. I always have the same feeling of

we lied to each other with frequent regularity so I didn’t

total exhaustion and lingering guilt from having way too

pay much attention until he invited me to the New Orleans

much fun. There’s usually a dull body ache from pulling in

Fishing Club. There are plenty of fancy schmancy places in

monster redfish and consuming mucho adult beverages.

New Orleans, but the New Orleans Fishing Club ain’t one

At some point, usually between Slidell and Mobile, I

of them. In fact, it’s not even in New Orleans; it’s 20 miles

vow—to whomever I’m riding with—that I’ve officially

south of Venice down the Mighty Mississippi. Or, well, it was

quit any type of hot sauces, Boudin sausages or anything

there before Hurricane Katrina wiped it off the map like a

made by someone named Boudreau. Bottom line, the folks

windshield wiper taking out a skeeter. Even in its heyday,

in Louisiana and especially NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) live very, very large. They eat

FRED GARTH

with gusto and drink

For the past 25 years, Fred D.

with even more, all to

Garth’s articles have appeared in

a constant backdrop

numerous books, magazines and

of excellent music.

newspapers around the world.

I’m proud

the Club was a shanty

They call it a “camp” for many reasons. First and foremost, is to make it sound so rustic that wives won’t be interested in going.

built in the swamp along the river. The only way to get there was by boat, yet they had bunk rooms and a full kitchen with servers and cooks.

Trophy fish from reds to tuna to blue

Read his blog at:

that I have survived the city—just barely—on numerous

marlin hung on the walls. All of it was swallowed up by

GuyHarveyMagazine.com.

occasions. The first time, I was only 13 and a new friend had

the hurricane.

invited me to Mardi Gras. We zipped around on bicycles and

After Katrina ate up the Fishing Club, my old buddy,

avoided getting squished by the massive floats and crazed

Trey, already had a perfect backup plan: a 90-ft.-long

crowds fighting for cheap beads. We broke every cycling

floating fishing “camp” docked directly in Venice. Sidenote:

safety rule, but no one, not even the cops, even noticed. My

they call it a “camp” for many reasons. First and foremost,

Mardi Gras friend eventually evolved into my best Louisiana

is to make it sound so rustic that wives won’t be interested

fishing buddy and remains so to this day, some 40 years

in going. Secondly, because it’s basically a two-story house

later. We met as kids when his family came to Pensacola for

trailer set on a barge. There’s no shopping, no hot-rock

the summers. We’d troll the Gulf for king mackerel in his

massages and no mimosa brunch. It’s not the kind of place

dad’s old Stamas. Or my dad would take us out for blue fish

the fairer sex desires to visit.

in our beat up Glaspar. As the years passed, we stayed buds, even during the three-year stint when I dated his sister.

When we reached young adulthood, he began to spin

I first visited the fishing camp, or what I now call “Man Heaven,” in the early 2000s (pre-Katrina) and we caught so many redfish that were so big that I had to throw back four

Speckled trout heaven! Anglers load the box on a typical day fishing near Venice. Right: Accommodations on the bayou.

Photos: Courtesy of Dr. James “Trey” Todd.

Advils, among other relaxation concoctions.

But, alas, friggin’ Katrina grabbed Trey’s barge and washed her almost a mile inland where she rested for several months. But never underestimate Cajun ingenuity blended with a massive oil-well crane. Long story short—they managed to drag that sucker back to the river and get her floating again. I returned a couple of years ago and they had rebuilt Man Heaven into a pre-hurricane, modestly habitable fishing camp that most women would still hate. Added was a supercharged air conditioning system, an industrial ice maker, a six-burner gas stove and a 24-ft. center console with a 300hp go-fast engine. Ah, yes. Heaven, indeed.

I guess there are tons of places on this giant water orb of a planet where you could put a barge and a boat. But, the truth is, there are not any locations like Venice. First of all, it’s kind of ugly with all of the oil industry stuff —wells, ships, barges, etc.—scattered about. Far more importantly, it’s on the doorstep of possibly the world’s most prolific fishery. Sure, ya gotta know where to throw your line, but that’s why you hire guides or build lifelong friendships with people from Cajun Country.

I’m fortunate to have the kind of friendship where I can ask myself over for fishing rather than the other way around. As long as I’m not infringing on deer or duck season, Trey tells me to get over there so we can talk about old times, catch a bunch of lunkers, eat like pigs and indulge in the bon temps of Louisiana heaven.

Let’s see how many lionfish we can remove from Florida waters in one weekend Don’t miss the second annual

• Lionfish Tastings • Fillet Demonstrations • Family Activities • Celebrity Chefs • Raffles & Prizes • Over 40 Vendors

May 14–15 Plaza de Luna, Pensacola

FREE! www.ReefRangers.com

Y HARV

EY

Experience a whole new way to vacation with the Go Get Out There Package. You’ll

GU

“Live like me for three days.”

get a fishing trip, t-shirts, breakfast at RumFish Grill, paddleboarding and more.

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