CCA President Gus Schram helped start GCCA-Louisiana 25 years ...

New red snapper study offers signs of hopenew study by Dr. Bob Shipp, head of marine sciences atA the University of South Alabama, and Dr. Steve Bortone,the new executive director of the Gulf Council, suggests that redsnapper stocks in the Gulf of Mexico are far from decimated. Infact, their research indicates that snapper are thriving due to thecreation of the largest artificial reef system in the world and theyclaim that evidence to the contrary may be the result of outdatedscientific models.Much of the Gulf of Mexico was once a featureless plain, butmore than 5,000 oil rigs off Texas and Louisiana and 20,000artificial reefs off Alabama have been added over the past 50years. For a species such as red snapper, which tends to concentratearound hard formations, the new structures opened upthousands of square miles of new habitat and dispersed the populationinto areas outside its historical center. The research byShipp and Bortone indicates that the models being used by theNational Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that show red snapperare severely overfished are not adequately accounting for thenew structure.newsResearch indicates red snapper stocks may be in better shape than previously thought“We’ve heard anecdotal evidence of a thriving Gulf red snapperpopulation from our members in the fishing community forquite some time now,” said Patrick D. Murray, vice president ofCoastal Conservation Association (CCA). “This new report offersan interesting explanation for it. The research by Dr. Shipp andDr. Bortone is an indication that the anecdotal evidence shouldbe examined more seriously.”The new study, published in Reviews in Fisheries Science,comes at a time when recreational anglers are limited to two fishper day during the shortest red snapper season ever in 2009,and offers hope that red snapper may be in far better shape thananyone thought.“This research should be thoroughly examined by NMFS andother scientists,” said Dr. Russell Nelson, CCA Gulf Fisheries consultant.“Recreational anglers have proven that they are willingto follow the best science for the resource, but it is incumbenton federal managers to ensure that we do indeed have the bestscience available.”Give BigTrout CPR!CC A LO U I S I A N ABy Chas Drost,Lake Charles Chapter PresidentCPRNo that’s not what I’m talkingabout. It means Catch,Photograph, & Release —— a conceptdeveloped by the Lake Charles Chapter of CCA and now coming toyou statewide.“We started this as a program to promote the good fishery wehave on Lake Calcasieu and to do something that returned thesebig fish back to the water,” said Rusty Vincent of Lake Charles.“The more big fish in the water, the better the overall fishery willbe. Other than conventional & acoustical tagging programs, thisis the only program in the nation that we know of that calls for therelease of big speckled trout.”Every CCA member is automatically enrolled in the free program,but only CCA members may participate. To participate, youmust take two (2) pictures of your fish. First a picture of your fishon a provided official STAR ruler sticker, and second, a picture ofyou holding the fish. You should then email both photographs toCCA Louisiana. You must provide your name, contact information,as well as length of the fish, and where it was caught andreleased.A winner will be chosen each month and be featured in theCCA Louisiana “On the Line” newsletter. Each winner will also beawarded a rod & reel combo or other CCA paraphernalia. At theend of the year, the longest trout released will win a free replicamount of your fish with a plaque.You may enter as many pictures as you wish and are eligibleto win every month. In case of any ties, the earliest entrantbecomes the winner.For more information, go to www.ccalouisiana.com.C AT C H • P H O T O G R A P H • R E L E A S EkidshotsFuture CCA president Brooks Drost proudly wears his new fishing shirton a trip with his father, Lake Charles chapter president Chas Drost.sponsored by Louisiana Fish FrySaturday, April 18The DockSlidell, LAGet the official rules and entry format CCALouisiana.com!kidshotsApril/May 2009 On the Line

