gLgM~yE ~ RECREATION

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NATIONAL SEA G'RANT DEPOSITORy 'PELL LIBRARY BUiLDINgNARR"~'=' ~TT RAY CAMPUS

NARRAgANSETT, R I 028821

This publication was produced as a

cooperative effort between the

Louisiana Sea Grant CollegeProgram and the NationalOceanographic Data Center.Louisiana Sea Grant, administered bythe Center for Wetland Resources at

Louisiana State University, is a part of

the National Sea Grant Program,maintained by the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration, U.S.

Department of Commerce. TheNational Oceanographic Data Centeris a part of NOAA's EnvironmentalData and Information Service, U.S.

Department of Commerce.

Meteorological tables and coastalclimate information were contributed

by Richard DeAngelis of the NationalOceanographic Data Center and byProfessor S. A. Hsu and Robert A.

Sylvia of the Coastal Studies institute,Louisiana State University. Much ofthe recreation information, as well asboating and license regulations, camefrom material provided by theLouisiana Department of Wildlife andFisheries. Many of the colorphotographs used throughout werecontributed by the Office of Tourism.Louisiana Department of Culture,Recreation, and Tourism. The color

photographs on pages 4, 5, 8, and 17were contributed by the Office ofTourism. Louisiana Department ofCulture, Recreation, and Tourism,those on pages 1 and 20 were takenby Ronny Paille.

CLIMATE K RECREATIONWritten and Edited byElizabeth Coleman

Designed by

Ken Varden

LOUISIANA SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAMCENTER FOR WETLAND RESOURCESt OUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70803

Introdu '

Coastal Louisiana was created by lheMississippi River, which depositedsediments over thousands of years Ioform a series of broad overlappingdeltas The river penodically altered itscourse. forming a new delta with everymove, and today's coastal region iscomposed of several distinct della lobesthat are nch in natural and culturalresources.

Louisiana's coastal region is unique:countless lakes, bays, ponds. and tidalinlets surrounded by sweeping "prairies"of trembling marsh grasses; narrowsandy beaches rimming the Gulf; andoak-crowned ridges chenieis! risingfrom flat, coastal savannahs. It isdensely crisscrossed by marshy,wandering bayous and straight,man-made canals and parhally ringed byslender barrier islands. The lacyconfiguration of Louisiana's coast givesthe state some astonishingmeasurements: the official shoreline isonly 216 miles long, but if one followedthe ragged lines of protruding marshesand indented bays, the tourney would bemore than 15.000 miles

Marshes and estuanes nurture suchan abundance of fish and wildlife that

Louisiana is among the leadingproducers in the United States of finfish,shnmp, crabs, oysters. and furbearers.Offshore waters yield wealth of anotherkind � oil and gas. Coastal waters bristlewith drilling rigs and teem daily with avariety of industrial boat traffic.Waterways are usually crowded with ahodge-podge of vessels, en route toboth drilling grounds and fishinggrounds � often the same destination

Though the people of coastalLouisiana are a colorful mixture of ethnicheritages � Spanish, French. Italian,Afncan and German � most considerthemselves French, specifically Ca!unFrench. The Acadians. or Caluns, werea French-speaking people who wereexiled from their Canadian homelandNova Scotia, by the English in the 18th

century. Many found their way to southLouisiana, where the rich fishing,hunting, and farming opportunitiesinduced them to stay. Today it iscommon to hear south Louisianians ofGerman, Italian, or Anglo-Saxon descentproudly refer to themselves asCaluns � indeed, in coastal Louisiana,being Calun is a way of life as well as amatter of ancestry

For many of the older inhabitants ofcoastal Louisiana, French was the firstlanguage they learned and the one theyspeak exclusively at home although irirecent years the influence of televisionand the influx of immigrants from allparts of the nation have affected theselanguage patterns considerably. Culturaltraditions are primanly French CatholicFor example. Mardi Gras I FatTuesday" !. the last great celebrationbefore the ngors of Lent begin on AshWednesday, is celebrated throughoutsouth Louisiana with masquerade bails.parades, parties, and community-widegumbo dinners The celebration in NewOrleans is, of course, the most tamousone; there. the carnival season beginson Twelfth flight, January 6. and doesnot end until midnight of Mardi Gras day

