MONDAY-TUESDAY
COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE/BOAT REGISTRATION RENEWAL: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., LDWF district office, 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles. Also Wednesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., LDWF district office, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette. Call LDWF Licensing (225) 765-2898.
WEDNESDAY
LA. SHRIMP TASK FORCE MEETING: 1 p.m., state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.
BIG BASS CHALLENGE USA: Through May 31, nationwide. Sponsored by Strike King Lures. Cash prizes/online tournament in four categories – Five Longest Bass, Five Bass Limit, Big Bass Bonus & Social Media Content challenges. Info/registration website: app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/9XwOQMCRAUeTyPfBp6z7.
THURSDAY
LA. WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9:30 a.m., Joe Herring Room, state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters, Quail Drive, Baton Rouge.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
ST. CROIX BASSMASTER OPEN/DIVISION 2: Lake Logan Martin, Lincoln, Alabama. Website: bassmaster.com
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
GULF COAST CLASSIC FLY FISHING FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Seminars, casting clinics, fly tying & Fly Fishing Film Festival. Fly Fishers International event. Website: ffigulfcoastclassic.org
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
LA. HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR BASSMASTER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Calcasieu River, Moss Bluff. Call Tommy Abbott (504) 722-6638. Website: louisianahighschoolbassnation.com
SATURDAY
SLU BASS FISHING TEAM BENEFIT TOURNAMENT: Safe daylight-3 p.m.. Doiron’s Landing, Stephensville. Entry fee $150, 4:30 a.m. registration. Call Cayden Reily (225) 405-0706.
FLY FISHING 101: 9-11 a.m., Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge. No fee. Basics of casting, rigging, fly selection. Equipment furnished. All ages,15-and-younger must be accompanied by an adult. Preregistration required. Also May 11 & 3-5 p.m., May 26. Call Shop (225) 757-7286.
HUNTING
TURKEY: Area A: through May 5. Area B: through April 28. Area C closed. Note: Tunica Hills WMA closed except for turkey hunters.
SQUIRRELS: May 4-26, statewide, private lands only. Limit: 3 daily. May 4-12 season open on selected state wildlife management areas (with/without dogs), the Kisatchie National Forest and several federal areas. See La. Hunting Regulations pamphlet for WMA listing.
AROUND THE CORNER
MAY 6-7—BASSMASTER COLLEGE SERIES/LUNKERS TRAIL: Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, Texas. Website: bassmaster.com
MAY 8—BUGS & BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N. Dorgenois Street, New Orleans. Fly tying. Open to the public. Email A.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com
MAY 9-12—BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES: Lake Murray, Columbia, South Carolina. Website: bassmaster.com
MAY 12—MOTHER’S DAY
FISHING/SHRIMPING
SPECKLED TROUT: New regulations in effect, 15 per day measuring 13-20 inches with 2 trout more than 20 inches allowed in daily catch.
OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Recreational & state for-hire red snapper; Southern flounder; gray triggerfish; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for gag, red, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.
CLOSED SEASONS: Recreational (opens Wednesday, May 1) & commercial greater amberjack; gag, red, goliath & Nassau grouper in state/federal waters. Federal for-hire, red snapper permit holders.
SHRIMP: Fall Inshore season closed except for double-rig line in Breton and Chandeleur sounds. All state outside waters open. Map website: wlf.louisiana.gov
LDWF UPDATES
All public oyster areas closed except Calcasieu Lake public take areas. The Calcasieu Lake area will close one-half hour after sunset Tuesday.
-Closed: Main road at Ruby Road station (Russell Sage WMA, flooding); Rice Field & Signo roads (Thistlethwaite WMA); Blackhawk Road/trail/boat launch, Lincecum Road/trail & Dobbs Bay Road (Richard Yancey WMA, flooding), Island Road fishing pier (Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA, parking lot repairs), Tram ATV Trail (Tunica Hills WMA, repairs), & Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction).
Email: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com