NOLA Spearfishing

Next Weekend, June 19-22, will be one of the best Aqua Aces rodeos to date.

This year's rodeo will be open to freedivers who use reels or handheld bungees, despite this year's screwed up LCUDC rules, so freedivers, are welcome to compete.

The prize list is incredible this year: click here

To Register:
Registration is open until close of business, June 18th 2008, at the area dive shops or from an AQUA ACES Member. Registration fee is $35. This includes a rodeo t-shirt. Pre-registration by phone or mail (email) is allowed. All participants must be known by the AQUA ACES prior to the start of the rodeo. Phone-ins call: Dan McKinzey 504-994-9233, Cyril Gonzales 504-232-8791, Charlie Romano 985-641-0616, or Alan Reese 504 723-9536. Or email dmckinzey@cox.net

Weigh-in Location: Shelter #7, Lafreniere Park in Metairie

Eligible Fish:
Amberjack
Barracuda
Cobia
Grouper
Mangrove Snapper
Red Snapper
Sheepshead
Triggerfish
Miscellaneous (No Tarpon Under 60 lbs! No Redfish, Jewfish, Manta Rays, Sharks or Ocean Sunfish or fish subject to HMS Regulations.)


For More Information Visit www.AquaAces.net

This year's Hell Divers rodeo turned out to be a big success despite the rough seas. Forecasts were calling for 4'-8' for most of the rodeo weekend. While that eliminated some of the fair-weather divers (like myself), there was still some tough competition.

One notable fish shot was what will probably be a new top-ten LA state record Alligator Gar, weighing in at 117-3, it will be #4 if certified by the LCUDC. The fish was shot by J. Quaros (ST)...somewhere in Southeast Louisiana...



Other noteworthy fish (no pictures of them unfortunately), were a 54 lb. Barracuda shot by Mark Peart (HD), a 85 lb grouper shot by Steve Hartley (ST), and the board had 2 Mangrove Snapper over 13 lbs. Also, Dave Dauzat (HD) shot a 30 lb. red snapper. You can only keep 2 so make 'em worthwhile!

King Spearfisherman: Louis Rossignol (HD)
Best Club: Hell Divers
Best Boat: Catillac
Champion Skindiver: K. Love
Senior: T. Migaud (HD)
Junior: B. Macedo

More pics:

NEW ORLEANS – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal, Department of Transportation and Development Secretary William Ankner, Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham, and Coastal Activities Director Garret Graves discussed the use of the twin spans for coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts during a press conference at the University of New Orleans Alumni Center in New Orleans.

Governor Bobby Jindal said, “Using material from the twin span bridges to build reefs like these is a first in Louisiana. In the past, limestone has been shipped in from out of state, but this historic project uses material already on hand and reduces the cost of building this valuable habitat. The remaining material from building this reef will be used for a variety of coastal protection and restoration projects, which will also provide additional protection to our levees. This is an incredible joint effort and it proves what we can do when we apply all of our collective resources to our common priority of supporting our wildlife and fisheries and further aiding our vitally important coastal restoration efforts.”

“This project illustrates what governmental and non-governmental entities can accomplish in a cooperative effort to benefit the public,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham.

The Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, in partnership with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and NOAA Office of Coast Survey’ proposes construction of two inshore artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. The reefs are to be constructed of bridge rubble, will provide hard-bottom habitat and will be between one and two acres in size. The reefs will be located in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain at selected sites between the Interstate 10 and Highway 11 Bridges.

Construction of the new reefs are scheduled for spring 2009 in Lake Pontchartrain. In the inshore coastal areas, this program had traditionally used crushed limestone to construct low-relief “shell-pad” type structures to enhance habitats and fisheries resources. This project proposes to utilize bridge rubble to demonstrate the use of alternate materials for habitat and fishery benefits.

The reefs will be constructed of rubble from the demolition of two 500 foot spans of the Interstate 10 Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. The concrete will be removed by Boh Brothers Construction onto barges and broken into smaller dimensions. The concrete material will be transported to the permitted and marked sites and placed on the lake bottom.

Reef materials will be placed in two sites, each one-acre in size but bounded by a permitted area (each) of two acres. The locations of the two reefs will be in the 3,200-acre section between the I-10 twin spans and the Highway 11 bridge near the St. Tammany and Orleans Parish line. The locations will be in the no trawl zone that prohibits any commercial trawling in the area. The locations are absent of any other commercial fishing. The locations will be marked as required by USCG regulations.

