Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo

Clear skies gave anglers ripe conditions this past weekend at the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo.

The end result was a weekend loaded with fun that has spectators already hungry to fish again next year.

The annual rodeo was held from Thursday-Saturday at its annual home at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon.

Fans packed the event’s new air-conditioned tent, which was loaded with music and food and drinks.

According to 2015 Rodeo Admiral Eddie Callais, the entire weekend was a hit, and things couldn’t have gone any better.

“It was great – the whole week,” Callais said. “We take pride in giving a good time to our community. And when I look around the tent and I see so many families out here having a good time, it makes you smile and it makes you proud. We’re big on family. We’ll always be big on family. We gave the young ones who fished a rod and a bag with bait. We just want to let people know that we’re here and we aim to please.”

When it was all said and done, it was Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter who was among the event’s big winners.

Larpenter took home two titles in the inshore division, winning first, second and third-place titles for Rat Reds. His winning fish led at 8-pounds, 14-ounces. 

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff also won Rat Red Stringer, weighing his string at 36-pounds, 6-ounces.

Larpenter, an avid fisherman, was walking around the weigh station on Saturday afternoon, eagerly awaiting word on if his fish were enough to win the title. 

While Larpenter waited and wondered, J.J. Tabor, of Baton Rouge, left no doubt. 

In the Shoreline Division, Tabor won two first-place titles to win the division’s Outstanding Fisherman Award.

Tabor won for the best King Mackerel, weighing a 45-pound, 6-ounce fish to take home the title.

But his best catch of the day came in grouper with a massive 206-pound, 3-ounce fish that won by 200-plus pounds for its category.

Tabor said the grouper is the biggest he’s ever caught.

“It was great,” Tabor said. “When I saw it, I had an idea that it’d have a chance to be a winner.”

The 2015 event was the first in a new rebranding effort for the rodeo. 

The fishing event changed its logo this past spring and has been making a grassroots effort to try and boost its popularity.

The air conditioned tent was a nice touch. 

But so too was a satellite TV setup that allowed spectators to watch the weigh-ins indoors in comfort, instead of battling the heat outdoors.

The rodeo also featured divisions for kayakers and spear fishermen, as well as several categories for children.

“We want everyone to have an opportunity,” Callais said. “We definitely don’t want to leave anyone out. And I think the rebranding and all of the things that we’ve done have done a nice job to build more support and to get people more aware.”

BIG GAME DIVISION

TARPON 

None entered

YELLOWFIN TUNA

1. Tyler Merrick, 153-pounds, 5-ounces

2. Gidion Roark

3. Lee Bouziga

WAHOO

1. Lee Bouziga, 29-pounds, 5-ounces

2. Carolina Guilbeau

3. Bo Bankston

DOLPHIN

1. Reggie Ledet, 27-pounds, 4-ounces

2. Shannon Soudelier

3. Jaclyn McCartney

BLACKFIN TUNA

1. Philip Renfrow, 29-pounds, 0-ounces

2. Nicholas Withers

3. Philip Renfrow

INSHORE DIVISION

DRUM

1. Keith Hebert, 48-pounds, 3-ounces

2. Coleman Fox 

3. Kasey Fillinich 

FLOUNDER

1. Darrel Ledet, 5-pounds, 8-ounces

2. Tommy Bush

3. Darrel Ledet

GAFTOPSAIL

1. Roy Autin, 6-pounds, 10-ounces

2. Roy Autin

3. Roy Autin

BULL REDFISH

1. Kevin Terrebonne, 38-pounds, 1-ounce

2. Kim DeRouen

3. Sig Simpson

RAT RED

1. Jerry Larpenter, 8-pounds, 14-ounces

2. Jerry Larpenter

3. Jerry Larpenter

RAT RED STRINGER

1. Jerry Larpenter, 36-pounds, 6-ounces

2. Robby Gilbert

3. Seth Rodriguez

SHEEPSHEAD

1. Lawrence Plaisance, 5-pounds, 0-ounces

2. Jeff Howell 

3. Lex Boucvalt

SPECKLED TROUT

1. Joey Guidry, 3-pounds, 12-ounces

2. Patrick O’Brien

3. Lex Boucvalt

OUTSTANDING INSIDE DIVISION ANGLER

Jerry Larpenter

SHORELINE DIVISION

BONITO

1. Hunter Andras, 13-pounds, 10-ounces

2. Taylor Comeaux, 12-pounds, 10-ounces

3. Rustie Charpentier, 12-pounds, 5-ounces

COBIA

1. Jake Charpentier, 47-pounds, 6-ounces

2. Zak Fillinich

3. Miles Dixon

GROUPER

1. J.J. Tabor, 206-pounds, 3-ounces

2. Jonathan Lindley

3. Hunter Andras

JACK CREVALLE

1. Brett Orgeron, 28-pounds, 6-ounces

2. Chuck Comeaux

3. Chuck Comeaux

KING MACKEREL

1. J.J. Tabor, 45-pounds, 6-ounces

2. Stephanie Chenier

3. Spooky Chenier

MANGROVE SNAPPER

1. Britton Comeaux, 11-pounds, 11-ounces

2. Taylor Comeaux

3. Rustie Charpentier

SPANISH MACKEREL

1. Dominick Fillinich, 6-pounds, 5-ounces

2. Zak Fillinich

3. Priscilla Duet

OUTSTANDING 

SHORELINE DIVISION ANGLER

J.J. Tabor

KAYAKS

CAJUN SLAM

1. Ryan Alleman, 9-pounds, 11-ounces

2. Seth Rodriguez

3. Harold Hellbach

RAT RED

1. Seth Rodriguez, 7-pounds, 6-ounces

2. Ryan Allemand

3. Gairi Williamson

SPECKS

1. Gairi Williamson, 1-pound, 8-ounces

2. Ryan Alleman

3. Trench Winch

LEOPARD REDFISH

1. Gairi Williamson, 8 spots

SPEARFISHING

BARRACUDA

1. George Ansardi

2. George Ansardi 

3. Terry Miguad

COBIA

1. Rafe Antill, 50-pounds, 4-ounces

2. Will Demuth

3. George Ansardi

GROUPER

1. Will Demugh, 27-pounds, 9-ounces

2. Terry Miguad 

3. Paul Cozie

JACK CREVALLE

1. David Hood, 25-pound, 12-ounces

2. Rafe Antill

3. Troy Donaldson

MANGROVE SNAPPER

1. Will Demuth, 11-pounds, 13-ounces

2. Don Scott

3. Will Demuth

SHEEPSHEAD

1. George Ansardi 

2. Will Demuth

3. Robbie Smith

TRIGGERFISH

1. Rafe Antil, 4-pounds, 1-ounce

2. George Ansardi

3. Troy Donaldson

CHILDREN’S DIVISION

DRUM

1. Kooper Worley, 25-pound, 0-ounce

FLOUNDER

1. Trey Wanko, 1-pound, 11-ounces

GAFTOPSAIL 

1. Cade Ougel, 4-pounds, 5-ounces

RAT RED

1. Austin Danos, 7-pounds, 6-ounces

SHEEPSHEAD

1. Carter Callais, 4-pounds, 0-ounces

SPECKS

1. Micah Kietter, 3-pounds, 12-ounces

LEOPARD REDFISH

1. Mason Bousegard, 22 spots

Fishing Rodeo