It is a distinctive culture lts foodmakes spicy and imaginative use of batI'

seafood and rice. staples in southLouisiana cuisine Its traditional music. aunique blend of mellow accordion,sweet-and-sour fiddle. and, recently, thesleet guitar, compels the feet to danceAnd it is a Iun-loving culture. SouthLouisianians like nothing better than aparty. a festival, a cochon-de-fait pigroasll. or a fais da do dancej, and anyexcuse will do In south Louisiana, it salways laissez fes bon temps router � letthe gaod times roll � and indeed they do

The fruits of Louisiana agriculture.fisheries. and industry are honored withliiirs and festivals throughout lhe state,eeliecially in Saulli LauiSiana. Wherewit<.knnds ol parades miisic. dancing.il,iineS Ot ClianCe eatirig CanleSIS, artSt»<f < r,iltS iixliibitS, «nd Of<.oiiisi in<<eh hoer drinkinq attractili<iiis,iri<IS iif l!<<<if! Ie AmOnq tlte large,i!i<i f,i<nit<is I< stivals;ir<' tliose<.«ii hi,ii rtq <.raWfisli in BreauX Bridge.siiq,ir <;<nit in New Iberia, rice inCrowliiy strawtxfrrios in Ponchalaula,< r,ihs in L«combe. slirimp andlii tr<!fou<ti in IVlorqan City. oysters irtGalliiino ind oil in Jennings VariOusf,ivurifes <if Louisiana c<iisine also havettiri< d,iy ho<idio Ilk<i saus;<ge! inBroussard sauce piquanfe in Racelandand Kiiider red beans and rice in New

tishermen and trappers, trawling forshrimp and menhaden called pogies inLouisiana!, working crab traps andoyster beds. or trapping muskratalligator, and nutria for their valuableskins They work in the vast o:I and gasindustry that flourishes in southI ouisiana -on the drilling rigs. the Iowboats, the supply vessels. and thedredges � and they load and unloadcargo at Louisiana s four malordeeOWater pOrtS Their rei;realiOn iSoften an extension of theirlivelihaods � commercial shrimpers alsofish for pleasure. trappers hunt deer andduCkS. and OtfShore drillers like ta swimand scuba dive

Recreational opportunities for visitorsin south Louisrana are varied andnumerous There is somethrng foreveryone, whether it is antebellumplantation hopping el o ng the RiverRoad, sight-see ng and elegant dining inNew Orleans, or fishirtg for kingmaCkerel in the deep waterS of the Gululf

of Mexico The delights of New Orleansare well-known It is a Sophisticated portCity With a unique hiatariCal identity thathas wisely been preserved andvacationers there can exper ence ale all the

charm of the most cosmopolitanEuropean city.

Orleans. seafood in Lafitte, gumbo inBridge City, and Iambalaya in Gonzales.South Louisianians even honorthemselves and their special heritage,with the Festivals Acadiens in Lafayettethe Calun teStivalS at GallianO. POinteaux Chenes and Mamou, theFrench-Acadian music festival inAbbcville: and the two-week, nationallylamoiis Jazz and Heritage Festival inNew Orleans Numerous fishing rodeosare held in coastal Louisiana each year.the most famous being the tarponrodeos *t Grand Isle and GoldenMeadow Even Bastille Day, July 14. iscelebrated. with a community festival nKaplan

The people of coastal Louisiana arefarmers. raising rice. sugar cane,crawfish, cattle, and soybeans. They are