DOTD Secretary Bill Ankner has established a selection team to review proposals for the use of the remaining twin spans. The selection team will coordinate their recommendations with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to ensure the maximum protection for South Louisiana. DOTD has already committed to using outdated concrete road barriers from across the state as breakwaters to protect shorelines along Lake Pontchartrain from high wave action and storm surges.

DOTD is currently examining eight project proposals from: Coastal Conservation Association-Louisiana, Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, Lake Catherine Civic Association, Inc., Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, DOTD, District 02, St. Tammany Parish Office of Parish President, Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will manage the Lake Pontchartrain Reefs as part of its Artificial Reef Program. The location of the reefs will be disseminated on the LDWF website at www.wlf.state.la.us and CCA’s web-site at www.CCALouisiana.com.

The Lake Pontchartrain Estuarine Basin has long sustained a critical habitat supporting extensive recreational and commercial fisheries. Due to shell dredging and urban runoff along with accompanying increases in salinity, the benthic ecosystems have become severely degraded through the lake. At one time numerous shell reefs composed of living and relic reef shell were prevalent throughout the lake and provided hard substrates for benthic colonization. These reefs have provided critical habitat for a number of estuarine species, including such important sport fish species as spotted seatrout, red drum and southern flounder.


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Other related links:

Governor Jindal endorses a plan suggested by the CCA, LDWF, DOTD and NOAA to use rubble from the Twin Spans as reefs in Lake Pontchartrain. The Governor also suggests the use of the bridge spans to protect levees and shorelines around the lake and marshes in St. Bernard Parish. (Quotes from Garret Graves) Times Picayune. June 10.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/jindal_endorses_plans_for_usin.html

Debris from I-10 Twin Spans to be used to build fisheries reefs as well as hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects. Jackson Clarion Ledger/AP. June 11.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS/80610034

Governor Jindal, Secretaries Barham and Ankner and Coastal Activities Director Garret Graves announce the use of rubble from the Twin Spans that are being replaced over Lake Pontchartrain for fisheries reefs as well as coastal protection and restoration projects. Bayou Buzz. June 11.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Government/Louisiana_Bridges_Katrina_Coastal_Restoration_and_Hurricane_Protection___6562.asp

Governor Jindal announces Tuesday at a news conference in New Orleans that concrete rubble from the Twin Spans will be used to build fisheries reefs in Lake Pontchartrain and will also be used for hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects. WWLTV.com. June 10.
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl061008tptwinspans.1c9d01e0.html

Press Office: Melissa Sellers
Contact: 225-342-8006, 225-485-6654 (c)

This is going to be one of the best prize lists ever for this year's Aqua Aces rodeo:

New Orleans Aqua Aces Diving Club 2008 Rodeo Prize Board
Benefitting Children’s Hospital

King Spearfisherman Winner - Trophy and $100.00 Cabelas Gift Card
Queen Spearfisherman Winner - Trophy and $100 Linens and Things Gift Card

Riffe International

No Ka Oi Raffle
Euro Gun Competitors Gun Drawing
Metal Tech #3 Raffle

1MM TOP, NO HOOD (X-LARGE)
1MM TOP, NO HOOD (LARGE)
TEAK MAINTENANCE KIT
STUBBY KNIFE
STANDARD KNIFE
RIFFE STICKER X 24 SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT(3 SHIRTS) (L)
SHORT SLEEVE SHIR (3 SHIRTS) (XL)
TORPEDO DIVERS FLOAT
FRAMELESS MASK
NAIDA MASK, MIRROR
CFN REEL W/SCREWS

Other Prizes
Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) Tank Mat, PC Mouse X2, T-shirt Gray Large and SCUBAopoly Game
JBL Spearguns Northwestern 38 Speargun
Caribbean Dive Shop / Scuba Pro Fin Sets X 3
Ikelite PC LED Light
Zeagle Octo Z Regulator, T-shirts 2 Red Large 2 Black X-Large
Best Buy Insignia Sport Kit with 2GB MP 3 Player, Water Bottle and $10 Music Card and Bean Sprout Digital Camera
Gordon Biersch $50.00 Gift Card
Chag’s Sporting Goods Riffe Power Bands 9/16x24” 3PK and Okuma Connoisseur Fishing Rod 6’6” 4-12Lbs
Armor Regulator Bag X2
Annin Co. Dive Flag 20 x 30
Academy Sports $25.00 Gift Cards X2
McAlister’s Deli x2 ($12.00 Gift Cards X2)
New Orleans Steamship Company / Lunch Cruise for Two
Cabelas Gift Cards $50.00 X5 $250.00 Total
Captain Segull’s Nautical Charts / MAD50 Venice, LA Area X3
HammerHead Spearguns Adaptation 1mm Pelagic Skinz SS L,XL and Adaptation Glove 2mm Amara Pelagic Shatter M,XL
Snee Chemical Company hull cleaner

