The 2010 Aqua Aces Rodeo will go on as planned, and be ready for a huge prize table that will be up for grabs even if you don't have a chance to dive.

Rodeo starts 06/24 and ends 06/27. Scales close at 2PM. Price is $45 and you get 3 drink tickets. Additional beer is like a one or two dollar donation so thats a great deal. Plus, water is free with your rodeo ticket. Site is just 15 minutes from New Orleans at the Bonnet Carre Spillway Pavillion on Hwy. 61, Norco, La.



As for prizes, boy do we have them for you and you dont have to weigh a fish to get em! Most raffle tickets will be 4 or 5 for $20 (the small details are in the works, but you know its a good deal)

Here are the bigger prizes:
1. 7 Day Blackbeard cruise to the Bahamas
2. Big Ass Icey Tek cooler (yes, that's the model number)
3. Riffe No Ka Oi spear gun
4. 2 night stay at a nice New Orleans hotel (I think it's the Royal Senesta)
5. 2 different dive computers (Oceanic and Aeries)
6. 2 Courtside tickets to a Hornets basketball game valued at over $300 each. This prize also comes with a free parking pass and a pass for the VIP buffet!

We also have alot of smaller prizes. You know, masks, fins, ect. (lots of etc.)
You might even win a gift card to a restaurant. We have like 30 gift cards that go up to $50!!! For one raffle ticket, you could be eating for free at a local restaurant, and that supports our local economy, as well as Children's Hospital.

You say you cant dive in the Gulf? No problem. We have added 3 categories. Catfish, Garfish, and Drum. Sheeps head was always a category, so jump in the lake to benefit Childrens Hospital then get your butt to the rodeo.

We will also be having our kids table again, so bring the whole family. The kids tickets will be really cheap (probably a dollar or so) so they will have a great time winning something. Plus we will have a bounce house for them to keep them out of your hair while you have a great time.

But wait, there is more. FOOD!!!

For just $8, you can dine on Beef Brisket and baby back ribs!!!
Like oysters? You cant get them, but we got em!!! Acme Oyster house is proud to support Children's Hospital so we will have some of their stuff at the rodeo. Of course there will hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, etc.

So there you have it. Great music, food, prizes, trophies, activities for the kids and it benefits Children's Hospital. Diving or not, this is one event not to be missed. Please go to Aquaaces.net for full detalis and rodeo rules.

The Helldivers Rodeo was a huge success despite the Federal closures. Divers dove out of other ports to find areas that were not closed.

For detailed rodeo board and pictures, visit http://www.helldivers.org

King: Troy Donaldson of Git Em Divers!
Queen: Abbie Donaldson-Eubanks of Git Em Divers!
Best Club: Git Em Divers!
Best Boat: Heavy Metal of Git Em Divers!
Champion Skin Diver: Keith Love of Texas Blue Water Assasins!
Senior Diver: Chris Smits of Sea Tigers!
Junior Diver: Ryan Brady a future Frogmen!

BP has ruined our environment with one of the worst oil spills in the history of the world. President Obama is playing golf and entertaining musicians in DC while oil coats our coast and kills our wildlife. His biggest action? Ordering the closure of offshore drilling that deepens our devastation by killing off thousands of LA jobs.

The past few months for us has seen a federal government that is enmeshed with BP. It has been over a month since the tragic blowout that killed 11 workers, and the US Attorney General just decided that criminal charges need to be investigated, something I've been saying since the first 7 days of this.

Despite the high likelihood that local divers will not be able to dive the waters they are familiar with, the Helldivers rodeo will go on as planned, and divers who plan to dive will have to do so in areas not closed or affected by the oil spill.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to: http://www.helldivers.org

Dive Locker "Not a Red Snapper" Tournament, April 17 out of Panama City Beach, Fla www.diverlocker.net
Hell Divers – June 3, 4, 5, 6 www.helldivers.org
Swollfest (Freediving Division) – June 10-12 www.swollfest.com
Aqua Aces - June 24-27 www.aquaaces.net
Golden Meadow usually 1st week-end in July www.gmfourchontarponrodeo.com
Hooks for Hearts – July 15-17 www.hooksforhearts.org
Ala Open – July 23-25, www.alabamaopen.com
Terrebonne Sportsman League - Aug 6,7,8th
Council Shootout – Aug 20 & 21
Sheepshead Rodeo - TBA
LA State Freediving Championship - Sep. 9-12 www.aquaaces.net/freediving.php
Frogmen Catfish Rodeo – Nov 5 & 6, tentatively www.thefrogmen.org

This year's Sea Tigers Garfish Rodeo will be March 4-7th 2010.

