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CAJUN COUNTRY
Nestled in
southeast Louisiana is Terrebonne Parish, which means "the good
earth" in French. It is a very literal name. Here in the
Mississippi River Delta is one of the world's richest estuaries,
which produces much of the seafood consumed across the country
-- shrimp, oysters, crabs and myriad fish. This abundance of
sea-life also fuels one of the greatest recreational fisheries
in the world. Terrebonne Parish is nearly 50 percent water,
providing seemingly endless fishing opportunities. Visit
southeast Louisiana and discover one of the last best-kept
fishing secrets.
FISHING AT ITS FINEST
Following
a summer of guiding in Montana, Capt. Marty returns to his
home-waters of Terrebonne Parish in October. The timing is perfect
for the sportsman looking for the best that southeast Louisiana has
to offer. The weather is beginning to cool, and the fishing is
heating up, especially for the BIG redfish … the breeders … the Bull
Reds …
While Capt. Marty specializes in fly fishing for these world-class
fighters, bait-cast and spin fishermen are also welcome.
Redfish, or red drum, spawn in late-summer/early-fall, when the bull
reds move into the marsh after spending the previous 8 months
offshore, and congregate in deep-water passes near the coastal
marshes. After spawning, the 20-, 30- and 40-plus pound bull reds
venture throughout the interior marshes in a post-spawn feeding
frenzy, which can last deep into December, heading back offshore
once the cold of winter sets in. The bull reds will travel in and
out of these coastal marshes throughout the year, but it's during
the spawn and post-spawn when they are most abundant in the
shallow-water marsh. Mixed in with these beasts are the juvenile
redfish that live in the marsh year-round, only adding to the
heart-pounding excitement of sight-casting to redfish of all sizes
in shallow water, and the adrenaline-pumping action of fighting
these bruisers on fly and light tackle.
It's
also in the fall that speckled sea trout, a.k.a. "specks," journey
into the marsh following their offshore summer spawn. Scores of
these silver-sided missiles can be found in and around the marshes
that are home to redfish.
Other species available in the same areas include flounder and
sheepshead, dubbed "Cajun permit," for its tough bite and tenacious
fight.
Black drum of all sizes also fill the same marshes. Like their
cousins, the red drum, the numbers of large black drum, also called
bulls, increases in the marsh during their spawn and post-spawn
period. Unlike the redfish spawn that happens in the fall, the bull
black drum spawn in the spring, approximately Feb. 15 to April 15.
During this time, scores of these brutes can also be sight-cast to
with flies and light tackle. As an
added bonus, bull reds will also be mixed in with the bull black
drum in the coastal marshes bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing at
this time can produce days filled with battling bull black and red
drum, testing the limits of fishermen and tackle.
TRIP COSTS
A day of fishing
costs $450 for 1 or 2 fishermen, and $500 for 3 fishermen. Cost
includes lunch and refreshments.
Clients are required to purchase a fishing license. A 3-day charter
pass, state license #79, valid only when fishing with a guide, is $5
and available at numerous retail outlets in the area. They can also
be purchased online from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries website.
GEAR
Rods
and reels, flies, tackle etc., are available for client use. For
those bringing their own gear, the following recommendations are
given.
For fly fishermen, 7- and 8-weight rods are recommended. Reels
should have a good drag system, and floating lines are needed for
shallow-water sight-fishing. Fly patterns and recipes are available
upon request.
For bait-cast/spin fishermen, a medium or medium/heavy rod is best,
matched with a reel with a good drag system. Spoons, spinners and
minnow patterns are best.
Marsh Madness clients fish from a 19-foot shallow-draft Bay Seaker
flats boat.
ACCOMMODATIONS / ATTRACTIONS
Southeast
Louisiana is the epicenter of Cajun culture, with a wide variety of
sightseeing adventures available. The region features arguably the
best cuisine on the planet, and is home to some of the nicest folk
you'll ever meet.
Instead
of trying to "re-invent the wheel" and attempting to list all of the
area's attractions, we recommend calling our local tourist
commission at (985) 868-2732. Or visit their website at
www.houmatravel.com, which
provides a vast amount of information on attractions, restaurants
and accommodations.
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