The big news this week is the reopening of the seven-day-a-week recreational red snapper fishery.
The emergency declaration signed by the Director of the Wildlife and Fisheries Department Madison Sheahan takes effect Monday and follows five seasons that lasted Friday through Sunday. And it follows three months of an open season that began April 15, the earliest opening day since federal fisheries officials imposed restrictive red snapper fishing seasons and daily bag limits two decades ago.
The agency’s move came after state fisheries department staff reviewed LA Creel program data showing estimated landings of private red snapper reached 747,373 pounds through Aug. 4. This latest figure represents 80% of the 934,587 pounds allotted to our state.
With just over 187,000 pounds of that allotment remaining, recreational fishermen at sea are expected to be able to catch red snapper until Labor Day (September 2) this year.
The daily catch remains four fish per angler.
The extended days also include a look back at the last few years where LA Creel has provided our state with much more accurate real-time collection data than the federal models.
In past years, there has been a drop in offshore fishing activity after the first week of August – the only increase occurred over Labor Day weekend – and is usually due to families preparing for the start of the school year and football-hungry fans unpacking their gear in preparation for three to four months of parties and games.
Federal charter boats have a different season than recreational and state charter boats. The latter two are subject to our state’s private recreational red snapper fishing regulations, while the federal charter boat season runs through August 27.
Complete weekly estimates of red snapper landings are available on the state agency website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/red-snapper.
At home on the pasture
August is a great time to head to a shooting range and prepare for the upcoming hunting season. That’s why August is National Shooting Sports Month.
This is a project of the National Shooting Sports Foundation that aims to help the more than 60 million Americans not only improve their target shooting skills, but also prepare their weapons for upcoming hunts.
The NSSF reminds us that hunters and sport shooters “play a critical role in conservation through the Pittman-Robertson Act,” which imposes federal taxes on virtually all hunting and shooting equipment, even archery equipment. This tax is distributed among the states based on the number of hunting licenses in each state and is earmarked for habitat protection and enhancement, safety programs and shooting ranges.
Freezing day
Remember, Sunday is freezer cleanout day at nearly two dozen locations in the Baton Rouge, Metairie and Northshore areas. Hunters for the Hungry is pushing this year’s drive to collect more than the record-breaking 21,881 pounds raised in 2023.
The goal is to distribute frozen venison, other meat and fish to local food banks. The full list of collection points can be found on the H4H website: h4hla.org/freezer-day.
Registration
Women ages 18 and older interested in learning to fish can register by Friday for a “Fishing 101 Workshop for Women” on September 7 or November 2.
Both will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wildlife and Fisheries Waddill Wildlife Refuge on North Flannery Road in Baton Rouge.
The number of participants per workshop is limited to 15 people. During the workshop, state fisheries biologists and volunteer instructors will teach classes on fish identification, fish handling, equipment, basic skills, and how to clean, store and prepare fish.
To apply, go to the LDWF website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/fishing-workshops
Way too much
A 56-year-old man from Baton Rouge, Gui Chenwas charged earlier this month in Jefferson Parish waters for having 65 brown trout and 401 white trout in his possession.
It was the brown trout that got him in trouble. All were under the legal length limit of 13 inches, and 65 is 40 over the daily limit. There are no size or daily limits for brown trout. Chen was unable to produce a saltwater fishing license. The fish were donated to a local charity.
Chen faces fines of up to $1,350, possible jail time and civil damages of $3,443 for the replacement value of the brook trout.
