CCA Meeting @ Casa Maniana @ 5:30 today
 

For everyone who's a CCA member on here and *****es about CCA. I myself am skeptical of the Association and what they do with all the money. So, I'm going to see for myself and ask questions and bring up topics and concerns I've seen raised on this site. I encourage any and everybody who pays money every year for the STAR to show up and voice your concerns as well. Can't ***** about the President if you didn't vote, and you can't ***** about CCA if you don't go the meetings and speak up.

Or post what you'd like brought up, and I'll voice some of those things myself. I just remember a lot of talking going on last year around the time the STAR kicked off.

Lol

We have other programs who have more balls than CCA

CCA has done Zero to stop oyster dredging , Zero to stop erosion , Zero to help in any way on Lake Calcasieu

They did do a Sunshine pumpers 500K reef that was donated for free ?

I will pay Into the CCA when they pay into us !!

Until then screw em !!

Stopped supporting CCA when a guy in a Z71 with a CCA sticker ran over my neighbor's silver lab. Also stopped supporting Costa del Mar and Ducks Unlimited because he had those stickers also. Never woulda bought a Chevy anyways because GM should be called ObamaMotors but that sealed it for me. Had Yeti stickers on that Z71 too, but I ain't trying to pay $500 for an icechest I can buy a whole buncha ice for that and beer too.

^^^ hahaha

Hey. At least CCA got restrictions put on 3tail with no science needed.

And 15 trout limit with zero science

WHAT programs are you referring to?

Prepare to be ignored and have the subject changed. What happened to me when i started asking questions they didn't want to answer.

Ask about the itemized bill for the Brad Vincent reef that cost 500k and materials were all donated

Cool Im in.

W

Do U Really think that Every oz. of engineering to find a place for that reef, of Rock, and Equipment to get it there, then place it on the exact Coordinates was all DONE FOR FREE???

I'll bet that reef is silting over already. Should have used that rock to start a levee rebuild at washout. Choke the flow down to the lake.

Let me break it down for you as I have very good friends in the rock business and spoke to them

For me to get a 40ft barge , small tug, excavator for 7 days would not coast anywhere near half million dollars

The material was delivered for free and given for free

Only cost CCA had was hiring brother n law to jack up stupid price for free money and it's a win win

You get sunshine pumpers in the news papers


Where the hell is the CCA when we have freaken 100 oyster boats raping west cove year after year with ZERO reseeding ???

CCA will not touch this because of Politics !! Bottom freaken line so don't start defending the CCA unless you have some facts to back it up

Says the scientist.

LDWF biologists said there was no science

Big problems at Big Lake?
Trout anglers could face new restrictions in southwest Louisiana

By AL ROGERS
RodnReel.com
BATON ROUGE, La. - A proposal to lower daily recreational fishing limits on spotted seatrout from 25 to 15 fish in a southwest Louisiana region will be discussed and likely voted on Thursday morning by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (DWF) Commission.

The seven-member gubernatorial-appointed panel will consider issuing an official Notice of Intent at DWF headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive at 9:30 a.m. The board will hear a presentation by state biologists as well as opinions and concerns from anglers and guides in the Lake Calcasieu or Big Lake area, the region where the regulations are being proposed. The proposal comes in the wake of an unprecedented ruling by the commission last spring that restricted anglers here from harvesting only two speckled trout per person, per day, larger than 25 inches.

Proponents claim the initiative is a conservation effort intended to improve what they see as a declining fishery south of Lake Charles. For generations this area has been regarded as one of the top trophy trout estuaries on the northern Gulf Coast. However, in recent years some guides and anglers say the fishing here is only a glimmer of what it once was. The guides joined forces with Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) - Louisiana and allies on the DWF commission to help bring the measure to a vote.

If the resolution passes by a majority vote it will then be subject to a 120-day public comment period before DWF commissioners make a final decision.

Meanwhile, some of the top marine fisheries scholars on the Gulf Coast claim that there is nothing to indicate that anything is wrong at Big Lake. In addition, some sources with the DWF claim that the initiative is more about public opinion and politics, rather than biology or fisheries science.

"We're not seeing any problems with trout in that area," said Harry Blanchet, finfish program manager with the DWF. "We're not seeing any declines in biomass or the abundance of speckled trout in Lake Calcasieu."

