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NOAA Re-opens More Federal Waters to Commercial and Recreational Fishing

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Effective September 2, 2010 at 6 p.m. eastern time (5 p.m. central time), NOAA will reopen 5,130 square miles (8,256 sq km) of area it had previously closed to commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico in response to the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The area off the Florida panhandle that was previously open only for finfish, is now open for all fishing.

The area closed to all fishing now measures 43,000 sq mi (111,369 sq km) and covers about 18% of the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone. All commercial and recreational fishing including catch and release is prohibited in this closed area. Transit through the closed area is allowed. NOAA will continue to evaluate the need for fisheries closures based on the evolving nature of the spill and will re-open closed areas as appropriate.

Click here to read the entire bulletin.

Calcasieu Lake produces 2010 STAR’s first tagged redfish

Ten years of STAR tournament entries pay off for Lake Charles angler

Andrew Meche celebrates his prize-winning fish with friends.

Andrew Meche made the same joke for years every time he or one of his fishing buddies flipped a nice-sized redfish in the boat.

“I’d always say ‘hey man, look at that tag,’ joking around that it was one of the tagged CCA STAR Tournament fish,” he said.

But on an afternoon fishing trip to the Calcasieu Ship Channel with his cousin and a buddy on a late August afternoon, Meche flipped a 17-inch redfish into the boat and no joke was needed. A close examination of the flopping fish revealed a red, algae-covered tag protruding from the fish’s back.

Meche and his fishing buddies then realized he had just become the first STAR registered angler in 2010 to land one of more than 50+ specially-tagged redfish released across Louisiana’s coast.

Pandemonium ensued as the trio realized Meche would soon be the proud owner of a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado for his catch.

“I don’t know how any of the guys working on the rigs along the ship channel got any more work done we were yelling so loudly and celebrating so much,” he said. “My cousin even stripped out of his clothes and did a back flip off the front deck of the boat he was so excited. I have fished the STAR ever since I can remember but I never guessed that something like this would happen to me. It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

The CCA-Louisiana/Mercury Outboards STAR (Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo) is the longest and richest saltwater fishing tournament in the state, offering more than $500,000 in prizes for registered anglers including a new Chevrolet Silverado, new Harley-Davidson motorcycle, as many as 17 boat packages rigged with Mercury Outboards, fishing trips to Mexico and South Florida and four $2,500 offshore tackle packages.

Normally, STAR runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day each summer. But, this year, tournament organizers pushed back the start date to July 1 and the end date to October 3 to give South Louisiana time to recover from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. That strategy has proven wise as all of Louisiana’s territorial coastal waters, much of which were closed at times from early may until mid July, were opened to recreational fishing on August 20. The federal government continues to open more offshore waters as well, increasing the opportunities for STAR-registered anglers to catch big fish in the Mangrove Snapper, Lemonfish, Dorado and King Mackerel Divisions.

STAR Director Sam Barbera said this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most unique and best ever. Kids compete for free (complements of Cabela’s) and for the first time tournament anglers can take advantage terrific late summer and early fall fishing.

“It makes us all happy that a guy like Andrew, who has participated in the tournament for many years is the first angler registered for this year’s tournament to catch tagged redfish,” Barbera said. “Andrew gets to drive away in a brand-new Chevy provided by four dealers that have been with us for 16 years. Billy Navarre in Lake Charles, Service in Lafayette, Gerry Lane in Baton Rouge and Banner in New Orleans sponsor the Chevrolet prize. The next registered angler to catch a tagged redfish drives away on a new Harley Davidson from Harley of Baton Rouge. Eight more Mako/Mercury/McClain bay boat packages are up for grabs with over a month remaining in STAR.”