But Ihe co;istal ieq on cliiectlyhOrderinq Itic Gull of MexicO haS not'iirigOl flic luxury,ind CorivenieriCe IOund i.iNew OrleanS Or iii tile i!Olid ly reSOrtS OfFIOndd arid tlie MiSSiSSiplli Grill COaxlThe dem anrlS Ol iridii Str y theriecessities of liiily work, I'io ari!,i sunSt1ble tTtat SheS,!ii l flic tlireat OfllurriCaneS have 111 COrnbiiied to firn tresert cen Sir iiCliOti Orl LOuiSiana S COdSIThere are feW eaSy-IO-redCh Sandybeaches witt' access to the Gulf arid tiieOneS that exiSt,ire narrOW and brewnwith Sill FiShing CampS are OI'leri crude1ffairS Of weathered wOOd SOmet ineSbuilt on stilts to,ivoid tlooding, or Ir;iilersSet dOwii On,< l»OCO Of sliOre IirOlii!rty. i id Iliuy r;Oexisl willi various tylieS OfinduSlridl COriStruC.tioil Anrt SinCe Ihe .OritirliieiiS illaiSh erosiorl takirig lllaoi!irl LOt»Stdna S COdSI'll rr qiOn iS nOreSpectr r Ol buildingS Sutrte Ol Ilie OlderS'lruCturCS. Originally i! tilt Or> SllOrc nOwStand in water and 1ri! aCCr.SSible Orilyby boat Not even cemeteries areimmune it is nol uncommon lo see

qr lveSIOiies 'ti!i!teriiiq pieC,irioiisly ntithi! edge Of d C,iving ti,tnk

ROSIdttrdtlts lit~ !It ~ti Of thi' ki!ICI'i ipb tttf ~-PlaSltu l,ibl 'Clptll v,lt i Iy lli »iqlitho foorl tliey st~tve t'spt»'t,ttfy se,tfoorjis fr sli. di'licioiis,ind in in,iiiy i!lac !s,wniilrf bu Or'lettt tteo geurrliet cciisinoIVlotefs otter only tfle sliiiplesttiCCoinrllodalionS NightCI ibs,iloriq tli tcoast are generally boisterous, cateringtO Olfsliore oil I eld werkerS rindSportsrlien

SO LOCIISlarl i S COdSI. IS d plain pldCe,a WOrkiriqinaii'S plaCe wlicre reCredtienand work cire simultlripocis andSOtlleitmeS indiStiilquiShabli! Irum O1CliOther lf One iS Seeking elegance 1ndCOirlfOrt. LOuiSidrla s c.east iS nOt theplaoe tO tind it But tlie COaSt doeS Offera breathtaking natuidl be;iuty. plent if itfiSh 1nd Wildlife i Scit!trOiiiC;tl Clim,1tetl'lat allewS OiildOOr ri!C:r idtinnyear-raund. and friendly hOlpfiil peaplewtlOS ' ,relax '.d wny Ot life makeS viSitOrSwelcome

The Coastal Climate

Weather

Whether it S Spring FieSta in NewOrleans or New Iberia s fall Sugar CaneFestival, activities in coastal Louisianaare very much tied tn the region'sclimate � a climate characterized byabundant rainfall. with mild winters andhot. humid summers that are flanked bypleasant transitional seasons

Each season displays its own specialcolors. Warm autumns and mild wintersencourage the blooming of deep redcametlias and creamy white gardeniasIn spring, country roads are ablaze withthe mageritas, pinks. yellows. andwhites of azalea, clogwood lessamirie.and tung-oil blossoms Ivory mtignoliasline summer streets and purpie w iturhyacinth carpels thc bayous Thecoastal hindsciipo is dotted witlinumerous parksand gardens. whereevery seasori s colors glow against abackdrop of live oaks gray will Spanishmoss.

LC Ill sl I'i I ! 'Iixi.'ii xiii s .' iasl<ilv 'cii'I It" ii' i'- -I inc by au crag t: iltiyttimele nil' 'I" il ir s Ii'<il rui ii i ri nt'i've 60 Fyear iound Eveii on wiiiter nights,freezes are unuse;tf Close to the Gulf ofIVloxicr> wirit<ir reartings drop to freezingor below on Only onn tO tliree daySanmr«nlly. biit this or.curs on 18 lo 20 jtiys Irilit'id it .'ir Br!toil Roiige aridL;itayotle The Gulf of Mexico andprr:v;iiling SOii'lherly hreeZeS temper theexirecieS O' betl' winter and Summerand also provide the inoisture forabundant airilall. Dur ng tho winter. i;oldperiods tnorthersl are brie!, usuallylastirirJ orie to three days and frequentlyaccompariied by rain Winter stillprovides pleasant weather for visibng!he Garden Dialriot in New QrleanS Or;trolling through Ihi: huge gardens on. he ca pi tot ground s at Baton Roug e The,able indicates that lhere are aboutseven 1o ten good sightseeing days perw riter rnontli Good sightseeing weatlieris at a peak 'rom rnid-March tl roughMay and again from Septennber untilNOvember Whether one is attending thewater sports carnival in May at LakeCnarlos or the fall frog festival al Rayne,the weather cooperates on about 20 to25 days per monthduririg theseseasoris Days are often sunny. wittitemperatures in thc mid-seventies to loweighties and pleasant sot therly breezes

