Gerald Richard
July 8, 2015
New VCHS coach ready to work
July 8, 2015
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 Renfrew, 29-pounds, 0-ounces
2. Nicholas Withers
3. Philip Renfrew
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
The fish were biting at the Golden Meadow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo this past weekend. Several champions were crowned in the event.
