Fishing Guide Pressure

I have several unpopular questions to pose to the many fishing guides who use this site. Do you think that the almost daily pressure you impose on your local fishery is having a negative effect? Do you think that you can harm the fish population with just rod and reel? When you hear the word "exploitation" do you get uncomfordable?

When you question peoples livelihoods you are liable to get some heated replies. I have a wife, a mother, and a mother-in-law and get plenty of irrational and emotional responses. Is it possible to get a straight forward answer so that you may enlighten this weekend warrior who seemingly has to go further and further every year for a decent catch.

I have fished on Big Lake my whole life, and have seen years of up's and down's. I do not think the guides fishing pressure was the reasoning I experienced bad fishing those years. I believe high winds over a long period of time or a whole lot of rain effected those times negatively. Since gill netting has been banned I have heard and seen an ultimate incline in numbers and size, atleast on Lake Big's.

gotten better since gill net ban, i doubt the guides have much of an impact.

this ignorant crap comes up every spring, without fail. Here are the facts: 20% of fishermen catch 80% of the fish. The fishery has been consistent since the gill net bans, so it supports the currnet limits.

I agree with the previous commentors here. Since the gill net ban, the trout have definitely increased in size in EVERYONE'S bag and the numbers are staying steady if not a little on the increase, especially with the trout.
If YOU are not catching fish, FARTBLOSSUM, I would highly recommend you HIRE one of the great charter captains in your area and have a professional show you HOW to catch more fish instead of getting on this forum and complain about them.
I, for one, will and have since coming aboard this great site, give anyone that asks all the advice of my 50 years' experience on the waters. I have personally trained some of the best guides on the SEtern Gulf waters to do the same. Guides, SIR Blossum, are what keeps this site going and the reason for the many posts from all topics.

Again, if you can't play golf, polo, badmitton, tennis, surf, swim, sing, hunt, or FISH, go hire a professional and quit whinning! JMHO

And just to add to the previous comment and answer another of your unjustified questions----------When I hear the word EXPLOITATION I think of the millions of Mexican illegals that are allowed in this country, and the joke of the extreme liberal Congress of these great United States and their idiotic actions. And I won't even mention FEMA or, God forbid, Barack Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!

Capt. John,you are well respected in your field by the ones that matter.
Plus we all know you don't have wheel barrows so you can't be doing too much harm to the fishery.
LOL
MOJO

Amen Capt. John

Capt. John: Well done!

i think they ought to pull about half of the yo yo's with captain's licenses off the water....

oh yeah, capt. john l, could you please tell us all where to fish? please post specifics, or possibly draw a map. what baits? also, when you go fishing there, could you please throw back all your fish that you worked to find so that i could catch them.

do people really think that the guides are affecting the fishery.. really???

I've become friends with several guides and they freely offer advice whenever I ask. I have even tied off on their boats while they were on a bite. Do I catch limits alot? Not really, but I don't work too hard at it. If I would work more hardcore and move around more, I could catch more. But I fish twice a month or more, and if we catch fish in the teens, that is enough for us.

Make a few friends on here, you just never know. The majority of the friends I have today are folks that I met through this and other websites.

...guides never hurt fishing they keep the ball roll'n for all of us... it was gill nets (anything done by man for major gross profits will always be depleated)...problem w/ some "Great Speckled Birds" (show-biz guides)...their mouth and flamboyance is bigger than the catch, thank God...cheers

Pilgrims.
Best bait in the box is those binoculars.
MOJO

are you turning into a "Skeeter"?

I was talking to a guy from Port Sulphur a week or so ago, and he said the "Skeeters" inherited that behavior from their father. I told him to keep a box of cornflakes on the boat, and next time he sees the Skeeters to dump the cornflakes in the water and watch them chsse the birds..........

Did somebody say "skeeters". Where?

it's this certain guide service that are the Skeeters, located in Buras.

Buras???.....But Capt John says those specktacles are for checkin out the ladies..........Hmmmm

I think the thousands of commerants do more damage than the guides or all the fishermen together , they sure or thick in the venice area .

I'm sure some will take offense to your question, but it is a legitimate one. The answer is that fishing guide pressure.... and overall fishing pressure in Louisiana.....currently does not affect fish numbers. Biologists have metrics to determine how effective annual spawns are, and currently fish can replenish their annual populations.

Now, a couple of caveats.....

1) By about August, there is a decrease of the 2-3 lb trout numbers caught. Why? Fishing pressure. There are still plenty of nice fish, but the numbers decrease because so many are caught in May-July. People don't want to believe this, and I'm sure the guides are still nailing them, but this is what biologists say. However, the spawn is so prolific biologists aren't concerned about future populations. But, it does show fishing pressure affects current populations.

2) Second, if we keep losing our wetlands, fishing pressure will be a concern and catches will be more restricted. This is because baby trout need the estuary to grow.

If the fisheries were suffering than the state/Feds would change the regulations. All the guides I have ever been around have been nothing but professional.

Nothing wrong with a man making an honest living.

...boy,they sure got some name changes ???

"who knows,only the Shadow knows"

...cheers

FB,
I run a small boat so I have to fish in heavily pressured areas. just have to learn the areas and more importantly learn the fisherman as well.

with every trip i learn more and catch more and most of the time i return to the dock with more than the guys in the big boats catch. but it is not about the limits, it is the time you spend on the water with friends and family that really count, catching fish is a bonus.

if you are out there cursing the guides while not catching i suggest another hobby.

I never understand why some one with a big boat wants to fish the high pressure area. It would be ok but why get upset with other fisherman when you can go to Cuba if you want to be alone. Same with guides remember a guide use to give GPS area he was fishing then get up set with the pressure. If you fish a pressure area like you said put up with it or go golf. The guy with the big boat has other options but the small boat guy or the one with kids does not.

Your right on with your thoughts Jeremy. Most average fisherman can catch fish when the conditions are right and they are biting. But, it takes experience and skill to consistantly catch fish on every trip even when the fish appear to have "lock jaw." Like the old saying, ONLY 10 percent of the fisherman catch 90 percent of the fish. I also agree that we need to worry more about habitat loss, than fishing pressure. Without habitat, there will be less fish in the future.

#4 Trout are there you have to find them. I could tell you all my spots but if you don’t know how to fish them you will scratch…..

I don't think that would be a good idea Jeremy. You'd have 2 dozen boats over those reefs.

Our team of certified and trained mechanics are equipped with the knowledge and tools to handle any issue your vehicle may be experiencing.
radiator repair service