Two of the most outspoken proponents of the new regulations are DWF commissioners Henry Mouton of Lafayette and Fred Miller of Shreveport. Both Mouton and Miller have served as presidents of CCA-Louisiana. Mouton said he believes the vast majority of guides and anglers in southwest Louisiana are behind the measure.

"Last spring I starting getting calls from guides like Capt. Buddy Oakes with Hackberry Rod & Gun Club and Capt. Eric Rue with Calcasieu Charters," Mouton said Tuesday. "Then I started to talk to a lot of the recreationals who told me that the lake has changed dramatically."

Mouton, who describes himself as a staunch CCA supporter, said polls conducted by the conservation association indicated that more than 70 percent of recreational anglers and guides in the Lake Charles area supported reducing the limit from 25 to 15 speckled trout. Louisiana's limit was reduced to 25 per person per day in 1988. The newly formed Gulf Coast Conservation Association (GCCA), which later became part of the CCA, was influential in the change.

In a report posted on RodnReel.com on Jan. 4, Mouton wrote, "it was not CCA that asked that this issue be brought forward, it was hundreds of recreational fishermen that fish Big Lake." The 26-year member of CCA said he began to realize the concern of anglers after holding a series of meetings since last spring. In his report Mouton said: "Most (anglers) wanted to go to 10 to 12 fish - but I think 15 fish is a fair number."

He said only the southwestern region was being targeted for the new regulations - for now.

"I will tell you that I have had calls from many fishermen and guides that fish southeast Louisiana asking me to reduce the limits statewide," Mouton added in his report. "But that is NOT something we are looking at doing at this time."

RodnReel.com publisher Mike Lane questioned the practice of using public opinion to manage Louisiana's inland and coastal fisheries.

"Is this not a dangerous precedent?" Lane asked. "It doesn't make good sense to strip the control from our scientists and to take our directives from public opinion."

And not all veteran guides in the Big Lake area are in support of the resolution.

"We're opposed to it," said Capt. Mary Poe, who co-owns Big Lake Guide Service. "There's no science behind it. And they're saying they're doing this in the name of conservation. We're catching more fish now in the lake that we ever have."

Poe suggested that efforts should be focused on more important issues, such as removing dangerous debris from the lake left by Hurricane Rita.

"Look, I've been one of the biggest proponents of CCA for years but this issue is a little one-sided," Poe said. "There are a handful of people trying to push this through and much of it was done very secretively. And the data is skewed. That poll they're talking about was taken by 1,000 members of CCA."

Louisiana still has some of the most liberal bag limits of speckled trout along the Gulf Coast. If the 15 fish limit becomes law in southwest Louisiana it would still be five more than the 10 that can legally be harvested, per day, per angler, in Texas.

"A lot of this came from the younger guys in CCA," Mouton said. "They said 'we've heard a lot about the great old days when you could catch several ice chests of fish.' Now a lot of the guides are struggling to catch their limits."

Few would argue that Big Lake is overfished with many anglers arriving from neighboring Texas, and states throughout the southeastern United States. Oakes, a veteran guide on Big Lake, estimates that more than 80 percent of his fishing business comes from the east - mostly Texas clients.

However Poe said that most of her clients are from Louisiana. And if new limits are imposed she claims she would lose customers who will go to other parts of the state where the 25-trout bag limit would remain unchanged.

"We'd be all for it if it were statewide," Poe said. "But to restrict one part of the state is not fair. I don't think this has anything at all to do with conservation."

On Tuesday afternoon Blanchet, was preparing a presentation for Thursday's commission meeting. While he wouldn't comment on anything outside the realm of science, he admitted that fisheries management can often be a delicate "juggling act" between social and economic issues.

Other experts say because our fisheries are managed for the people, public opinion often dictates management styles.

"We live in a democracy," said Randy Pausina, DWF biologist. "If that's what the majority of the people want - and it's not going to have a negative impact on the fisheries, they can bring it to the commission for a decision.

The bottom line is that if the new limits go into effect there will be more fish in the water. And Blanchet said that's not necessarily a bad thing. However, he warned: "With no harvest there are no benefits."

Blanchet's presentation will likely point to natural mortality rates, which is especially high among the younger, spawning speckled trout.

"It's certainly not going to destroy the species if you reduce the total harvest," he said. "This species (Cynoscion nebulosus) has lived for thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands of years before (humans) began harvesting them"

Meanwhile, Mouton said he would still support the change - even if the biologists claim the creel reduction will have little or no impact on the fishery in Lake Calcasieu.

