Luring anglers with $20K bonus bait
Published 4:39 pm Sunday, July 1, 2018
Louisiana record for a barracuda is 50 pounds, caught by A.C. Mills in 1970.
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A $20,000 bonus is awaiting the lucky fisherman or fisherwoman who can catch a state-record barracuda in the upcoming Salty Catch Fishing Rodeo.
Tournament director Crystal LaFosse announced the addition, saying that the fisherman must also be wearing a Cajun Tackle shirt when making the catch.
The tournament runs July 20-22 with headquarters at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. Proceeds from the rodeo benefit St. Jude Children’s research hospital.
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It’s the third installment of the event which now kicks off the area’s saltwater fishing tournament season since the Southwest Louisiana Fishing Club canceled its Fourth of July rodeo this year. The Cameron Lions Club rodeo wraps up the local outings Aug. 3-4.
In regards to the prize for a state-record barracuda, it’s something that could be hard to come by since the Louisiana record is 50 pounds, caught by A.C. Mills in 1970.
LaFosse said the largest barracuda brought last year was a 25-pounder.
A note about barracudas is that the mature fish will usually be between 24 and 39 inches in length and weigh 5.5 to 19.8 pounds. Large specimens can exceed 4.9 feet in length and weigh more than 51 pounds. The world record caught on a rod and reel weighed 103 pounds and measured 5.6 feet.
LaFosse said Cajun Tackle shirts will be available when fishermen register.
The tournament director said every year the number of anglers fishing in the rodeo has grown.
“The projection is to have even more (fishermen) this year,” she noted. “Fishing has been good in the gulf this year so there should be some nice fish brought to the dock. Hopefully the weather holds up for the tournament.”
Although fishing will run for three days, weigh-in will only be on the final day (July 22) with the scales open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The award ceremony will begin at 3 p.m.
LaFosse said a number of large fish are expected to be weighed in. Last year the largest was a 156.5-pound grouper caught by Steve Nelson on the Full Nelson boat.
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Fishing categories and eligible fish this year in the tournament are:
Offshore — Tuna, dolphin, wahoo, grouper, cobia, barracuda, king mackerel, red snapper.
Inshore — Speckle trout, redfish, flounder, drum, catfish.
Spearfishing — Grouper, barracuda, mangrove snapper, cobia, king mackerel, red snapper .
Youth Ofshore — Red snapper, cobia, barracuda, king mackerel.
Youth Inshore — Speckle trout, redfish, flounder, croaker.
Guide — Speckle trout, redfish, flounder.
Billfish — Any billfish.