Tonight, Saturday, May 31, the New Orleans Aqua Aces will donate $1500 in proceeds from their upcoming spearfishing rodeo to Children’s Hospital during the annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon on WDSU Channel 6.

Every year the Aqua Aces host one of the largest spearfishing rodeos in the State of Louisiana. Spearfishing is one of the most “hands on” and thrilling outdoor sports known to man. Each year, divers (scuba and freedivers) from around the Gulf Coast converge in Southeast Louisiana for this exciting tournament. Spearfishing tournaments are popular in other places around the globe, but in Louisiana, we like to call them “rodeos” due to the extreme nature of the ride one gets after spearing one of the overgrown fish we harvest around our coast’s oil platforms!

The competition is open to all men, women, and “junior” divers (accompanied by parents); and lasts four days, June 19-22, with the final weigh-in at Lafreniere Park in Metairie on the last day. Each year, proceeds from the rodeo go to benefit Children’s Hospital.

The New Orleans Aqua Aces are a local scuba diving / spearfishing club founded in 1961, with members of a variety of ages, both male and female. While the club enjoys the fun and competition of spearfishing, they also stress the importance of safety at every group event. Diving the oil rigs of the Gulf of Mexico is a fun and exciting sport, but it is also very dangerous, therefore it’s vital to follow safe practices and gain experience while accompanied by other safe & experienced divers.

The club’s meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in the sport is encouraged to attend. They take place at 7:30pm, every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co., 817 Veterans Blvd., Metairie.

For more information, visit www.aquaaces.net or contact club President Dan McKinzey (504) 994-9233.

New Orleans Aqua Aces
Chris Hartwell
504-220-7418
chartwell@inlayout.net

1. Revert back to old rules, adding additional "bluewater" fish categories to appease spearfishers who use breakaway rigs. (easiest solution)



2. Keep current freediving division, and allow fish shot with reels or handheld bungees to be placed on master board and qualify for overall state records



3. Keep current freediving division, and allow fish shot with reels or handheld bungees to be placed on master board and qualify for overall state records, also match up saltwater fish to be the same as those on the master board. Since freshwater spearfishing is done almost entirely "skin diving" those fish could be replaced on the freediving board by selected fish on the current freediving division. While this solution would be the most complicated and require additional discussion, it would probably appease the most people.



4. Encourage local clubs to include freediving divisions in rodeos if variations of #2 or #3 are passed next year, or if current rules stay in existence. Freediving division winners could be recognized by a single "king" and "queen" trophy.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Positive Aspects of Current Rules

- Distinguish between "Freediving" and "Skindiving"
- Provides for more fish to compete on for divers who use breakaway rigs

Negative Aspects of Current Rules

- Cause inconsistency in Top Ten State Records
- Removes divers who use reels or hand-held bungees from LCUDC master board
- Removes divers who use reels or hand-held bungees from overall state records
- Creates inconsistency amongst traditional fish categories in LCUDC clubs
- Alienates freedivers from LA rodeos that follow LCUDC rules due to the fact that their fish are not eligible for main board competition, only an unpopular "Freediving" category IF such competition ever comes into existence amongst club rodeos
- For divers who both "skin dive" and "freedive," points get split between 2 completely separate boards

The recent LCUDC rules are a problem for the following reasons that need to be addressed next year.

1. There are currently Top 10 State Records that were shot using reels (overall state records, not just “skin diving” records). With the new rules, any new state record fish shot with a reel will be in the “Freediving” state record division. Past record keeping does not specify whether a reel was used or not, therefore it’s not possible, nor would it be fair to the overall record holders to separate these records out to the “Freediving” category.



2. Freedivers who use reels can no longer place fish on the master board for tournaments - In this year’s Helldivers rodeo, the “Bluewater” or “Freediving” division will only have these 5 fish which qualify if you use a reel: YELLOW FIN TUNA, BLACK FIN TUNA, WAHOO, DORADO, AND MISCELLANEOUS – which is nice, but nobody uses reels to shoot these fish. So if you use a reel, you’re SOL.