"I would still want to go forward with it," Mouton said. "We've got some great biologists here. But (marine biology) is not an inexact science."

Much of the uproar has come guides and anglers who claim that fewer trophy trout are being caught. But the academics say big trout are cyclical, and we are now reaching the end of a trophy trout cycle, or run. Many of these wallhangers began began their life cycles in banner recruitment years that were spawned by optimum growing conditions from 1998 to 2000.

"During (that period) there was a drought," Blanchet said. "There was warm water, very dry conditions and high salinities."

From a scientific stance, biologists remain uncertain if the new regulation will ultimately increase stocks of speckled trout off the Louisiana coast. But they are sure of one thing - it certainly will not hurt.

Biological observations

Biologists don’t see a problem with the trout population in Calcasieu Lake. They said that anglers might catch fewer specks because fish simply don’t bite occasionally or they move to find better food, temperatures or water conditions.

“The speckled trout population in the Calcasieu Estuary is healthy,” said Mike Harbison, a biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in Lake Charles. “I don’t see a biological need to change the limit. We are finding fish in our sampling. If something is not broken, why fix it?”

Trout spawn from April through September with the peak in June, Harbison said. A speck reaches sexual maturity after one year. One large trout can produce 1.65 million eggs in a spawning season.

A trout may live 13 years, but most die before they live one year. More than 90 percent of trout die before they live four years. About four percent reach 25 inches long. One percent reaches 26 inches. Natural mortality from predators or other environmental factors take 66 percent of the trout regardless of fishing pressure. If the state banned fishing entirely, that percentage will not change, Harbison said.

“If we dropped the limit to 15 fish per day, we’ll only save about 14 percent of the fish caught now,” Harbison said. “If we go down to 10 fish per day, we’ll save about 29 percent of the fish now caught and kept. To make any significant changes, we’ll have to go to eight fish per day or less.”

W, Has CCA in your opinion ever done anything worthwhile? Anywhere? Or is it just a big lake thing for you. Curious?

CCA has done good in other places and they are a good organization that have a good goal

I think they are scared of politics over here at Big Lake , they rather satisfy people like Will Drost and HRG by lowering trout limits and putting restrictions on 3tail

But ignore the real issues we have like Oyster dredging , erosion and weirs


They fight the easy battles as I stated above but ignore the real problems here !!!


They will not touch the oyster dredging due to politics and money !!!



Don't worry in about 4 more years we will have zero legal oysters in west cove so they will be forced to close for 10 years

Gotcha now I understand your point.

Did you speak up? What happened?

CCA does a good job with restoration projects in TX, where most of the money gets spent. They've funded some good studies and done some quality oyster reef restorations in Galveston Bay.

But they bring a TX regulatory mindset to LA, thinking more restrictive harvest regulations are always a good idea, regardless of what the science says.

They will have ZERO credibility in LA until they push hard to roll back the unscientific regulations on tripletail (statewide) and specks in Big Lake.

Do they do more on the east side of the state or vermillion bay?

Like Mathgeek said , you lose credibly when you buck the biologists and scientist to push a limit where it's not needed

I was told from the mouth of CCA president when I asked him why the CCA backed the 15 trout limit

His exact words to me were ; Because it was the right thing to do !

So in other words as the reports I posted on this thread ! It was what HRG and Will Drost (he wanted 10) wanted plus they used a survey of 1000 "CCA members " (awesome research )


CCA should of said to Henry ... No the CCA will not go against our state biologist and there research ! Until they tell us other wise we support the. 25 trout limit


Because most of guides at some charters can't catch limits they believe there is no fish !! Lol

I have zero problems catching limits all the time!

Lobbying for unscientific fishing regulations has impacted the whole state, and the whole state is at continued risk of calls for lower trout limits in the future, even though the fishery says the trout stocks are fine. The unscientific imposition of the tripletail limit is also state wide.

Sure, they've put in a few artificial reefs on the E side, but oyster reefs enhance production by providing a wide variety of ecosystem services. Artificial reefs in most areas of LA will just serve to attract trout so they are more easily caught. CCA knows this well, which is why TX gets the oyster reefs.

They've also got 12 employees with salaries over $100k, all TX residents. CCA Louisiana is a shell game to fleece gullible anglers and bring the bacon home to TX.

