Louisiana Saltwater Series Announces Top Ten Team of the Year Anglers for the 2013 Redfish Series

Please join the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation in congratulating the top ten Team of the Year anglers for the 2013 Louisiana Saltwater Series Redfish Series.  The competition was very close throughout the year, and the final standings came down to the wire at the final tournament of the year, held last weekend at the Delta Marina in Empire.

The 2013 top ten teams are as follows:

Team                                                           Payout

1. Steve Smith & John Garrison                  $3,000
2. Nash Roberts, IV & Luke Landry             $1,500
3. Jacob Leininger & Jeff Rogers                 $950
4. Joe Barcelona & John Barcelona             $800
5. Tony Grose & Sal Fontana                       $750
6. Matthew Whitman & Ryan Schellhaas      $700
7. Michael McElveen & Rob Folsom             $650
8. Gary Wilson & Gus Wilson                        $600
9. Brandon Treadaway & Ryan Dolese/ Kevin Bergeron        $550
10. Charlie Howell & Hunter Howell/ Benjamin Behel                 $500

In order for teams to be considered for the Team of the Year top ten standings, they must have registered for all six of the redfish series events.  Points are awarded to teams depending on their placing during each regular season event.  Points from each team’s best five finishes are calculated to count toward the Team of the Year standings, which allows each team to drop their lowest score.

“My sincere congratulations to the Team of the Year anglers and all of our LASS anglers for another successful year, as they are the key to success of this tournament series,” said LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina.  “The information the Department gathers from citizen scientists is truly invaluable.”

Cash payouts for the Team of the Year top ten are generated solely from sponsorship support including Shimano, PowerPro, Coors Light, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Daybrook Fisheries, Omega Protein, Plaquemines Parish Tourism, Dockside Marine, Mercury, Conservation Force, Standard Mapping, Marsh and Bayou, Faux Pas Prints, Swamp Swatter, Frabill, Stick It Anchor Pins and YETI Coolers.

The next scheduled LASS event is our inaugural tarpon tournament scheduled for August 24 and 25 in Venice at Venice Marina.  The Redfish Series Championship will be held on October 18 and 19 at Venice Marina, and the public is invited to attend and find out which team will take home the 2013 title.  Our next LASS youth event is scheduled for November 2 at Myrtle Grove Marina.  For complete information, including rules, regulations and registration, 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.