3. Freedivers who use reels can no longer place fish on the master board for the LCUDC. While a reel provides an advantage, it’s not any more of an advantage than a scuba tank. These fish should qualify on the master board. It’s fine if we don’t want them to be called “Skin Diving,” but they should definitely qualify under the master board.

*Note that I’m not promoting the use of breakaway rigs / floatlines / buoys for any of these points above – reels only.

My recommendation is that the LCUDC either go back to the old rules next year, or allow reel-shot fish to be placed on the master board and qualify for Overall LA Top-Ten records.

June 5-8 Hell Divers Spearfishing Rodeo, www.helldivers.org,
The Hell Divers have a compete set of rules and direction to the new site up on their web site Registration via pay pal
June 5-7 Swollfest Fishing rodeo, www.swollfest.com
This event same weekend as the HellDivers except rodeo ends on Sat.
The Council encourages those members diving out of Grand Isle/Fourchon attempt to dive both rodeos by weighting your fish Sat for the Swollfest and Sunday for the Hell Divers.
June 19-22 Aqua Aces Spearfishing Rodeo, www.aquaaces.net, Charlie @ 985 641-0616
June 26, 27, 28 Hooks for Hearts Spearfishing/Fishing Rodeo, www.hooksforhearts.org
July 3,4,5 Golden Meadow-Fourchon Inter. Tarpon Rodeo, www.gmfourchontarponrodeo.com
Donation may be mail to 172 Freeman Ct., Houma, LA 70360, 985-860-3287
TBA Faux Pas Lodge Invitational, www.rodnreed.com/fauxpas, They may dropped spearfishing?
JULY 25-27 Alabama Open, www.alabamaopen.com
Aug. 3,4,5 Terrebonne Sportsmen’s Leaque Rodeo, Corey @ 985 859-9352
Aug. 15, 16 LCUCD Shootout, Aqua Aces, Frogman, Hell Divers, Sea Tigers & other Webb sites, Terry @ 504 833-1884 Location and Rules out soon
TBA Lake Pontchartrain Sheepshead Shootout, www.helldivers.net , George @ 504 442-4242
TBA Frogmen Catfish Shootout, www.thefrogmen.org , Scott @ 985 966-1266
Dec 31 The end of the Council Derby Board

Louis Rossignol of the Helldivers recently started this must-read thread on rig diving safety in the Gulf of Mexico:

100 Ways for a Rig Diver to Die

This is a little confusing, so please bear with me. The Spearboard Open is now a knock-off of Star Wars - in an attempt to compare spearfishing with some type of light sabre jousting that Spearboard membership may or may not delight in, Tony Grogan has renamed the tournament and created a series of tournaments in its place.

This is what I gather from the website:
SBO: Blue Storm Classic: Thursday, May 15 - 18, Location - New Port Richey, FL
Palm Beach Blue Storm Open: Thursday, July 24 - 27, Riviera Beach, FL
Keys Blue Storm Open: Thursday, September 4 - 7, Key Largo, FL

Here is a recent anouncement from Spearboard.com:


Spear Wars is fully engaged!

You have a good shot at winning a $3,000 motorcycle or All Terrain Vehicle among many other incredible prizes.

The SBO Blue Storm Classic Tournament next weekend is almost here. The prize tent is growing daily.

Our goal of having over $100,000 in prizes for the three tournament series is being achieved. Sponsors are stepping up to the plate big time!

Here is a small sample of the prizes at this link:

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=63019

For more information about Spear Wars, go to:

http://www.spearwars.com/

Sign up today at this link:

http://www.spearboardopen.com/

Release Date: 05/01/2008

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote over 100 fishing citations to 20 men on Bayou Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish on Monday, April 28.

Agents stopped the charter boat, "The Captain Charlie", which was occupied by 18 paid fishermen, the captain and one deck hand. Agents boarded the vessel to conduct a creel and license check of the fish and persons aboard. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the vessel, agents allegedly found 27 ice chests holding 909 red snapper.

Agents counted and measured every fish aboard the vessel and found that of the 909 red snapper aboard the vessel, 287 of them were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement.

The recreational limit for red snapper is two per fisherman, and the captain and deckhands are not allowed to possess a limit. Agents also discovered that none of the 18 fishermen were Louisiana residents nor did they possess valid Louisiana non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses.

