FlyLife Australia & New Zealand — Winter 2017

FLYLIFE^85

aptain Brian Esposito,
my regular Florida Keys
guide, had been insisting
for a number of years
that I should fish with
him in Louisiana. A native Floridian,
every year he heads to the Mississippi
delta to guide for giant redfish and
black drum, right at the end of the road
in Venice, Louisiana. Further piquing
my curiosity were reports from other
friends and a number of videos of big
bull reds eating poppers off the surface.
So I finally relented, swapped my May
tarpon slot for a November redfish slot,
and headed over to New Orleans. I
managed to convince my good fishing
friend Kelvin Ng to join me and com-
menced preparations.
Redfish have been a great success
story in the US, testament to what a con-
certed effort by fishermen can lead to.
In the late 1970s, in response to exces-

sive overfishing of redfish and speckled
trout in Texas, a group of recreational
anglers got together and started the
Coastal Conservation Association, aka
the CCA. The association grew, and as
a consequence more funds were raised,
which ultimately allowed the CCA to
fight for netting bans, additional protec-

tion by having redfish status promoted

to ‘Game Fish’, and bans on the sale

of wild redfish. As a result the redfish

and trout numbers have increased, with

anglers now flying to the USA to fish

for them. Definitely food for thought

and something Australia could learn a

lot from.

Of all the areas that harbour red-

fish, the Mississippi delta has built up

a reputation for large numbers of big

fish, with fishing zones being the Biloxi

marsh area around Hopedale, and the

bottom of the Delta around Venice. In

the fall the larger bull reds and black

drum move into the shallows to feed

on the abundant bait, and although

the weather can make life difficult the

numbers of large fish make it very

appealing. Whilst Biloxi is closer to

New Orleans, Venice is literally at the

end of the road down the Mississippi.

The other advantage of Venice over

C

Louisiana Redfish...

Postcard

David Reverdito

Blasting through the back channels.

The average size was impressive.

Home for the week.

KELVIN NG

KELVIN NG

KELVIN NG