From mid-lvlay to about the end o'Sep ternbc r, d;iyt ime hig h te rrtp eratures

Sightseeing Weather Days

New Orleans Baton Rouge Lake Charles

JanuaryFebruaryMarch

AprilMayJuneJulyAugustSept e mbe rOctoberNovemberDecember

91017252313111117271710

7 81625241210121825

17 9

8 91826251513141926

17 9A day is considereo' a good sightseei ng day it using the 10 am, 1 pm, and4 pm C S 7 observations'

e temperatures reach 65-90 F two or three times~ when temperatures climb above 84 F. relative humidity remain

below 46 percent two or three timese precipitation occurs no more than twice~ visibility is greater than one mile at least once~ windspeeds are less than 17 knots two or three times

Waves

Clothing

average 85 to 90"F on 80 to 100 daysper season. At night they remain in theseventies F!. Conditions are generallyhot and humid, with frequent afternoonthunderstorrns. Close to the water, theseconditions are tempered somewhat bysea breezes; at Burrwood, for example,on the farthest point of land in the Gulfof Mexico, an average of lust 31 90'Fdays is recorded. Relief can be foundon the few beaches available alongLouisiana's coast or on a boat.

I ouisiana's broad continental shelfand position on the northern margin ofthe Gulf of Mexico result in a coastlinewith relatively low wave energy.Generally, in nearshore waters, wavesare na greater than two ar three feet inheight, except during the passage oftropical storms in the summer andsevere cold fronts in the winter, whenstrong winds can whip up seas along thecoast and in nearby bays and lakes.

In offshore waters, wave heights aregenerally less than four feet, particularlyfrom May through October. However,wave heights greater than 10 feet havebeen encountered throughout the year;"northers" occasionally generate seas of20 feet or more offshore, as do tropicalcyclones in suminer and fall. Adeep-water wave height of more than 30feet was observed during hurricaneCarla.

Rough seas are most frequent fromNovember through March. During anyseason, however, small-craft operatorsshould be alert to approaching stormsand high wind forecasts. The onset ofstorms is often quite sudden and briskwinds of 20 ta 30 knots can rapidly buildtreacherously choppy seas, even inshallow bays and lakes.

Tides and Currents

Along the eastern half of Louisiana'scoastline, including Chandeleur andBreton sounds, the Mississippi Riverdelta, and the recreational beaches atGrand isle, the astronomical tides areless than one foot in height and aretypically diurnal; that is, only one hightide and one low tide occur each day,Farther west along the coast fromAtchafalaya Bay to the mouth of theSabine River. the character of the tidegradually changes, so that on most daysthere are two high tides and two low

tides, but they are usually of unequalmagnitude. The range of rise and fallalso increases along the western half ofthe Louisiana coast. although nowheredoes the predicted tide exceed two feet.

In order to choose the best fishingtimes, recreational boaters andfishermen need to be aware of thepredicted tides in Louisiana. But theyshould also be aware that unpredictedwater surges caused by bad weatheroften exceed normal tide range. These'meteorological" tides and theirassociated currents are produced by therapid shift of wind from south to north,which regularly accompanies thepassage of cold fronts in winter andspring. Away from channels and nvermouths, surface currents seldom exceedtwo knots. Along the Gulf shoreline,

currents run parallel to the coast. Westof the Mississippi River delta, theygenerally move westerly.

Most of the year � certainly from Maythrough October � coastal recreation inLouisiana requires only very lightclothing, and short-sleeved shirts,bathing suits, and jeans or shorts areadequate. The winter months, of course,demand warmer clothing � wind-resistant lackets, sweaters, and heavyshirts and trousers. But even duringDecember and January, one must oftenbe prepared to peel off layers of clothingas the sun heats up the day. Winter orsummer, however, rain gear is usuallynecessary, as storms are frequent.

