Louisiana DWF Hopes to Lure Young Anglers this Weekend

Louisiana Saltwater Series Hosts Youth Tournament in Grand Isle

Don’t know where to take your kids to fish during the Department’s  annual Free Fishing Weekend? LDWF will host its second annual Louisiana Saltwater Series Youth Tournament, on Saturday, June 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 1p.m. at Grand Isle State Park, coinciding with the state’s annual weekend event.

For two days each spring, the Department invites people to fish Sportsman’s Paradise without having to purchase a license. This year’s free days will be June 8 and 9.

Load up the car with friends, family and fishing poles and enjoy the family-oriented event which will also include fish tagging demonstrations, casting lessons, fish ageing demonstrations, cast netting, fish prints and loads of prizes.

“It is important to introduce kids to fishing at a young age, and these educational opportunities are a great way to get kids acquainted with fishing,” said LASS Tournament Director Mandy Tumlin. “We want to ensure that this pastime continues as an important family tradition for our children and grandchildren.”

Youth age 15 and under can participate in the tournament for a $5 entry free. Online registration at www.lasaltwaterseries.com is encouraged, but not required. Day-of registration will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the first 50 registrants will be owners of brand new fishing rods and reels, courtesy of CCA of Louisiana.

Prizes will be awarded for both live and dead categories, and all fish must be caught from the shore/pier. Each live fish brought in will be weighed, tagged and released as part of the Department’s Louisiana Cooperative Marine Sport Fish Tagging Program.

Fishing equipment is not provided at this event, so please remember to bring your own gear and bait.

The entry fee also includes a hot dog lunch, compliments of local sponsors including Friends of Grand Isle and the Grand Isle Community Development Team. Tournament sponsors also include Shimano, PowerPro, Daybrook Fisheries, Plaquemines Parish, Mercury Marine, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Standard Mapping, Faux Pas Prints, Marsh & Bayou, Swamp Swatter, Frabill, Stick It Anchor Pins and YETI Coolers.

For more information or to register, please visit www.lasaltwaterseries.com.

The Louisiana Saltwater Series is hosted in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation was formed to provide a means for individuals and corporations to become partners with the Department and Commission in the challenge of conserving Louisiana’s wildlife and fish resources.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.