Fishermen and boaters right now are a far cry from having their beloved outdoors back to what could be called “normal.” 

In Gustav’s onslaught, all across southern Louisiana marinas from Chauvin to Venice to Delacroix Island were ravaged by tidal surges and high winds that completely shut down those operations.  And the damages persist.

In the aftermath, it was the fisherman who suffered the consequences of a major hurricane on fishing grounds and fishing populations.  Wind blown water pushed tons of marsh grass into the principle bayous and canals, often stacking it 5 and 6 feet high in boat slips, over Lafitte skiffs and oyster luggers that were left in port during the storm.  Massive mats of the stuff were strewn across the main highways leading down to the popular clogged up “fishing spots.”

Then when there wasn’t marsh grass, there were canals, and bayous, and lagoons overflowing with exceptionally dirty, murky water, the result of  violent wave action and tidal movement on marsh detritus.  Biologically, no species of fish could survive in water that turbid, so even if fishermen could find a way “out” it would be almost impossible for them to find fish to catch.

Furthermore, every boater was put at extreme risk from sunken debris, oft times massive chunks of sheared off, jagged steel from boat sheds and trawl riggings and mooring docks, that lay submerged just beneath the surface of what ordinarily would be “safe, navigable waterways.”  All this underwater, post-storm garbage is often relegated to the least important task of hurricane cleanup (mostly because the cleanup crews generally can’t see it and are way too busy clearing highways and righting overturned trailers).

Of course, just about every fisherman I know is a stalwart individual who can easily adapt to adverse conditions.  And so is it, too, with changes in the outdoors and the environment. 

In other words, no matter what the cause, if a fisherman in southern louisiana, all the way from Cocodrie to Shell Beach, can put a boat in the water somewhere, he’s gonna put off house repairs for a little while and go try to catch a few trout and reds!

So here is the list of places that that genre can launch and “give it a shot.”

At Shell Beach:  Campo’s marina services closed, but backdown launch open.  Bring everything you need with you.  

At Hopedale: Breton Sound marina services closed, but backdown launch open.  No live bait available. Bring everything you need with you. 

At Delacroix Island: Lionel Serigne’s Place is still shut down, but he’s apparently allowing fishermen to use his new back down ramp.  No live or dead bait, so bring everything you need with you.

At Lafitte:  As of this morning, all the marinas are back up and running and the back downs are open.  At the time of this writing, however, there is no live bait available.  A few items can be bought at the site, but to be sure I suggest you bring everything you need down there with you.

At North Shore (Lake Pontchartrain):  The Dock Marina, while operating during limited hours, doesn’t have the hoist in service, but the new back down is available.  Bring everything you need with you.  Pick up your market bait at The Bait Shop on Front Street or Kenny’s Seafood on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell before launching.

At North Shore on U.S. Hwy 11:  Tite’s old abandoned launch is still available for a few back downs, but it’s not intended for anything other than aluminum jonboats.  The base of the ramp is broken off and the cement slab is partially undermined.  Launch here only if you must!  Pick up your market bait at The Bait Shop on Front Street or Kenny’s Seafood on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell before launching.

At South Shore on U.S. Hwy 11: No launching places are available.

At Seabrook: The Seabrook boat ramps will be available to pleasure boaters and fishermen once the high water recedes. No supplies available nearby.  Bring everything you need with you.

At Rigolets Marina: When the high water recedes, the twin back down ramps will be open (probably by late Saturday if Ike continues to pass us up).  The marina operator told me that they do have live bait in the tanks, but can’t get to them while the water is up.  At the time of this writing, water from Geoghagen’s Canal covers all of the parking lot and goes all the way up to the shoulder of US 90.

At Chef Menteur Pass:  Chef Harbor Marina’s double back down ramps will be open once high water recedes from the pass.  Ordinarily, it’s here that many fishermen get their live bait.  Post Gustav, they may or may not have live bait available.  Until further notice, bring everything you need with you.

At Cocodrie: Charter fishermen and marina operators say “Stay out of Cocodrie!  This is no time to be there!”  There’s no power, widespread repairs are underway, and visitors (and fishermen) will only complicate the recovery.  Nobody’s fishing because it’s the wrong place to try to fish right now.  I’ll let you know on this webpage when things are back to normal and the marinas and boat launches are back in operation.

At Golden Meadow: Charter fishermen and marina operators say “Stay away from  Cut Off, Galliano, and Golden Meadow!  Like Cocodrie, this is no time to be there!”  There’s limited power across the entire area, from Cut Off down to The Fouchon to Grand Isle, hardly any businesses are open, charter operators are shut down till further notice, and even the backdown ramps are severely damaged—Capt. John Aucoin told me this morning that they all have about a foot of mud covering the ramps and the parking lots.  Everywhere there are repairs underway, so the presence of fishermen at this time will only impede the recovery.  Besides, nobody’s fishing, even the proclaimed diehards  I’ll let you know on this webpage when things are back to normal and the marinas, boat launches, and charter fishermen are back in operation.

One other point of caution:

Even in areas that you might consider yourself well acquainted with, and that includes open lakes, bays, bayous, canals and lagoons. . .proceed with caution.  The high water Gustav brought floated everything from small items of debris all the way up to trashed house trailers out of the deep marsh where the storm took them into the waterways where they are barely visible.  If you clip along for the next couple of weeks like you always did, you could end up tearing the bottom out of your boat, ripping off the outboard lower unit, or even endangering your life. 

Cool it for a little while.  It’s all gonna be there when we get back to normal.