Finfish

Sport Fishing

Because Louisiana's climate is mildand its offshore and estuarine watersabound with an astonishing vanety offinfish, fishing and boating are not onlycoastal Louisiana's most importantrecreation. but an integral part of thelocal culture. A complex system ofwaterways takes anglers into vastmarshes or to the open sea foryear-round fishing. Commercial marinesand charter boat companies arenumerous, making it an easy matter forvisitors to arrange fishing trips or tolaunch their own boats. Besides garnefish, Louisiana coastal waters offershnmp, crabs, and oysters.

The fresh, brackish, and salinemarshes of Louisiana's coast � aseemingly infinite vista of waving marshgrasses laced with canals � providepnme fishing, shnrnping. and crabbingareas. Coastal estuaries form vastnursery grounds for both finhsh andshellfish. which mature in theseprotected waters and then migrate to theopen sea. T he major estuarine lishspecies available in brackish and salinernarshes are speckled trout, redfish reddrum!, flounder, sheepshead, andcroaker. Freshwater marshes offervarious species ot bass, sac-a-lait crappie!, sunfish, and bream bluegill!.

In the southeast section of the coast,especially productive fishing groundsoccur in the region associated withTerrebonne, Timbalier, and Baratariabays, in the Mississippi delta. and in themarshes east of the Mississippi River toLake Borg ne Thousands of marshlandacres are designated as wildlifemanagement areas. owned by the stateof Louisiana and open to the public forfishing, hunting. and other outdoorrecreation The southwest coast offersboth salt- and freshwater marsh fishing

at the federally owned Sabine andLacassine wildlife refuges, as well as therich brackish marshes at RockefellerRefuge, which is open for sport fishinqmuch of the year Fishermen shouldcheck with refuge headquarters fordetails concerning public access.Calcasieu Lake, where speckled trout,redfish, flounder, and shrimp areplentiful, is noted for its excellentsaltwater fishing.

The aluminum bateau, 14 to t 6 feetlong, powered by a small outboardmotor, is ubiquitous in Louisiana marshfishing. These boats are easilymaneuvered in the marsh, especiallywhen water levels are low. thoughsometimes marsh vegetation is so thickor the water is so shallow that it isnecessary to push a boat along with along paddle or push pole. Marsh fishingis especially popular in the winter and

early spnng, when such species asspeckled trout and redfish move inshoreand are plentiful there. It is notuncommon to catch both freshwater andestuanne species in the freshwaterareas.

The offshore angler in Louisiana willfind deep-sea fishing as fine as any inthe nation. R ig -fishing � near thethousands of oil platforms erected in lheGulf of Mexico � is popular andespecially productive, because theplatforms function as artificial reefs,attracting a wide variety of fish. Gamefish commonly found in the Gulf includetarpon, lemonfish cobia!, both blue andwhite marlin, king mackerel, Spanishmackerel, dolphinfish, red snapper,pompano, bonito, sailfish, tuna, grouper,and wahoo.

ln rig-fishing, the angler should becautio~s. The platforms are encrusted

Crabs

OySterS

with barnacles and can do seriousdamage to small craft and humanhands, so fishermen should be careful inoperating boats close to them orin attempting to tie up to them. Platformsare not easily boarded from a smallboat, and should not be viewed as ahaven in severe weather.

Many visiting offshore fishermenprefer to charter a boat and thus benefitfrom the services of an expenencedguide. though if a ffsherman has his ownboat. he can gain access to the Gulf viapublic launching ramps or the facilities atcomrnercia! mannas throughout thecaast. Marsh waterways can be intricate,however, and before setting out alone,the visitor unaccustomed to them shouldObtain a map of the area.

Those without boats can also findfishing opportunities in coastalLouisiana, though public access tosaltwater is limited. Surf fishing ispopular, and surf fishers can catch avariety of species from the beaches atGrand Isle, Elmer's Island, FourchonBeach, or Holly Beach. At thesebeaches flounder are often caught atnight when the fish move to the shoreand bury themselves in the sand.Carrying a spear and a lantern orflashlight. the fisherman wades in theshallows; when he tinds a buriedflounder, which resembles a flattish,saucer-shaped lump in the sand. hespears it Other popular fishing sitesinclude the public fishing pier at Grandisle State Park, the abandoned bridge atCaminada Pass. and the rock ietties atPort Fourchon and Cameron.