Thanks for the info. Never really understood. They have marketing down to a science. Didn't know 12 employees making over 100K. Not a bad gig.

Matt Geek..

U SIR are Definitely Misguided in your thinking.. U think A NON-PROFIT has Employees making 100K each.

Dude! U smoking some great Shizzzzt.

U make accusations about employee's making 100K herein LA. Show EVERYONE on here that ONE CCA LA employee makes 100K.

Each state has its' own employee's. At one time last yr CCA LA. had about 18,000 member's. The most it's ever had.

Membership fee is $25 per member. The other $30 of your $55 yrly membership is used to pay for the meals at a banquet. And Before U say meals don't cost $30... Go get a quote from a caterer.. U think all that liquor is free??? Beer Free? Don't think so.. All the trips and auction items free??? Yes some stuff IS donated, but not all...

Yes; It cost to rent the Place for a Banquet.. Do U think the Burton Coliseum is FREE???

U think the Sherriff deputies who provide security are free??? Don't Think SO.. There are life members that give a ONE Time fee of 1K.

But lets say for shiz and giggles, Lets do the SIMPLE MATH. 18,000 members X $25= That's only $450,000. Unless my Iphone 6 calculator doesn't add correctly..

CCA LA. has about 10 employees in the BR Office... Hardly enough to pay them 45K each.. Plus they have office space to pay for, phones, postage, electricity, insurance... etc etc.

So PLEASE lets see YOUR PROOF that anyone from CCA LA. make 100K each. Ain't happening..

Again this is simple math.. My figures May be off about 10-20K.. But that's it.. So Instead of B***hing.. Get involved to advocate CHANGE....

Had a guy that works for N***, a nonprofit, tell me that N*** has a base salary for its positions, and then goes out and gets grants that also help fund that position. He said that is how you get positions that pay close to $90k.

Not to hard to imagine that CCA does the same thing.

By the way, NFL is a nonprofit. Do you really believe Goodell isn't making $100k?

Just because its a "nonprofit" doesn't mean some employees aren't making out well.

Don't know how reputable this website is, but it reports David Cresson's salary at over $200k.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...9#.VQjdFaX0DqA

The form 990 from 2012 also indicates he made over $230k.

That same form 990 indicates that $120k of it was Base, another nearly $90k was a "bonus".

what about the star entry fee and all the money donated AT the banquets Have you noticed what the star prizes are now compared to 10 years ago? Now compare the LA Star Prizes to the TX Star Prizes. If there is more members, donating more money, shouldnt the prizes be getting better?

Not to mention the money donated from outside sources by big companies like Chevron.

MY GOD poor the Kool Aid out

I have a free all inclusive fishing trip for you to prove that David C makes less than 100k a year !!

I know personally he makes over 100k so if you can prove to me he don't !! I'll take anyone u like fishing for free

Also, Rad Trascher is on that list at over $100k.

Biggun
How about you tell us why the CCA went against science to support the 15 trout limt? Or 3tail restrictions ?
Or why they will not help us on oyster dredging


You attack MG but I bet you will not answer my questions !

Because the head CCA WILL not answer my questions because they have no answers

Last year CCA's Form 990 was posted here showing 12 employees making over $100k. Lots of non-profits are shell games for overpaid employees, and it looks like CCA is among them.

I am involved. I am one of the leaders of the "Boycott the S.T.A.R." movement. I've been to several LWC meetings advocating for improved science for Big Lake, advocating oyster restoration, and advocating for science based regulations. I also organized a letter writing campaign advocating for sound science before changing the tripletail regulations. My son and I are also active in the LA TAG fish tagging program.

Further, I am a participant in a Big Lake centered annual creel survey program that has measured and weighed over 1000 fish over the past four years and correlated fish condition with various factors including oyster stocks and weir openings. We approached CCA several years back hoping to work together on the scientific goals, but they refused to even correspond with about the project.

CCA is not about science it's about "feel good"

Big Lake area it's what Will Drost and HRG think

Poor people with out deep pockets that spend hours on the lake have zero say so !

Unless your a gold lifetime CCA member or have millions of dollars to donate your voice is silent !!

CCA use to be a good thing but now it's ran by frat boys with deep pocket !!

Big gun let me break it down for you

If a geologist or scientist come to you and says Mr you have 20-30!years worth of oil reserves on your land , we think you should drill

Or you have Oprah Show up and say MR bIggun you don't need to drill were telling you there is no oil down there ! Here is a car and $300,000 let's go play golf


Would you take Oprah word of Geologist ?

