2023 Flounder Season Set to Close
In its second year of enactment, the southern flounder season will be closed on October 15 and last until November 30. Within the 45-day span, no flounder will be permitted to be kept by anglers of any sector. The closure applies to all gear types, including any flounder caught as bycatch in any other fishery. Any flounder caught as bycatch on a shrimping trip is no longer applicable. Judging by the reports from fishermen, flounder numbers have improved since 2022 and look to improve with the help of the new regulation.
According to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the 7-year plan, which is in its second year, is necessary to attempt to recover the stock of Southern Flounder, which is overfished based on results from the most recent flounder stock assessment.
Polecat Bend Specks
With the changing conditions in south Louisiana, anglers are trying to figure out a fall pattern for speckled trout. Kevin DiMaggio of Ponchatoula made a trip and had trouble figuring out the trout until his last spot. “I hit the Trestles, Carr Drive canals, Hospital Wall, Miller’s Ditch,” he said. DiMaggio finally was able to catch specks when he wove his way into a set of canals in the marsh just west of Polecat Bend. “The water looked great back there. It was moving fast and we were able to pick up a mess of trout just before sunset,” he said. DiMaggio was using a shad-colored Hoodwink plastic made by Southern Salt. He rigged it two-three feet under a cork and was barely popping it. ‘They wanted it still for the most part. I guess the water movement alone was enough to make that lure move,” he said.
Lake Catherine Reds
Bo Davenport of Baton Rouge made a trip to Lake Catherine looking for some redfish and speckled trout. However, the strong winds forced him to stay protected along the western shoreline of Catherine. “The wind was nasty so we were forced to only fish protected shorelines,” he said. Davenport was able to catch a limit of redfish with a speckled trout, drum, sheepshead, and even a croaker by using a mixture of bait on the bottom and under a cork. “They weren’t picky today. Live shrimp, dead shrimp, crab claw, whatever we threw on the bottom or under a cork,” Davenport said.
Pogey Boat Update
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a notice of intent (NOI) creating a 1-mile coast-wide menhaden buffer zone that includes a special 3-mile buffer in areas of Cameron Parish. The NOI will go through a public comment period and be available for legislative oversight before officially becoming regulation. David Cresson with the Coastal Conservation Association of LA is optimistic about the momentum that he is seeing as far as being able to force the pogey boats further off the coast. “This was a very big step for our coast. We still have some work left to do, but this is very good news,” Cresson said.
Tournament Results
The Double Nickel Bass Club fished the East Pearl River and 24 boats showed up to fish a high river from the recent east winds. In the end, it was Ralph Williams who came out in first place with three fish weighing 6.019 pounds. Dave Purrdy came in second place with three fish weighing 5.952 pounds Purrdy also won second place in the big bass division with a 2.877-pound bass. In third place was James Harris with 4.321 pounds. Richard Allotto brought in the heaviest bass to win the big bass pot with a 2.987-pound bass.
Upcoming Tournaments
Pearl River Team Trails is holding its next tournament at Crawford’s Landing on October 14. For more information, please contact Charles Dauzat at 985-960-3260.
Liars and Lunkers will be holding their next tournament at the East Pearl River on October 29. For more information, please contact Chad Hartzog at 985-502-3217.
Serenity Baptist Church is holding a bass tournament at the Manchac Boat Launch on Nov. 4. There will be a $110 entry fee and $10 for a big bass pot. For more information, please contact Keith Wagner at 985-351-1656.
The Double Nickel Bass Club is holding its next tournament at the East Pearl River on October 17. For more information, please contact Dwain Crumby at 985-502-6006.
(Keith Lusher Jr. writes a weekly column. For more info, visit NorthshoreFishingReport.com. Contact Keith at keith@northshorefishingreport.com.)