Scales will open at 12 noon , Sunday, March 7th and close at 3:00pm.

This years rodeo site will be Westwego Park, Ave D side. FREE refreshments and great entry prizes to all who enter.

This years proceeds will go to the F.R.A. Helping them fight for OUR rights.

For more information, visit SeaTigers.us

There's a battle going on, and most recreational fisherman have no idea it exists until their rights get taken away. Louisiana Gulf Coast anglers raised eyebrows when the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Gulf Council imposed the strictest Red Snapper regulations in history on our plentiful resource. While many got upset about it, what they didn't realize was that more federal government restrictions were still to come.

Is the battle really about "how many fish there are in the sea?" That's what environmental groups like Pew (http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_category.aspx?id=126) would like the public to think, and that's the rational NMFS uses to impose strict regulations. Unfortunately, no, the battle is not about actual fish numbers. If it were, the agencies would be less inclined to make such broad judgments based on terribly flawed data.

I'm not going to get into all of the details and arguments that show why the data they use is biased and flawed, but the most striking example is that Red Snapper in Louisiana were never counted around the LA oil platforms - their primary habitat.

This is a battle of political interests with billion dollar environmentalist groups like Pew pushing their agenda using biased studies that back those agendas up. Go to their website. Sign up for their newsletters, and you will see the type of propaganda that they send out on a regular basis. The picture they portray is a grim one that predicts the extinction of all our favorite fish - doom and gloom in short order.

If you were an "average US citizen," reading their literature, not knowing that Louisiana has one of the most plentiful fish populations in the world, you would think that we were in dire straits based on the rhetoric these guys promote.

It's not just a Gulf of Mexico fight though - the South Atlantic and West Coasts are facing similar closures, with the West Coast being hit the hardest (http://www.wonews.com/t-UpdateReport_lebowitz_111609.aspx) - "no fishing zones" are being signed into law right now. Think it can't happen to us? Think again. This is a battle of epic proportions at the federal level. It doesn't matter if the State of Louisiana opposes the Feds or not because we only control the first 3 miles off our coast. Who fishes Amberjack and Red Snapper within 3 miles off our coast? No one, and now we can't fish them further out either.

When I first became a member of the NRA, I was amazed at the constant attacks on the second amendment and the amount of litigation that was necessary to preserve our right to bear arms. To me, given the way this country was founded, I couldn't believe there were that many people fighting on a regular basis to take away our right to bear arms.

Now I see the same thing happening to our fishing rights and it makes me sick. The worst part is, it's not about the fish at all, it's about money and politics. Pew (yes, it stinks) has a lot of money. NMFS, don't tread on me.

Write your congressman and any elected official you know. Tell them that you are opposed to ANY additional NMFS law restricting your rights to take fish recreationally. Ask them if they are going to support recreational fishing rights because the decision could affect your vote in the next election.

The Frogmen Spearfishing Club's 3rd Annual Catfish Rodeo is coming up November 6th & 7th. (fri & sat). Weigh in is Saturday, 3pm at the Madisonville boat launch.

According to LSU's Daily Reveille Marine Biology student Jamie Halk was instrumental in getting this college spearfishing club started, and according to their website, they already have a dozen members.

So if you're an LSU student interested in the sport of spearfishing, check into these guys!

LSU Spearfishing Club

NEW ORLEANS SCUBA DIVING CONTEST (OLD NAME OF COMPETITION)
YEAR CLUB AWARD KING SKINDIVER QUEEN
1959 DIXIE DIVERS DICK ALBA (DD) NO AWARD MARCIA ALBA (DD)
1960 BAJAOS PETE DILLAC (B) NO AWARD AGNES JONES (DD)
1961 BAJAOS JACK BASS (B) NO AWARD MYRA TRACY (RD)
1962 BAJAOS LOUIS HEMEL (B) NO AWARD G. JAMISON (B)
1963 BAJAOS EUGENE BROWN (AA) NO AWARD NO AWARD