^Oprah plays golf? Lol.

Got me pissed tonight

Hate when a CCA sunshine pumper comes here can can't back one thing up !!!

Bring hard facts and they either leave site or go silent !!

I will donate $1000 or hell more if CCA fights to stop oyster dredging !! I will become life member !!
You can bookmark this !!

W, Thanks for your efforts to lower the salinity in Big Lake. There is some great stuff going on there with tremendous potential. Keep up the good work, it would be awesome to see this happen. It won't just allow the weirs to be open more days per year, but the lower salinity would also help the oyster reefs come back on the E side.

That lake is my passion and I want the best for everyone to enjoy it , if I had the money I would fix it myself !

The ones who do have the money have other agendas elsewhere !

We have billions of dollars come up and down that ship channel each year and we can't stop land erosion !!

We need a tax on all companies using the channel to help restore the land back !!

Word on the street is that CCA is making a move toward more restrictive flounder regulations, with a focus on Big Lake.

No science behind this push, just the usual jealousy and basic argument that "lower limits won't hurt and they will probably help."

In all our surveys, we saw a lot more flounder in 2014 than previous years. The flounder look pretty good by all the available data.

I'm sure ! I can see it now !!


Follow Texas ; only two flounder in Nov lmao

Don't think they are that stupid to even try it !


If CCA backs that I promise I can raise enough money on this site to place Billboards down I-10 with a list of non science used by CCA to boycott STAR

Post the 990 With the Figures for all to see.

W .. U telling me it wasn't your former Senator from Jennings who help pass the bill that allows oyster dredging in BL and West Cove??? It also had to pass the house and senate before it became law.

It wasn't a bill passed by the legislator to make Lake P. in the East, and BL in the West a designated Trophy Lakes and bring the limit down????

I DO agree with U about the Oyster dredging. I remember when only hand tonging was allowed. 20 sacks per person with a permit.

U all claim CCA is to BLAME for everything that Happens ON BL... I 'm saying no it's not..


I would say that over the yrs, dredging the channel deeper and deeper to allow bigger ships to enter, to go to the port and plants, has not helped the lake.. Storms and winds have caused erosion..

I'm saying Get involved.. Be part of a solution.. CCA is NOT PERFECT.. I don't agree with everything they do.. But until a better organization comes along, I'll support CCA.

Everyone on here has the right to express their opinions. U have expressed Ur's.. I've expressed mine..

Being part of the solution begins with boycotting CCA and the STAR.

CCA is part of the problem. They are about politics, power, and money rather than data driven science, meaningful restoration, and habitat protection.

Oyster dredging was pushed by another individual ( Think Sammy Faulk ) not 100% on that


But 15 trout limit was pushed by CCA and supported by CCA !!

And why? Tell me why CCA went against Biologist to support a creel reduction ?

CCA also cut 3tail regulations with no science to back it. Also tried to ban bowfishing for redfish back in 2010

Attachment 84171

Here is 2011's 990. Check out pages 30 and 39. I already had this one saved on my computer. I can try and find more current ones later, but I wouldn't imagine their compensation dropped since then. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that people are making over $100k in the organization. Successfully running a NFP is a tough job that takes some talent, and talent cost. I'm just supplying the requested information.

Matt, Math Geek and W.

David Cresson is the only one listed in those names. He is the ONLY ONE who works for CCA LA.

The other names .. DO NOT WORK FOR CCA LA.... Some may BE directors in other states. Some may be with NATIONAL CCA.. I don't Know. I Don't CARE.

I would GUESS that Most NFP organizations pay there Directors well. DU? DELTA WATERFOWL??


Again What does this prove??? That all the money goes to employees??? Nooo.



W.

The Oyster Dredging. I can remember that Oyster people were boycotting and standing in Blake Morrish's Office parking lot for days on end .. He either Authored the bill or help pass the bill to allow dredging by boat on BL.. It was all over the LOCAL NEWS.

That's LA WLF fault that the dredgers are not more regulated. They give out the permits for leases. Come over to Vemilion bay. We never had oyster boats on Ancient natural reef's outside of SW pass until After Katrina and the oil spill. I'll show U reefs that have been there for decades.. NOW ARE HARDLY NOTHING.

.....