Tri-parishes exceed state test scores
June 2, 2011"Rythms on the River" (Morgan City)
June 6, 2011
Oil halted the vast majority of the 2010 rodeo season in the Tri-parish area.
This year, event organizers have vowed there will not be an encore performance.
Fishing has returned and the rodeo season is officially here. Organizers and anglers say that this year’s events are all scheduled to go off without a hitch. The one constant among everyone remains, it’s just good to be back after a year covered in crude.
“Everyone is just excited that we’ll be able to get back to the norm,” said Charlie Pitre, spokesman for the Krewe of Houmas Invitational Saltwater Fishing Rodeo. “Last year, I think everyone was sort of bummed out, because charter services were using their boats to lay out boom instead of to fish. It was a little bit of a bummer last year, but we made the best of a bad situation and this year, we’re looking forward to getting back to what we’re used to.”
A few rodeos like Pitre’s were able to go off last year.
“We weighed in over 100 fish,” Pitre said. “That was definitely a success when you consider the circumstances that we were up against.”
But the vast majority opted to pull the plug on their 2010 events due to the BP oil spill, which pumped millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
Among the most notable June cancellations was the Golden Meadow/Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo, which is one of the state’s oldest and most prestigious rodeos.
This year, that event is back and will take place June 30-July 2.
“We’re very much looking forward to it after not having it last year,” rodeo organizer John Maurer said. “I think it’s going to look good this year.”
One of the reasons why organizers agree their events will look good is because of turnout. After having fishing taken from them for a full year, event planners say that they think turnout will be great.
Louisiana is such a fishing-driven state that when it’s taken from the anglers, they are sure to run back when the waters are no longer murky.
“I don’t have numbers on ticket sales as of right now,” said Chad Darcey with the Krewe of Terreanians Fishing Rodeo. “But it’s getting out there. We’re having a lot of people who are expressing to us that they are glad to be back fishing. … We expect to have a good turnout.”
“With a year break, we don’t think there is any doubt that people are looking forward to coming out and doing some rodeos,” Maurer added. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls. People have been calling a lot and asking about the rodeo and making sure that it’s happening. They sound excited and we are, too, to be able to host it again.”
Another reason for the excitement is for the fish themselves.
Anglers all across the coastal areas tout that there’s a massive catch available to fishermen, because the fish were protected last year with fewer boats in the water.
In theory, that should mean more fish and larger fish to be had.
So far, early reports claim that theory to be on the money.
“I’m hearing a lot of good fishing stories pretty much every weekend from a lot of people,” said Donnie Braud, also with the Krewe of Terreanians Fishing Rodeo. “It surely sounds like the fish are on.”
“The fish have been biting really good,” Maurer added. “People have been really catching this year. And I think because of that, it’s really going to be a good time. People have been catching more fish so far this spring than any year that I can remember.”
“Basically, all of South Terrebonne, they are catching fish sporadically all around,” Darcey also added when asked about his area. “That’s a good thing.”
Some inshore rodeos do have concerns about what the rising Mississippi River may do to fishing areas. Darcey said he is monitoring the situation, but added that his rodeo has no plans to alter anything in its schedule.
If there’s anything Louisianans know, it’s how to deal with Mother Nature.
“We are going forward with it 110 percent,” Darcey said. “Life gives us those challenges, so we just have to go through them.”
This year is about reviving rodeo fishing in Louisiana and organizers say nothing will stop them from having a good time at their respective events.
“It’s always great to see people and faces that you haven’t seen in a few years because of the cancellations and the oil spill last year,” Darcey said. “It’s always good to see other people. It’s always good to have a good time with some old friends.”
“If I could tell anything to anyone who is on the fence about coming out, I’d tell them to come fish and to have a blast,” Maurer added. “It’s looking good and we’re ready to get back and have some fun.”
“It’s South Louisiana, it’s the beginning of spring time. It’s the beginning of summer time. It’s time to do some fishing,” Braud said. “All of the rodeos are something that a lot of fishermen look forward to every year. It’s good to be back on the circuit.”
Fishing rodeos happening in and around the Tri-parish area in June:
June 3-4 N.O. Electrical Assoc. Fishing Tournament, Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500
June 3-4 OMSA Annual Cajun Tropic Fishing Rodeo, Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419
June 3-5 Whiskey Pass Rodeo Association Fishing Tournament, Coco Marina (985) 226-8768
June 9-11 Cut Off Club Public Fishing Rodeo, Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419
June 10-12 Montegut Lion’s Club 52nd Annual Speckled Trout Rodeo, Montegut Lion’s Club (985) 860-0206
June 10-12 Krewe of Terreanians Fishing Rodeo, Houma Municipal Auditorium (985) 637-2117
June 11 St. Rita’s Father’s Club Fishing Rodeo, Coco Marina (985) 226-8768
June 18 Inaugural SAINTS Alumni Black and Gold Rodeo, Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419
June 23-25 ABC Rodeo, Sand Dollar Marina (985) 787-2500
June 24-25 Creole Classic Fishing Tournament, Bridge Side Marina (985) 787-2419
June 24-25 Krewe of Houmas Invitational Saltwater Fishing Rodeo, Coco Marina (985) 226-8788
June 24-25 Red Stick Fly Fishers Rodeo, Blue Dolphin Inn (985) 787-3697
June 30-July 2 Golden Meadow/Fourchon International Tarpon Rodeo, Moran’s Marina (985) 860-3287