The 18 subjects that chartered the vessel, along with the captain and deckhand of the vessel were cited for 106 alleged violations. The citations included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersized and over the limit of red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1, 2008.

The following fishermen were charged:

David Harrelson, 52, Lockport, La., (Captain)
Donald R. Humphrey, 45, Golden Meadow, La., (Deckhand)
Artesza Portee, 35, Autell, Ga.
Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta, Ga.
James E. Williams, 65, Callaway, Fla.
Clyde E. Raiford, 68, Fayetteville, Ga.
Baxter R. Maddox, 67, Atlanta, Ga.
Leslie H. Durham, 45, Douglasville, Ga.
Cleveland B. Kemp Jr., 56, Conyers, Ga.
Harry Crosland, 67, Decatur, Ga.
Willie T. Epps, 72, College Park, Ga.
Lawrence Kendrick, 60, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter L. Gibson Jr., 38, Union City, Ga.
Warren R. Brownlee, 36, Palmetto, Ga.
Andrew R. Smith, 70, Decatur, Ga.
Kym D. Haywood, 44, Hapeville, Ga.
Charlie W. Patrick 68, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Earnest Sessoms, 79, Atlanta, Ga.

Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed 2459 pounds, and were sold for a total of $9221.25.

For more information, contact Capt. Sammy Martin at 985-447-0822 or smartin@wlf.louisiana.gov.

I got this from "chuckd" on Spearfishing Planet today:

The SPEARING magazine website is up and running, www.spearingmagazine.com. We're working on getting a shopping cart and paypal set up for subscriptions. We've received our first check for a subscription, and we're sending that lucky person a free hat and inviting them for a free trip on the Free Spearit with Team SPEARING Magazine.

SPEARING Magazine is based out of the the Tampa area, and will initially cover all the local action. We plan on branching out to the Keys, the east coast of Florida, and the other gulf states. Then the east coast of the US, California, and international destinations. But we'll always concentrate on Florida, with a fair bit of scuba coverage.

We are always looking for contributing editors and good pictures. We prefer underwater shots of fish and divers, and will try to avoid pictures previously posted on the web. Feel free to contact myself or MikeD(editor) with pics or if you want to write articles or stories. Any spearing charter captains are welcome to write reports or trip stories.

Also, we are currently looking for advertisers to fill the ad sections of the magazine. If you know anyone interested, please contact MikeD, 727-460-7773.

I hope you all like the magazine. Constructive criticism would be helpful.

Grogan's been deleting all my posts on Spearboard, just a matter of time til I'm banned.

Charlie

I went on their website and signed up for a subscription today, everything appears to be working now to take subscriptions online. - Chris

April 5th Council Award Banquet at Tarpon Joe bar & grill at 2205 David Dr. in Metairie.

From 7 PM to Roc closes the bar. $10 a head which includes a DJ, keg beer, a small buffet: shrimp pasta, jambalaya, hot wings, fry fish, and fry oysters. Awards will given out at 9 PM

Tarpon Joe is located next to Lafereniere Park just off of West Napoleon Ave on David towards the Vets. Cash bar for mixed drinks and bottle beer. Please come to bond with your follow divers and celebrate their winning fishes. 5 major Awards, 25 on the derby board, 1st and 2nd runner-ups in the skin, blue, ladies boards and 3 places for the junior division.

The rules are as follows:

Registration fee is $15.00. All participants must be registered
before competition begins.

Valid fishing license is required.

Diving is open to INSHORE waters only.

Competition begins Thursday, February 22, 2007 @ 12:01p.m.
And ends Sunday, February 25, 2007 @ 3:00 p.m.

Scales will be open Sunday, February 25, 2007 from 12:00 p.m.
- 3:00 p.m. At Westwego Park.

Fish must be speared and apprehended by diver without
assistance.

Fish speared from boats are not eligible. Diver must be
submerged.

Power heads are not allowed.

Skin and Scuba are allowed.

Categories are: Gar, Aggregate Gar and Miscellaneous.

There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, places for each category.

Awards will be given for King Spear Fisherman and Leading
Club.

The 3, 2, 1, system will be used to determine the King and
Club awards.

Registration can be made by e-mail or phone with:

Steve: goindeep@cox.net or (504) 495-2818

Gumby: toohawaiin4u@yahoo.com or (504) 301-2124

Jerry: (504)341-4071


For more information, visit: http://www.seatigers.us/