Alabama adds four new reefs to Mobile Bay

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Catch Cormier

What do you do with shoreline protection structure no longer needed? If it’s hard structure like concrete or wire cages, then one application is reefs. Oysters, barnacles, and many other crustaceans find this stuff to be great real estate… a good place to start a new home!

The Nature Conservancy teamed up with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mobile County, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the University of South Alabama and Alabama Gulf Seafood to repurpose material from a shoreline protection project to create four new reefs in Mobile Bay. Funds were obtained from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The cages used for shoreline protection had taken a beating and were no longer useful purpose. By relocating them to deeper areas – where they sit on the bottom – they serve as great habitat for oysters and other crustaceans. Which in turn, creates a hard-bottom reef attacting various species of fish.

The next phase of the project involved relocating concrete dome habitats. The structures were covered in mussels and oysters and will be used for an artifical reef near Dog River.

In addition to the four new reefs under construction, the Alabama Wildlife Federation purchased another $250,000 worth of rocks to use for two of the new reefs to enhance their oyster productivity.

It’s expected that within one year after completion, the reefs will begin to reach their full potential.   Click on the image above to see the location of the new reefs.

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Gulf Coast Classic website now up

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Catch Cormier

2023 Gulf Coast Classic
Friday-Saturday, May 5-6, 2023
Gulf State Park – Learning Campus
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Website:  www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com

Our inaugural Gulf Coast Classic fly fishing festival now has its own website.  Cohosted by Tail Magazine, this will be the largest fly fishing event on the Gulf Coast.  On the website are complete details about the event including:  admissions, schedule, sponsors, exhibitors, workshops, demonstration fly tiers, speakers and instructors, the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) taking place Saturday evening, the Classic Mixed Bag fishing contest, a map of the Learning Campus, and much more!

There are special opportunities for volunteers, demo fly tiers, speakers and instructors. Registration will be live shortly and details for those interested in making our event a success will be detailed in emails to GCC members and others who have contacted us with interest.

Again, bookmark the Classic site at www.ffigulfcoastclassic.com and visit often as updates will be posted routinely.

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LDWF asks anglers to complete Red Drum Management Survey

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Catch Cormier

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released an online web-based survey to gather public input on Red Drum (redfish) management options.

LDWF is exploring management options for redfish, which based on recent studies, is in jeopardy of being overfished. The survey is an additional effort to collect public input on management options.

LDWF’s most recent assessment of Red Drum back in December showed that while the spawning stock is still above limits, too few fish are surviving to join the offshore spawning population and that requires management changes. The juvenile portion of the Red Drum stock is measured through an “escapement” rate. Escapement is the percentage of redfish that pass through the fishery (only recreational, there is no commercial fishery for Red Drum in Louisiana) from inshore waters as juveniles and make it into the spawning stock offshore. The established escapement rate limit for management is 30%; Louisiana’s escapement rate is currently 20%, indicating too few redfish are surviving to make it offshore to spawn.

You can read more about the assessment, and what the FFI-GCC considers the best conservation-minded solution by going to our December 7th blog posting.

LDWF has compiled several management options. You can learn about these, as well as more details on the current status of redfish at this site:

https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hot-topic-red-drum

Go here to take the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TPKVLY2

Your participation in this survey is confidential. If you have any questions or comments regarding the survey, please direct them to Jack Isaacs at 225-765-2605 or jisaacs@wlf.la.gov.

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RSFF to celebrate 28th fly fishing festival

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Red Stick Day fly fishing festival
Saturday, March 4, 2023
8:30am to 3:00pm
LDWF Waddill Outdoor Education Center
4141 North Flannery Rd, Baton Rouge, LA

Hosted by the Red Stick Fly Fishers of Baton Rouge, Red Stick Day is one of the longest-running fly fishing festivals in the South celebrating it’s 28th anniversary. There’s seminars, fly tying demonstrations, casting instruction, food, loads of raffle items, and more. And best of all, admission is free!

The event will again be held at the LDWF Waddill Outdoors Education Center off North Flannery Road. The ponds on the premises are full of big bass and bluegill. In addition, Masseys Outfitters will be on hand with a variety of kayaks from Hobie, Native and other brands for folks to test paddle/pedal.

This year, thanks to the FFI Gulf Coast Council, the headliners will include three of the nation’s top casting instructors: Dave Barron of Wisconsin, Jeff Ferguson from Lafayette, and Jonathon Walter of Colorado. All three are also members of the FFI Casting Board of Governors. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about any type of casting, or improve your casting skills, this is a grand opportunity to learn from the best! Also on the agenda are programs by Brian Roberts and Dave Barron.

Over a dozen of the region’s top fly tiers will also be on hand to demonstrate their various flies, along with their favorite legacy patterns. There’s also a giant raffle and silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items, all to benefit the club’s educational projects.

Details about the event, including speaker and tier bios, schedule of activities, and more can be found by going to www.rsff.org and clicking on “Red Stick Day” in the menu.

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Alabama saltwater records fall in 2022

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Anglers fishing in Alabama coastal waters broke eleven state records for saltwater species in one year’s time, according to Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Two of those species were actually broken twice – sheepshead and permit.

Kendale Jeans landed a whopping 16 lb, 6.6 oz sheepshead just months after Kendale Jeans had set the state record with a 14 lb, 4 oz goat. Likewise, Patrick Willis landed an 8 lb, 2.4 oz permit just 10 months after Annalise Wilson set the record with 6 lb, 0.54 oz fish.