starOur Signature DivisionLargest Fish DivisionsTagged Redfish(1) Chevy Silverado(9) 211 Mako with 150 hp Mercury OptiMaxSpeckled Trout(1) Champion 220 Bay with 150 hp Mercury OptiMax(5) 190RG Nautic Star with 90 hp MercuryMangrove Snapper16’ Weldbilt with 40 hp Mercurylemonfish$2500 Offshore Tackle PackageLadies’ only17’ Weldbilt with 50 hp MercuryDorado$2,500 Bluewater Tackle Packageamberjack$2,500 Deep Drop Tackle PackageKinG Mackerel$2,500 King Tackle Packageflounder(2) 16’ Weldbilt with 40 hp MercuryKayak (east/west)(4) Kayak PackagesLargemouth Bass (east/West)(2) Trips to Lake Guerrero, MexicoYouth Division(4) 14’ Weldbilt with 15 hp MercuryAll fish images, except for Largemouth Bass, are printed courtesy of Angler’s Guide To Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico ©April/May 2009 On the Line

Coastal Conservation AssociationMEMBERSHIP APPLICATION & 2009 S.T.A.R. EntryName ________________________________________ Phone ____________________ Fax ____________ e-mail_________________________Address _____________________________________________ City ______________________________ State __________ Zip _____________❑ New Membership ❑ Renewal Membership (Member ID#________________) ❑ Gift MembershipMethod of payment❑ Check orMoney Order enclosed❑ Charge to my (circle one):MasterCardAmExVisaDiscoverMEMBERSHIP ONLY: $ 25 ❑ Membership card, window decal, bumper stickers, TIDE magazine.S.T.A.R. ENTRY FEE: $ 25 ❑ Tournament entry fee. You MUST be a current member (adult or youth).MEMBER + S.T.A.R.: $ 50 ❑ All of the above plus 2009 S.T.A.R. entry fee.ASSOCIATE MEMBER: $ 15 ❑ Per each adult family member. All member privileges except TIDE.ASSOCIATE + S.T.A.R.: $ 40 ❑ Same as above plus 2009 S.T.A.R. entry fee.NEW TIDE (YOUTH): $ 10 ❑ Rising Tide newsletter, logo patch & decal, iron-on T-shirt transfer, redfish sticker.For members 17-and-under only.NEW TIDE S.T.A.R.: FREE ❑ Same as above for youth, plus 2009 S.T.A.R. entry fee.LIFE MEMBER: $ 1,000 ❑ Print plus special conservation gifts. Payable in four $250 installments._______________________________________SignatureCredit Card Number_______________________________________Parent/Guardian Signature of New TideMember or Buyer of Gift MembershipExp. Date ______________I understand that there are specific rules governing the conduct of the 2009 S.T.A.R.By entering this tournament I agree to be bound by the 2009 S.T.A.R. Tournament Rules, Release & Indemnity Agreement.(Membership in CCA Louisiana is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.)CCA Louisiana • P.O. Box 373 • Baton Rouge, LA 70821 • Phone (225) 952-9200 • Fax (225) 952-9204 • www.CCALouisiana.comB9OLA planned gift to CCA Louisiana will help you:• make plans that benefit you and your family,• bring immediate and deferred tax advantages to you and your heirs,q I would like more information regarding theplanned giving program at CCA Louisiana.• have a meaningful impact on CCA Louisiana and our goals and interests, beyond your own lifetime and far into the future.For more information on making a planned gift to CCA, please contact David Cresson at david@ccalouisiana.comApril/May 2009 On the Line 11

Coastal Conservation AssociationPost Office Box 373Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0373Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. PostagePAIDBaton Rouge, LAPermit No. 615Your official CCA Louisiana membership expires onthe date shown here. If the date has passed...pleasekeep us strong...please renew...even online atwww.CCALouisiana.com2009 CCA Spring EventsApril8.....Baton Rouge/Ascension Fishing Seminar18......................................... Redfish Challenge21...................Acadiana CCA Chapter Banquet23..............North Shore CCA Chapter Banquet29........................Bayou CCA Chapter Banquet30................. Felicianas CCA Chapter BanquetMay7.............. Lake Charles CCA Chapter Banquet15................. Livingston CCA Chapter Banquet20......................... Tangi CCA Chapter Banquet23...................................................STAR Begins28.............Baton Rouge CCA Chapter Banquet30............ Lake Pontchartrain Trout Shoot Outall dates subject to change