DEEP SEA RODEO
72ND Annual July 4th Fishing Rodeo is this Friday through Sunday July 3,4,5 with weigh-ins at the South West LA Fishing Club just north of I-210 Bridge. Tickets are $35 in adult and scuba divisions and $10 for junior fishing division. There were some big fish caught off shore last week and hopefully we will have good weather this weekend for the tournament. Another reminder to Rodeo participants, Louisiana fishing Licenses expired June 30 so make sure you get yours renewed. Check Sunday's Outdoor report for several Rodeo photos and info by Claudette Olivier.
BIG LAKE
"Big Lake anglers have been able to spread out all over the lake due to excellent salinity levels moving north in the fishery" reports Big Lake guide, Captain Kevin Broussard. The Prien area is now producing some decent catches. He also reports that when winds subside later in the morning there have been a few birds working in the middle of the lake.
Good populations of fish are also moving into and along the ship channel and places just off the channel in well known areas such as Nine Mile Point, The Wash Out as well as Joe's Cove. Reds have been good but spotty as several veteran Big Lake anglers are saying that they will catch easy limits one day and struggle to catch just a few the next. Most of the successful red fish anglers are using live shrimp and mullet.
Broussard stated that The Weirs are still holding a few fish but the boat traffic is heavy in that area. Captain Broussard cautioned anglers to drink plenty of liquids both before and during fishing trips as he had to bring in a couple of customers early last week as they were in beginning stages of heat exhaustion.
Calcasieu Point's Elaine Huck had the following observation about the fishing this week: "Fishing this week was kind of weird, it was like if you got into the fish you mopped up but if you were not in the right place you had nothing but small fish and not many were keepers." Huck says she heard several good reports from The Wiers. She too mentioned Prien and Turners with occasional birds working. Calcasieu Point is one of the best areas around to fish from the bank and she stated that anglers caught some nice flounders off the pier. Flounder were also caught at the LNG Canal.