LA COUNCIL OF UNDERWATER DIVING CLUBS DERBY BOARD
1964 AQUA ACES BOB MAURMUS (AA) LOUIS HEMEL (B) NO AWARD
1965 SEA SCAMPS AL JUUL (SS) CARL ZOLL (HD) NO AWARD
1966 SEA SCAMPS LOUIS HEMEL (B) LOUIS HEMEL (B) NO AWARD
1967 AQUA ACES L. D. CONN (MF) L. D. CONN (MF) NO AWARD
1968 SEA SCAMPS AL JUUL (SS) RICHARD HOGUE (I)*1 NO AWARD
1969 AQUA ACES BEN DELUZAIN (AA) CHUCK FAUST (SS)*1 NO AWARD
1970 SEA SCAMPS TOM KIRCHEN (SS) JIM GOURGUES (SS)*1 NO AWARD
1971 SEA TIGERS J. HOOVER (SH) RANDY JACKSON (YMS) NO AWARD
1972 SEA TIGERS DON SHARP (SS) SAL LOCKBRUN (SH) NO AWARD
1973 SEA SCAMPS CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) JIM GOURGUES (SS) NO AWARD
1974 AQUA ACES CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) NO AWARD
1975 AQUA ACES CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) CLIFF MERCIER (AA) NO AWARD
1976 AQUA ACES CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) DWIGHT BRADBURY (HD) NO AWARD
1977 AQUA ACES VINCENT SPIZALE (SS) CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) NO AWARD
1978 AQUA ACES CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) ED WRIGHT (HD) NO AWARD
1979 AQUA ACES CHARLIE ROMANO (AA) CHRIS KIRSCHENHEUTER (SS) DIANE STOLZ (YMS)
1980 AQUA ACES CLIFF MERCIER (AA) JOE DEMELO (AA) MARY PORTER (YMS)
1981 AQUA ACES CAPT ED STOLZ (AA) KEITH JOHNSON (AA) KAREN DEMELO (YMS)
1982 HELL DIVERS JOE DEMELO (AA) DWIGHT BRADBURY (HD) KAREN DEMELO (YMS)
1983 HELL DIVERS TERRY MIGAUD (HD) CAPT ED STOLZ (AA) MARY PORTER (FCF)
1984 AQUA ACES TERRY MIGAUD (HD) TERRY MIGAUD (HD) NO AWARD
1985 HELL DIVERS TERRY MIGAUD (HD) DWIGHT BRADBURY (HD) NO AWARD
1986 HELL DIVERS TERRY MIGAUD (HD) DWIGHT BRADBURY (HD) KAY ROBERTS (PN)
1987 HELL DIVERS TERRY MIGAUD (HD) VAL ROUDOLFICH (ST) KAY ROBERTS (PN)
1988 HELL DIVERS LOUIS ROSSIGNOL (HD) VAL ROUDOLFICH (ST) CLAIR DONALDSON (PN)
1989 HELL DIVERS LOUIS ROSSIGNOL (HD) BEN LETO (HD) CLAIR DONALDSON (PN)
1990 SEA TIGERS VAL ROUDOLFICH (ST) VAL ROUDOLFICH (ST) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1991 HELL DIVERS STAN SMITH (HD) VAL ROUDOLFICH (ST) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1992 HELL DIVERS STAN SMITH (HD) STAN SMITH (HD) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1993 HELL DIVERS DAVID DAUZAT (AA) KEVIN NASH (PN) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1994 SEA TIGERS TRIP DAIGLE (GE) COONIE LEFORT (PN) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1995 SEA TIGERS STAN SMITH (HD) COONIE LEFORT (PN) KAY LEFORT (PN)
1996 SEA TIGERS ALLEN WALKER (ST) CONNIE LEFORT (PN) JOLIE CLARK (AA)
1997 SEA TIGERS ALLEN WALKER (ST) MARK LEMOINE (PN) DARILYN DAUZAT (AA)
1998 SEA TIGERS ALLEN WALKER (ST) MARK LEMOINE (PN) LINDA BERGERON (BB)
1999 SEA TIGERS ALLEN WALKER (ST) STEVE HARTLEY (ST) JOLIE CLARK (AA)
2000 SEA TIGERS ALLEN WALKER (ST) TRACY PALMISANO (ST) CLAIR DONALDSON (GE)
2001 LICK ‘EM & STICK ‘EM RAFE ANTILL (LS) STEVE HARTLEY (ST) CLAIR DONALDSON (GE)
2002 HELL DIVERS LOUIS ROSSIGNOL (HD) MIKE McCURDY (ST) CLAIR DONALDSON (GE)
2003 GIT ‘EM JASON GUITREAUX (GE) EVERETT BERGERON (BB) ABBIE DONALDSON (GE)
2004 HELL DIVERS JASON GUITREAUX (GE) BILL CRAWFORD (ST)*2 CLAIR DONALDSON (GE)
2005 HELL DIVERS COREY HENRY (LS) DAVID DAUZAT (HD)*2 CLAIR DONALDSON (GE)
2006 HELL DIVERS JASON GUITREAUX (GE) LINSEY HURD (HD) CATHLEEN ZELENKSA (LS)
2007 HELL DIVERS MARK PEART (HD) TRACEY PALMISANO (ST) ABBIE DONALDSON (GE)
2008 HELL DIVERS MARK PEART (HD) DAVID CHAIX (HD) ABBIE DONALDSON (GE)

