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Lady angler lands S.T.A.R. redfish and wins 22-foot boat rig E-mail
Betty Ellender had been crossing her fingers for five years.

She and her husband Herman love to fish together for speckled trout and redfish on Lake Calcasieu. Every time the line would stretch and the rod would bend over their countless trips since the millennium turned, she hoped the fish on the other end would win them a boat in the CCA Louisiana/ Mercury Outboards S.T.A.R.

About 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug 23, she uncrossed her fingers and used them to dial the telephone to call everyone she knows and tell them the news she had become the first registered angler to catch a specially-tagged redfish in the 2005 S.T.A.R. (Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo)

“My husband and I were fishing the south end of the ship channel at Calcasieu catching some nice redfish,” she said. “He had flipped two over the side of the boat and then I landed one and said ‘I guess that one doesn’t have a tag in it either.’ He said, ‘Guess again.’”

The tag-bearing redfish Ellender landed was one of 50 released across Louisiana’s coast prior to the beginning of the S.T.A.R. on Memorial Day weekend. The first 10 registered anglers who catch a specially-tagged redfish win a 2005 220 Fishmaster Boat powered by a 150 horsepower Mercury Outboard. Three other anglers have caught tagged reds this summer but none were registered for this year’s tournament. S.T.A.R. ends on Labor Day.

Ellender’s catch was weighed shortly after it was caught at Cajun Fast Mart in Sulphur, a long-time S.T.A.R. registration and weigh station. She said the tag was covered with green algae, so it was a little hard to see it at first. But, her husband reached down and scraped off the green slime, revealing the signature bright red mark of the S.T.A.R.

“We went looking for redfish because we figured that was the best way for us to have a chance to win a boat,” she said.

S.T.A.R. offers anglers opportunities to win one of 25 boat packages in several different divisions including largest speckled trout contests that are divided into east and west and monthly competitions. Competition is tight in other largest-fish divisions including black drum, sheepshead, flounder, cobia and yellowfin tuna.

CCA Louisiana Tournament Director Sam Barbera III said he’s glad he now has the chance to tell a happy story about someone catching a redfish in this year’s S.T.A.R.

“It breaks my heart to have to hear and report stories about people who let opportunities pass by catching a tagged fish or a really big fish without having a S.T.A.R. ticket,” he said. “Now, I get to tell a great story about someone who has been supporting us for five years getting the chance to drive a new boat. We want people to win these boats and it can happen to anyone.”

Competition in the S.T.A.R. runs through Sept. 5, 2005. Anglers must be current members of CCA and purchase a S.T.A.R. ticket before catching a prize-eligible fish. Tickets may be purchased at any of the 19 S.T.A.R. instant-entry tackle stores across South Louisiana, including all Academy Sports and Outdoors Locations in Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and surrounding areas and Shreveport. Interested anglers may also register by logging on to the CCA Louisiana web site, www.ccalouisiana.com or by calling CCA Louisiana at (225) 952-9200.

For more information, contact Sam Barbera III at (225) 952-9200, or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
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