Is Cocodrie world’s top fishing town?

Redistricting stirs fairness debate
May 29, 2012
Our view: Seasonal voters need not worry
May 29, 2012
Redistricting stirs fairness debate
May 29, 2012
Our view: Seasonal voters need not worry
May 29, 2012

It’s time to vote often as the final day to cast, pun intended, your vote to select Cocodrie as the nation’s top fishing community arrives tomorrow. It’s all part of the World Fishing Network’s Ultimate Fishing Town competition, and results in bragging rights and a $25,000 prize.

“We are solidly at No. 5 in the nation,” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet, who has been close watch on the lists, said. “Voting thus far clearly puts us on the map. Hundreds of towns across the nation entered, and for us to be No. 5 is significant.”


Votes can be cast at www.WFNFishingTown.com, and voters may repeat their bid once every six hours. Bonus votes can be gained by sharing on Facebook and Twitter, referring a friend, or by adding business listings.


Cocodrie is one of 12 Louisiana towns nominated in the event, and with 7,073 votes at last count, was far ahead of the second place in the state, Delacroix, which had 230 votes. Other Louisiana towns in the competition are Grand Isle, Port of Fourchon, Leeville, Venice, Houma, New Orleans, Slidell, St. Charles Parish, Monroe and Port Sulphur, and voting for the event began May 1. A winner will also be chosen in Canada.

As of press time, Olcott Beach, N.Y., was in first place, Waddington, N.Y., second, Cape Hatteras, N.C., in third, and Crystal River, Fla., in fourth position.


“We are by far in the lead in Louisiana,” Claudet said. “If you look at the contest, it tends to go to heavily populated areas, but I think we are holding our own rather well.”

If Cocodrie wins, the town would receive a $25,000 donation and be featured on WFN.

“We produce a short segment that runs throughout the year,” said William Eagle, a marketing consultant with WFN. “We also feature content like photos, write ups and video on the website. We visit the winning towns and run an event with everyone to do a check presentation and trophy. Mariko Izumi, the face of UFT, hosts and does the check presentation.”

According to Eagle, this is the third year the network has hosted the competition, and this year’s event had grown by 35 percent.

“We had an increase of 766 entrants this year,” Eagle said. “The user engagement and voting has been great. Right now, Cocodrie’s post has 48 comments on the town wall and 10 businesses listed. Votes for the town have been steady, averaging anywhere from 200 to 600 per day.”

Louisiana has done its part in helping to make the total entrants jump by doubling the number of the state’s nominated towns from last year.