*1 LARGEST FISH SHOT *2 ALSO BLUEWATER CHAMPION, 2006 NO BLUEWATER AWARD, 2007 CHAMPION BLUE WATER
DIVER – BILL CRAWFORD (GC), 2008 BLUE WATER CHANGED TO FREEDIVING DIVISION – 2008 CHAMPION FREEDIVER – BILL CRAWFORD (GC) (BLUE WATER DIVISION ESTABLISHED IN 2004 AND CHANGED TO THE FREEDIVING DIVISION IN 2008)

(AA) AQUA ACES, (B) BAJAOS, (BB) BAYOU BANDITS, (DD) DIXIE DIVERS, (FCF) FAT CITY FROGMEN, )GC) GULF COAST LONG BLADES changed to the GULF COAST FREEDIVERS IN 2008, (GE) GIT ‘EM, (HD) HELL DIVERS, (I) No Club, (LS) LICK ‘EM & STICK “EM (PM) PUEUMATIC NAILERS, (RD) REBEL DIVERS, (SH) SEAHORSE, (SS) SEA SCAMPS, (ST) SEA TIGERS, (YMS) YOUNG MEN OF THE SEA

The LCUDC Council Shootout is a great opportunity to meet members from other clubs. All of the diving takes place out of Fourchon and the weigh-in is there as well. Here are the rules:

8th Annual L. C. U. D. C. Shootout
Port Fourchon, LA – August 21 & 22, 2009
THE SHOOTOUT

1) Applicable Council Derby Board apply. Tickets are $50 each. You may commit by phone to Terry Migaud @ (504) 833-1884, e-mail @ tgmigaud@cox.net, or mail 3513 43rd Street, Metairie, La 70001-2840 prepay or payable at the rodeo site. All divers must be known before 5:00 AM on Friday, August 15, 2008.

2) Eligible fishes are: AMBERJACK, BARRACUDA, COBIA, GROUPER, JACK CREVALLE, MANGROVE SNAPPER, DRUM, AND MISCELLANOUS) (no redfish, ocean sunfish, shark, jewfish, and any other fish that is out of season or ban or not allow under State and/or Federal Regulations). Cash Prizes and/or gift certifications for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

3) Awards for King, Champion Skin Diver, Queen, Club, and Boat. The 3, 2, 1 points system will apply for major awards. No ties, early enter wins. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, awards will be in cash or gift certificates from the money collected. The Council is putting up $500 towards the Shootout. An award dinner on Saturday night will be part of the program and including in the cost of the ticket. Also a dinner for Friday night. A Shootout T-shirt also including in the registration.

4) Boats can leave no earlier than 5:00 A.M., Friday, August 21st. Boats must come in on the 21st and go out again on the 22th no earlier than 5:00 A.M. on August 22th.

5) All Boats and Divers must be committed before 5:00 A.M., Friday, August 21st.

6) All dive boats must display a dive flag while diving. The Council request that all boats and divers have fun, dive safe, have dive insurance, and yield to the wishes and desires of the oil rigs and work boats. That all divers enjoy themselves at Port Fourchon but use good common sense with dealing with the Marinas and the fishermen.

7) Weight-in close at 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 21st and at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, August 16th . Weight-in may start when the first divers arrived at the rodeo site on Friday and on Saturday with awards and party to follow.

8) Ports for the Shootout will be limited to the Fourchon/Grand Isle area.

9) A $50 Calcutta for the largest fish shot. The Winners gets the cash. Money must be pay before 5:00 AM, Friday, 21.

The Shootout as all of our competition is based on an honor system. The goal is for Council members to have a spirited competition and get know each other (a little bonding), and enjoyed each other’s company. As those who participated in the past can testify that it is lots of fun and is growing in popularity each year.

