William Sheffield
September 1, 2017
SLMA September – Childhood obesity
September 1, 2017
Houma native Lloyd Williams took his boat to Grand Isle two weekends ago and set out on an offshore trip.
Williams said on the trip he caught “a little bit of everything,” which isn’t uncommon in August around those parts – a fertile time for fishing.
But the species Williams said he saw the most of is snapper-something other anglers around the area are reporting, as well.
Louisiana was part of a rare multi-state compromise with the U.S. Department of Commerce, which allowed snapper to be caught 200 miles off the state’s coast for 39 days or until 1.04 million pounds of the fish came to shore – a great expansion of the season, which had been heavily restricted, if not outright eliminated, in years past.
Williams joined several local anglers in stating bluntly this week that he hopes the expansion continues on into future summers.
“I think it was a great thing that they did. I hope it continues. I think it’s good for the state,” Williams said. “People say the fish are in trouble or are endangered or whatever. No one who goes out on the water believes that. We catch them all year round and everyone says they have the same issue. I think finally the sides are working together and I think it’s going to really work out for everyone.”
The compromise is a step in the right direction, according to anglers.
Under the agreement, anglers had several weekends and holidays to try and catch the fish – as long as the weight limit wasn’t reached.
After this weekend, the season will close until next year – regardless of the weight brought in.
The rule change has brought excitement to locals, but also to tourists and people who have visited the rodeo scene throughout the summer.
At the Golden Mead-ow-Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo, several snapper were weighed – led by Central, Louisiana native Spooky Chenier, who captured an 18-pound, 9-ounce winner.
A few weeks later at the Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo, the fish were much bigger, led by Cut Off native Mike Melancon, who won with a 25-pound, 10-ounce fish.
At that event, several anglers and passersby touted how great the snapper season had been for the Louisiana coast.
“It’s helped things to pick up,” said Tim Adams, who said he’s fished the area for many decades. “I think it’s a fish that everyone likes to catch. It’s a fun fight and it’s a good fish that everyone remembers because it stands out, you know? We all want what’s best for the species. But if they tell us it’s OK, I think it’s a great thing that we can get out there and go after them, because it’s a great fish to catch.”
Larose angler Bob Guidry agreed.
He said fishing for snapper is a Louisiana offshore tradition.
“It hurts the tourism and everything down here when it’s not there,” Guidry said. “There are some charter guys who make a lot of money off that fish. People want to fish specifically to catch it. We always thought the restrictions were too tight. And I think that we were able to get this expanded season and there are still fish out there being caught -1 think it shows that maybe we were right all along and this shortage or this extinction that they told us would happen isn’t actually what’s real.”
When the compromise was announced, the U.S. Department of Commerce said through releases that the release was strictly for this summer and that future determinations would be made after observing how things went in 2017.
Williams said he’d like to see a season that starts a weekend earlier and ends a weekend later, lasting about 50 or so days.
But he quickly clarified, adding that if the Department of Commerce opts to keep things as-is for the future, he wouldn’t say a word.
“I’d take a little more time, obviously,” Williams said. “But this is so much better than it had been. If it stays like this, I think we would all be very content and very happy. The extra days have been great to us this summer. We’d like more of them in the future.”
I think it was a great thing that they did. I hope it continues. I think it’s good for the state. People say the fish are in trouble or are endangered or whatever. No one who goes out on the water believes that.’
Anglers rejoiced this season as they were able to fish for red snapper for longer than normal. Those interviewed this week said they hope the longer season continues into the future.