In Louisiana public waters, there is noclosed season on sport fishing, thoughthere are creel limits an a number ofspecies see Louisiana Sport Fish!

season begins on the third Monday ofAugust and lasts until December 21.Though outside waters are open toshrimping year-round, the mostproduCtive rnOnthS are May and Juneand froin late August to December.

Recreational shrimping is popular inLouisiana and the recreational shrimpcatch has been estimated to equal theinshore commercial catch. No licensesare required. provided that therecreational shnrnper's trawl is na longerthan 16 feet, that he uses the catch forhis own consumption, and that hecatches no more than 100 pounds ofshrimp per day. Any fisherman who usesa longer trawl, catches more than t 00pounds of shrimp in one day, or intendsto sell his catch is sublect to commerciallicense requirements. Vore detailedintormation about Louisiana shnmp lawsmay be obtained fram the LouisianaDepartment of Wildlife and Fishenes orfrom the Louisiana Sea Grant CollegeProgram.

A trawl does not have to be large tobe effective. For inshore shrimping, a16-foot trawl pulled behind a t4-foot skiffcan yield a plentiful harvest. Cast netsare also effective, especially in areasaround weirs. Seines are useful alongthe Gulf beaches in the months fromAugust ta December, as, during thisperiod, strong southerly winds oftenpush offshore shnmp into concentrationsnear the shore.

The blue crab is an abundant shellfishin Louisiana coastal waters. andcatching it is a popular pastime for allages. Most crabs are caught in inshorewaters or along Gulf beaches at suchplaces as Grand Isle, Holly Beach, orElmer's Island. Crabbers in boats shouldrespect floating oblects, as they may bepart of a commercial crabber's crabtraps

Beach crabbers can fish for crabs bysetting aut baited trot lines or crab netswith wooden floats and checking themoften dunng the day. Chicken necks orfish heads tied at regular intervals alonga trot line are usually effective forattracting crabs: in removing the crabsthat cling to the bait, a dip net is helptul

Most oyster grounds in Louisiana areprivately leased and not open torecreational fishing, though there arepublic oyster beds in Lake Calcasieu,where taking oysters with tongs ispermitted. Fishermen often find clumpsof wild oysters growing an shell depositsand pipe lines in the brackish marshes,but caution should be used in removingand opening the oysters. as their shellsare sharp.

ShrimpTrawling for shrimp is both

commercial venture and recreation incoastal Louisiana. The rnalor shrimpspecies found in coastal waters arewhite shrimp and brown shnrnp,

For shnrnping, the state divides itswaters into two classes � inside, open toshrirnping only twice a year, andoutside, open all year long. Insidewaters include lakes, bays, and tidalchannels. Outside waters are a narrowzone extending seaward three milesfrom the coastline. The spring shrirnpingseason for inside waters starts in lateMay and lasts at least 50 days. The fall

Louisiana Fish RecordsThe Louisiana Outdoor Writers

Association awards certificates for thelargest fish caught in 15 freshwater and35 saltwater categories. Fishermenreceive awards if their fish place in thetop ten of each category. Anyonecatching a potential record fish mayobtain an appficatian form from theLouisiana Department of Wildlife andFisheries, from rodeo weighmasters atmalor rodeos, or from the sports editorof the Baton Rouge State Times.

To enter a fish for record consideration,

the fisherman must have a pictureof the fish and the signatures of twowitnesses who saw the fish weighedon state-inspected scales. It the fish iscaught in a recognized fishing rodeo, theweight recorded by the weighmaster isacceptable without additional witnesses.Other requirements are specified on theapplication form.

Record applications should be mailedto the sports editor, Baton Rouge StateTimes, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge70621.

Relative Humiditymean %!

Visibility 1/2 . m ~ %!

Sea Surface Temperaturemean 'F

Mean Wave Height ft!