Each member club is requested to support the Shootout by a donation $150. Individual diver may make a donation of any amount and donate prizes and/or entrance prizes.

The Shootout site is located at Chris Moran’s Bell Pass Marina (formally the Kajun Sportsman). Motel 985-396-3900. Rooms are $104 a night. Boats may be left in the water at the dock at the Hotel each night below or near rooms. Parking available for truck and trailers. It is requested that divers stay over to Sunday to drive home or have a designated diver. NO DUI OR DWI are allow.

Please note if bad weather cause us to cancel the shootout it will be rescheduled for middle September.

Please mail all donation and tickets request to the LCUDC, c/o Terry Migaud, 3513 43rd Street, Metairie, La 70001-2840, tgmigaud@cox.net or (504) 833-1884. Donation may also be brought to the rodeo site.
As of now, the Council has put up $500 and the Git ‘em, Hell Divers and Snappers Slappers$150 each towards the Shootout. All monies collected will go towards the 2 meals, t-shirt and to the cash and/or gift certifications prizes.
2009 Officers: Rafe Antill (President), Terry Migaud, (Sec/tre.), and Louis Rossignol (Director)

Final Results of the 2009 LA State Freediving Championship:

LA State Freediving Champion: Keith Love (Texas Bluewater Assassins)
1st Runner Up: Chad Morris (Gulf Coast Freedivers)
2nd Runner Up: Joe Wegmann (Helldivers)

LA State Women's Freediving Champion: Krista Holbrook
1st Women's Runner Up: Jeni Taylor
2nd Women's Runner Up: Renee Lirette (Aqua Aces)

Amberjack:
Keith Love - 49.5 lbs
Chad Morris - 48.7 lbs
Chad Morris - 48.5 lbs

Cobia:
Chad Morris - 49.6 lbs
Joe Wegmann - 48.2 lbs
Joe Wegmann - 48.0 lbs

Grouper:
Bill Crawford - 13.0 lbs
Bill Crawford - 9.6 lbs
Brian Head - 9.5 lbs

King Mackerel:
Mike Freeman - 14.5 lbs

Mahi Mahi:
Keith Love - 1.6 lbs
Keith Love - 1.5 lbs

Mangrove Snapper:
Joe Wegmann - 11.4 lbs
Michael Gauge - 11.3 lbs
Bill Crawford - 11.3 lbs

Miscellaneous:
Louis Rossignol - 51.9 lbs (Alligator Gar)
Darren Druoant - 41.0 lbs (Black Drum)
Krista Holbrook - 39.2 lbs (Barracuda)

Red Snapper:
Chris Hartwell - 24.4 lbs
Mike Freeman - 24.2 lbs
Brian Head - 23.9 lbs

Sheepshead:
Mickey Morales - 8.2 lbs
Linsey Hurd - 7.9 lbs
Linsey Hurd - 7.8 lbs

This last weekend of July will be the first ever freediving-only spearfishing tournament in the State of Louisiana. The "LA State Freediving Championship" is being put on by local spearfishing club, the New Orleans Aqua Aces, and the price of admission is only $15!


Eligible fish for this tournament are:

Amberjack
Cobia
Grouper
King Mackerel
Mahi Mahi
Mangrove Snapper
Miscellaneous
Red Snapper
Sheepshead
Wahoo
Yellowfin Tuna

Sponsors for this tournament are:

Big Fish Assassin
Spear Diver Spearguns by Gil
The Freedive Shop
Spearotek
Beuchat
Spearfishing Planet
NOLA Spearfishing
Crist Spears
BC Powerbands
Daryl Wong & Performance Freediving
Special Thanks goes to Chad Morris, Brian Head, and John Hanson who are personally donating items.

The rules are similar to LCUDC rules for entering fish onto the annual freediving derby board. For more information, visit: http://www.aquaaces.net/freediving.php

The 2009 Aqua Aces rodeo is this coming weekend and the forecast is great!

THURSDAY
NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 5 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTH LATE IN
THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 1 TO 2 FEET.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY
WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 1 TO
2 FEET.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
WEST WINDS AROUND 5 KNOTS. SEAS 1
FOOT.

SATURDAY NIGHT
SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 1 FOOT.

Visit AquaAces.net for more information: http://www.aquaaces.net/rodeo.php

Next weekend, June 4-7th is the 2009 Helldivers Rodeo. Entry fee is $50. It will be a great event. Visit their website to register online, buy raffle tickets and get more information:

http://www.helldivers.org