Acadiana Fly Rodders

In the 1990’s the menhaden fleet did not need to fish within 1/4 mile of the beach. This report from GSMFC shows over 80% of menhaden caught in Lousiana came from outside of 1 mile from shore. In fact a large portion of their sets were 3 to 10 miles offshore.

Why is the industry desperate to fish closer, only 1/4 mile offshore? They claim they can’t catch enough pogy outside of 1/4 mile from shore.

The answer is very simple. They have over harvested and after decades there are barely any year-2, 3, or 4 pogy left. Older pogy will exist in deeper water and younger fish closer to shore.

Further, they claim that what they harvest is but a fraction of the total amount of pogy biomass in the gulf. If that was the case, why are they unable to catch pogy like they used to from 1 to 10 miles offshore?

(Source: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission)

October activities now posted on our website at www.acadianaflyrodders.org . Our monthly meeting on October 16th will be at Pack & Paddle (in store) at 6:00pm. Topic will be overview for the AFR Fly Fishing 101 on Saturday the 25th. Acadiana Bugs & Brews will be on Thursday the 23rd at Pack & Paddle, 6:00pm. This month will be open tying (no featured pattern). Both our club meeting and AB&B are open to the public.

Acadiana Fly Rodders Promoting fly fishing, fly tying, conservation and fellowship

Make plans now for "Flies & Pies" - the 2nd annual fly fishing festival hosted by the ArkLaTexOma Fly Tiers - coming Saturday, September 20th in Natchitoches. It's a free event - and held in conjunction with the world famous Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. For details, go to www.acadianaflyrodders.org.