Earlier this year dozens of bass fishermen asked a lot of questions about one of their favorite fishing spots, the Atchafalaya Basin.
Some have questioned the declining fish population and the overall health of the Basin.
Maybe some answers will come Thursday when state Wildlife and Fisheries Inland Fisheries Division biologists hold a public meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
State Inland Fisheries biologists will address "the current state of recreational freshwater fishing in the Atchafalaya River Basin."
While possibly not as interesting to freshwater anglers who ply this vast overflow swamp as the state of fishing, the Wildlife and Fisheries staff indicated they are prepared to summarize this year's recreational fishing survey.
There will be a public comment period.
They never learn
So last weekend's dove season opened the months-long hunting opportunity for tens of thousands across our Sportsman's Paradise.
Guess what?
Wildlife and Fisheries' EWildlife and Fisheries' Enforcement Division agents were busy again citing 32 folks for alleged dove-hunting violations, even arresting one among them for "possession of a firearm by convicted felon, hunting with an unplugged gun and possession of a stolen firearm."
So, if convicted, guess who's going to jail for as long as 20 years?
Still, it's the number of citations, most of them for allegedly hunting over bait with 25 of the citations written for shotgun-toting young men 30 and younger. A "hunt" in St. James Parish netted 12 young men and one juvenile in an allegedly baited field.
There were two citations for failing to use nontoxic shot on a wildlife management area.
This is a relatively new regulation, but one that needs heeding on both state and federal lands. Hunters cannot use lead shot on those places.
A handful of citations were written to folks using unplugged shotguns. Note here, when hunting all migratory birds and waterfowl, a shotgun cannot hold more than three shells.
Five were cited for taking over the limit of doves. The limit is 15 per day.
Four Mississippi folks were tagged for hunting without nonresident licenses.
In all, agents seized 219 doves and donated them to local charities.
One among this 32 was cited for intentionally concealing wildlife and faces fines up to $950 fine and a possible 120 days in jail.
Because most were hunting-over-bait citations, all alleged violators will be filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office with prosecution in Federal Court.
The full list of the names involved in these incidents can be found under Recent News on the Wildlife and Fisheries' website: wlf.louisiana.gov
Teal season
Our nine-day teal season opens Saturday across the state.
It's going to be hot, all of which means marsh and rice field hunters best be armed with insect repellent and take enough water to stay hydrated even if the plan is to hunt only for a couple of hours.
Take a hint from what happened in the dove fields and make sure your shotgun is plugged and can carry only three shells.
Make sure you're hunting with nontoxic shot and have all the appropriate licenses and stamps -- and have completed the Harvest Information Program checklist and carry this HIP certificate with you.
There are reports of bluewing teal in the marshes, even some in the swamps. Rails and gallinules also are allowed to be taken.
Because it's so warm -- and from checking all the alligator photos showing up on social media platforms last week -- alligators will be out so watch out for your retrievers.
Plea for amberjack
The move by Wildlife and Fisheries, and backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, to petition greater amberjack be turned over to state management drew support by CCA Louisiana, which stated closing the commercial season and nearing a close of the recreational season "threatens our anglers' access to the fishery for no reason."
The petition is going to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees federal fishery regulations.
Newly appointed CCA Louisiana executive director Rad Trascher said Louisiana "has demonstrated time and again that we can manage our fisheries responsibly while keeping access open for Louisiana anglers," and called for support from Louisiana anglers.
Snapper count
Through Aug. 31, the LA Creel survey estimate for the private recreational red snapper take is 788,014 pounds or 88.1% of our state's 894,955-pound annual allocation.
That's a one-week increase of 20,352 pounds from the estimate on Aug. 24.
Only on Mondays
Staffing issues have forced the state Office of Motor Vehicles to help with trailer registration only on Mondays from 8 a.m.-noon at state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
The state Department of Revenue will continue its 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday staffing at the Baton Rouge office to help process tax payments for registering boats.