Another tagged B.L. red wasted!
 

A Southwest Louisiana charter boat captain landed the second tagged redfish of the 2011 CCA Louisiana/Mercury Outboards STAR Tournament last Friday in Lake Charles.

Unfortunately for Capt. Clay LeMaire of DC’s Charters in Big Lake, registered charter captains are not eligible for the top prizes awarded for tagged redfish caught during the 101-day mega-tournament.

That means the first registered angler to land a tagged redfish will still win a Chevy Silverado pickup truck worth more than $30,000.

LeMaire landed the coveted CCA-tagged redfish, one of 50 released off the Louisiana coast, last Friday. He caught the fish in shallow water near Old River on a popping cork and live shrimp. LeMaire quickly attempted to revive and release the fish, but it did not survive.

Come on man as soon as he saw that he should've released it

When did he try to release it?

That's what i would like to know. Was it after it had been in the icechest.

This negative crap needs to stop!!!
I know clay personally and he called me while trying to release the red... It swallowed the hood deep and he tried to remove it with out hurting the fish...the red was just over 16inchs and you don't have much to work with on a small fish!

This is why he did not want to turn it in due to people saying something negative! 1st its not his fault CCA don't let them participate in STAR... He did the best to revive the fish! I would just roll belly up!
So he did the right thing by reporting the tag!!! So unless you catch the tagged red don't bash or assume something you don't know anything about
So don't bash a guy who did everything right!

fine one to talk about bashing.........

Anyway you look at it ,its still a shame .

If you can't win with it, you might as well eat it.
If you caught it, it's your fish. I eat my fish.

Why is it a shame? Because a Guide caught it? Or because he is not allowed to fish the STAR? Or that there is only 8 left in Big Lake? Or you didn't catch it?

Its just frustration more than anything, nothing personal. Its just that theres a lot of people that really want to catch one of these reds and its just sad to see your already slim chances of catching one reduced even more.

The only one to blame is the STAR.... A capt can be a CCA Member but can't fish any events which is total crap if you ask me!

And Ray is right...it was his fish.

I, for one, would like to commend him for at least trying to release the fish. Every other "angler" would kill it, snap photos and grill it.

Sounds like he did what he could to save the fish. It's a shame the fish died but that's all it is, a shame.

No laws were broken.

Sent from my EVO

Yes because a guide caught it who isnt allowed to win. Then he tried to release it but it died anyway .And last he is catching hell over it. There was nothing negative about my statement towards him or guides . And yes it would be nice if I had caught it ,wouldnt you have enjoyed it yourself ,or is your ego to big admit that....

I would love to catch a tag red... That would pay my boat off!! That's why I fish the STAR! I think. Everyone who throws a line in saltwater should fish the STAR!

I agree with that .Now lets go fishing.

I'm working....I get moody when I can't fish

I bought a new truck instead of paying off my boat.

I see that . I get moody cause I dont have a boat to fish this year. So I gotta catch a tagged red from the bank so I can get a boat to go fish.

Fixed it for you! ;)

Lets just say there is 1 less to catch this year. :cool:

It is shamed he couldnt revive it He tried--good for him

theres eight left in big lake? Where did you find that out? I'd like to know how many were released in what ares

You can only do so much when shat like that happens, sucks for us but hey it's life just got to deal with it. Glad he made an attempt to release it and then report it

i say let the guides fish it to.granted he fishes more than most but if he pays entry fee then he should be able.so u tell me u have a tourny and a group of guys hires a guide to fish a few days before and go and win tourny their is no differance.u pay u should be able to play.

It's sad guides contribute more to cca than anybody in the state and get nothing in return but negative comments like this

Bingo. We have a winning statement.

now THAT is funny! :rotfl:

Bosshog you are right!!! I have always been in favor of letting guides fish the STAR and Shootout.......So many people get nervous when you say a guide is fishing an event! What the don't know is guides are not going catch big fish everyday....they are trying to get a limit of fish!

I've pushed for a Guide's Division in STAR, something to reward them for their time on the water. Boss hog is right. Guides do a ton of work for CCA! I commend the Capt. for trying to revive it. Not much else he could do. If you release fish alot, you run into these problems with reviving a fish.

And yes, only about 8 left in Big Lake. Usually release about 10 per area for 50 total statewide.

IMO, there should be a guide's division also. I agree with the rule that they are not allowed to compete with everyone.

I apoloize for any negative comments i may have made i know a bunch of guides it's just i like to see someone win this stuff. And w you're right they're just wanting to catch a limit for their customers, but these guys work hard to make a living and i respect them, cause i've done it before.

There was a kid fishing with a guide that caught a tagged Red last week.
Guides are just on the water a lot, and there are a lot of guides on Big Lake.
They are earning a living, just like us, but have a lot more fun doing it.
I treat them just like any other fisherman. No reason not to.

x 2

I just got my charter license not too long ago and now I'm ineligible for the star. Fished it my whole life. I fished just as much before I got my charter license as I do now. Just because someone is a guide doesn't mean they have an unfair advantage of winning the tournament. There are people out there who have enough time to fish just as much as a lot of guides and who are just as knowledgeable. I know from experience lol, hence the charter license now! Yes, there are some guides who know more than others and may be better at targeting a certain type of fish, such as a big trout, but that doesn't mean they go out and catch 10 pounders every day. It doesn't mean they have a tagged redfish locator on their boat. So I think the whole thing about not letting guides participate in the star is a little off. The CCA and Star tournament are both for a great cause, and in my opinion, the more participants the better. I believe that anyone who pays and wants to play should be able to because it is all in support of our beautiful state. At the least, having a guide division is something that I think is completely reasonable. I think all the guides would pay to be in it since it is their livelihood, and in turn only brings in more dough for CCA and for support of our Louisiana fisheries. Anyway, I just wanted to share my two cents since I won't be signing up for the star tournament anymore :(

Why should they not compete with others............I fish just as many days as a guide....I dont have Capt in front of my name but im on the water 110-20 days a year
I also know alot of guys like me who just fish....so why is a charter capt any different?

Just because you have your caption licenses does not make you ineligible for the STAR....

As long as you dont guide for money you can fish.....They have lots of guys who have Capt License who fish the STAR

I've fished the star while only having my captains license - I know that doesn't make you ineligible. A captains license has nothing to do with fishing. Only after I purchased my charter license from LDWF (so I can guide for paying customers) did I become ineligible.

Agreed!