Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefman
Right you are W; however, look at what they're catching and how they're catching. Juvenile to maybe 14 inch fish. Guides reluctant to leave landing without live shrimp. Trout that haven't reached spawning age. It's a numbers game as you well know. I'll take 10 fish from BL or VB anyday over what the 25 they catch east of here. Do we really need to be catching 100 trout a day to call it a successful trip. Those guides might be catching a bunch now but look at the other 99.99% of fishermen in those same waters. They're not catching those numbers today like they did years ago.
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Reefman, you seem like a very knowledgeable sportsman, but not all people on the eastside catch small fish!!! and no it does not take livebait to catch bruiser trout! I will agree that 90% off the guides are leaving the dock with live, but some do not and are very sucessfull with out. I personaly fish live at times, but stick with the plastic until they dont want it anymore. Lake P holds big fish 100% of the year, grand isle jetties, and camanada pass hold 3-5lb trout in june/july, spring and fall hold solid 16-22 in fish in delecroix/hopedale, Buris/Empire has georgous fish in the early summer months up to 7lb's, venice has fallen off the last 3 years for size, and they had a rough summer, but banner fall. I personally caught 2-4lb fish in venice this year in oct./nov. on arty. more than 20 times during begining duck season. the beaches of portsulfur/empire are know for 2-4 pound trout in late spring all on arty. with fish as big as the occasional 5-7 being landed. Breton sound is mule trout stomping grounds for the better part of the summer. I could go on, but it already seems like a rant. Vermillion and Big lake obviously are 2 of the states better ponds to catch quality fish in, but the east side is a far cry larger with more area to catch small fish. Few captains in the east side marshes actually target big fish, and the select few do. Most are looking for the numbers to see smiles and repeat service. I like the size more than the numbers myself, but sometimes have to settle for the smaller fish wich is a plus because they eat better. Yes I do belive there are fewer fish than 20-30yrs ago, because in my short 32yrs ive seen it. I grew up fishing where the STAR rodeo fish was caught this past year. My family had a camp on the rigoletts for many years and i cut my teeth fishing that very same spot. I can also remember as a little man always catching fish when we went, and for the life of me I can not remember all the damn people fishing that are today. My father has a photo album of his father and uncle's and his three brothers with endless amounts of fish 30 plus years ago.
Maybe the change will be for the best, maybe not, but I feel the fishing is still exactly the same as it has been in the east for the last 10 yrs.
I'll leave it at this i have targeted Barataria bay a lot in the last 7-10 yrs, and witnessed the worst of the oil spills impact first hand every day for 120 days+, I was out there every day for a long time. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagned the estuary and fishing to bounce back the way it did. I caught more fish last year out there than any other year in the last 10. The fish are healthy, and still taste good, and I still only have 3 legs
Please excuse me for the poor gramar this fith of crown reserve is making me feel funny
Cheers!