Accepting the Challenge
March 13, 2019
Cantrelle files suit against Parish Council
March 15, 2019
Golden Meadow native Bo Collins felt a tug on his line, set the hock and knew he was in for a battle.
“As soon as she bit. I knew it would be a fight,” he said.
It was. He hocked a large bass in the 40-Arpent Canal in southern Lafourche Parish — somewhere between Cut Off and Galliano.
His story matches up with others in both Lafourche and Terrebonne who say that bass fishing is heating up with the weather.
Anglers say that freshwater action has been good lately —especially when temperatures are warm, which has been the normal pattern of late, well, except for that pre-Mardi &as cold front of course.
Collins and others say that spring is an ideal time to catch bass and that the fish are plentiful in the area this time of year.
“Its been good lately when we can fish,” Collins said. “My fish was a little more than 3 pounds. Others have had similar fish. Bass are fickle. The conditions have to be right The infrastructure of the water has to be right. But right now, conditions are getting right.”
The baas activity in Lafourche has been hot with several reports of lunkers having been caught recently in local waters.
Collins said he was told at the bait shop by a worker that his fish was the second biggest of the day. Other hearsay around the area says that bass are being caught in Bayou Lafourche, as well.
Catfish, sac-a-lait. perch and crappie have also been caught in high numbers in parts of the parish.
“You can fish the bayou and catch fish all day long — any time of the year.” Golden Meadow native Ross Picou said. “It s changed so much. Ten years ago, 15 years ago, further down the road, it wouldn’t have been this easy. But now, the water is cleaner and it’s better for fishing.”
In Terrebonne, the bass fishing isn’t at its peak yet. but experts say that it’s getting close.
Toward Bayou Black, anglers say that sac-a-lait are biting and the bass are a little sparse, but they’re big. when biting.
When the full spawn takes place, there will be a huge rush of fish in that area, according to those who fish those waters.
‘Too many late cold fronts.” Hon ma native Ross Theriot said. “The water isn’t as warm as it needs to be yet. It’s getting there and once it comes, it will came fast. But we’re having a few too many of those fronts late into the spring.”
In the marshes, redfish and speckled trout are still available —when the weather is clear.
Last week, the front made for brisk wind and choppy seas early in the week.
By mid-week and into the weekend, the weather settled a Utile and anglers were able to have better days on the water.
“The reds right now have been OK/’ Grand Isle native Jake Bes-son said. “And you know, people have been having a lot of success fishing the bridges and off the beach on the island. We’re getting a little closer to that summertime period now and that’s the time when you start to see more activity out there.”
In southern Terrebonne, the weather pattern has affected when anglers can fish, but when conditions are ripe, folks are re-parting speckled trout redfish and plentiful catches.
In the coming weeks when weather is consistently clear and temperatures are over 75 degrees for a week-straight, offshore fishing can start to take place, but that’s likely still about 3-4 weeks out.
“And that’s the very, very early season,” Besson said with a laugh. “It’s still rough and you have to take a little bit of a beating to get out there.”