Other record fish include: Blackjack 13 lb 1.6 oz, Blackline Tilefish 1 lb 6.4 oz, Horse-eye Jack 30 lbs 4 oz, Jolthead Porgy 9 lbs 2.88 oz, Lizardfish 1 lb 11.2 oz, Red Cornetfish 2 lb 5.4 oz, Silvery John Dory 5 lb 0.28 oz.

While none of these fish were caught on fly, it demonstrates the variety of species and possible catches that can be made in Alabama coastal waters… and for the Mixed Bag Challenge taking place during our Gulf Coast Classic the first week in May.

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Fly Tying & Brews – A New Tradition

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Catch Cormier

Bugs and Beers posterDuring the pandemic, record numbers of new fly tiers emerged as folks took up hobbies to occupy their abundant spare time. Now in the post-pandemic era, these tiers are looking to establish social connections with fellow feather crafters in their area.

Growing in popularity across the country are casual fly tying gatherings where beer and snacks are involved. These are usually held monthly at local pubs, micro breweries, or locally-owned stores or shops, and are open to the public. There is no organized agenda. In some cases, a featured tier might demonstrate a pattern at the beginning of the event. But for the most part, everyone ties what they want. Attendees can tie, or watch other tiers tie a certain fly. Beginners can watch and learn tying techniques, or borrow one of the spare vises and tools and learn to tie a fly.

These casual “Tying+Beer” events appeal to a younger, more diverse crowd. This is important since statistics from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) show that fly fishing participation is at a record high for the age 25-40 demographic, women, Hispanics, and African-Americans.

Although most of these “Tying+Beer” events are not affiliated with local clubs, many are supported by the clubs. One club even provides pizza for the events! In a few cases, the local club will also substitute one or more of their monthly meetings with the Tying+Beer event.

Here in the Gulf Coast Council, there are currently three (3) open tying events.

  • Flies & Flights – Held the 3rd Wednesday of each month at Rally Cap Brewing Company in Baton Rouge, 7:00pm to close.
  • Acadiana Open Tying Night – Usually held the 4th week of the month at Pack & Paddle in Lafayette, 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
  • Bugs & Brews – Held 2nd Wednesday of each month at Skeeta Hawk Brewing in New Orleans. 6:30pm to close. Supported by the New Orleans Fly Fishers. This is a new event for 2023.

For our readers in southwest Georgia, there’s a similiar event in Albany. “Tie Down Wednesday” is held Wednesdays at 6:00pm at Pretoria Fields Collective.

If you know of any other similiar event within the Gulf Coast Council (or just outside our boundaries), please let us know. If you’re looking to startup a “Tying+Beer” event, we can put you in contact with organizers of existing events to help you get started.

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NOFFC releases Expo flyer, new website

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Catch Cormier

2023 New Orleans Fly Fishing Expo
Saturday, January 21st
8:00am to 3:30pm
St. Christopher the Martyr School Gymnasium
3900 Derbigny St, Metairie, LA
Free admission!

For a full size Expo Flyer, CLICK HERE

Hosted by the New Orleans Fly Fishers Club, this biennial event (every odd year) is a celebration of fly fishing, featuring all aspects of our sport. Whether you’re wanting to get into fly fishing, or a seasoned veteran, there’s a program or activity certainly to be of interest.

Activities will include fly casting seminars and demonstrations, fly tying instruction and demos, seminars and destination seminars, Sports Writers Roundtable, Iron Fly Tyer competition, auctions and raffles of top end products and flies, artists and vendors, and Kids Fly Fishing Casting and programs. Proceeds go to benefit the club’s educational and philantrophic initiatives.

NOFFC is the second oldest club in Louisiana, having formed in 1984 by Ted Cabali and Tom Jindra. For nearly four decades, the club has been a major contributor to the growth of saltwater fly fishing and fly tying in Louisiana, with several members well recognized in the regional and national fly tying community.

In preparation for the biennial expo, NOFFC has unveiled a new website. The domain remains the same, but there’s new content. Webmaster Wayne Schnell is still putting the final pieces together, but in addition to the latest club news and a more detailed “Calendar of Events”, the site will also include articles of interest to all fly anglers. Check it out at www.neworleansflyfishers.com.

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A kayak for Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Catch Cormier

This past Summer/Fall, the FFI Gulf Coast Council held our 2nd-ever kayak raffle. The prize was a Crescent Kayaks CK1 Venture, one of the hottest new fishing kayaks on the market. Made in the USA, it has received strong reviews for a hull design that optimizes speed, stability and tracking.  With thanks to all who participated, we were able to raise just over a thousand dollars for our conservation and education initiatives.

The drawing was conducted at Gulf State Park, site of our inaugural Gulf Coast Classic, coming up May 4-6. Witnesses included GCC President A.J. Rosenbohm, and GCC board members Donald Dehm, David Buckner, and Catch Cormier.

The winner was Hunter Wilson, of Mansfield, Texas. No sooner than Hunter mentioned to his wife that he’d won a kayak, she wanted one too! So he contacted Crescent and found out about their “factory seconds” sale. So the Wilsons not only got one, but two kayaks for Christmas – a CK1 in the popular Noreaster color and an UltraLite in the Dart color. What do they say about “the family that kayaks together”?.

A very special thank you to Crescent Kayaks for their support of the Gulf Coast Council, and also to Donald Dehm of Floating Feathers Kayak Fly Fishing School for his assistance. For more info about Crescent Kayaks, go to www.crescentkayaks.com.

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