'-' '' &vironnfiitfttl ~OrW JS. Gulf Coast, Prospered for the g8. AnnNational Oc hemic, A~traflen; &Hronrr~al ~Center,

*

Air Temperature 'F!mean

32' %!!85' %!

Surface Wind

mean knots!�4 kn %!

Precipitation% frequencythunder and

lightning %!

cather Guide

to Of&hore Louisi

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV

63. 0 64.0 66,0 71.0 77,0 82.0 84. 0 84,0 82,0 77,0 70,00.1 ' 0.0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0.0 0.0 00.0 * ' 0,7 4,0 21.0 40.0 40,0 1 8.0 4.0 0.5

'13.0 13.0 13.0 12.0 'l0.0 9.0 8.0 9.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 1/I fan%'- ~'�-.~:.1.1 1.0 1,1 0.6 0,1 0.2 0,1 0,2 0,9 0.9

79.0 80.0 80.0 81,0 81.0 78,0 77.0 77.0 78.0 75.0 76.0 78.0

30 5-0 30 20, 2.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 4.0',

0.6 08 0.9 '1,Q 1.1 1,2 3,0 2,1 'f.4 0.8 0,5 0;6

1.0 1.1 0.4 * ' 0,1 * 0.1 0,2 0.1 0,3

68.0 67. " 68.0 71.0 77,0 82.0 85.0 85.0 84.0 80.0 75.0 71,0

4,0 4.0 4,0 4,0 3,0 2,0 2,0 2,0 3,0 3,0 4,0 4.0

.0 27.0 23.0 17.0 10.0 7,0, 8,0 10.0 13.0 13,0 20,0 23,0

Luuisiat1a Spent Fish

Freshwater Fish S~ttwater Fish

1. ! ARGEMOUTH BASS ivftc.-ooferus sa mo!Ces

Local Ni".f11e: grec" trout b.'ack bassSize: La. record 12 lbs. averaae, 1-3 lbsSeas i year-rout d; �,'it' o:gh fea,".,ng decreases in col-er

weather and ircieases as weather v"arms cree! Iin.n,15 day

Fish:ng Methods ar!d Ba ts: vvid variety c' methods.;f,satc mn1only 'v!h ar!:!icta! lures such a, plas'�c w un.fsspinner ba~';s. or pltfgs. aiso fly fishing crawl!so. sfi'ag . ti'Isec*. larvae. 'iv� ms at!cl bait n'n! low . 8!I 'exlent balf can1mar, }~ e!ite!s hrack:sh water.

9. AMBER tACK Ser'iaa Cttrrne",'r

" SPOTTED BASS IÃ oo!= usn! ncl laf s

Lo al Name: Ken'.: i ky bass-Si. = La reco;d. 4 lbs. 14 az.. ava,age. 1 la.Seasan: year-raun f Creel licit:t. 15 dayFts!1!fig fvtsihods an;,' Baits: same as larger ia.th bass.

pf'ef=i sf!Ovrt:Q st can's and 'ot:.=. ".~J! ..i' '3'.t= 3!1y d 't:i t e.of br "ck:srf vv te!1

3a-b. CRAPP!E:,WHl I AND Bt '1CK; Pomoxis sco.Loca! Name: sac-a-lait'. whi'.e: et~It, sp =kled bass. o"

speckled pe"chSize: La record 6 !his.."ceno!at!y ur to 2 IbsScasni- yea;-rai.'rid best in spring, r-el limit 50 cayF shine ttrfethads 3 Balls, s..'nf c1s bf: gi'f b..: snxitl!

fT!ir: faws fai' ba t

Lccal Name bre= . s.,'sh. p r 'Size. La recc rd for br am. 2' i . ' gc' c, I "i 6 oz to 1 IbSeaso rL year-round, creel liii i. Qr al' types .",' blueg ',I

coma!neL». 1 00 dash'ng iMe!hac s; ad Ba.'.' . v'icp var; 'tv care i nip Io b, '.

crtc~e':s. v a, t ' =,. a" cf avi:s, I, 3 .. ~cfal IL! t3SI,gs ar spinners are xce ient

5. STRIPED BASS .4farnnt; saca.',::s

Local i Jante stf',oein h id!'sf tS:ze: La recai' 33 Ib,... gene;uI'y 10-20 lbs.Season hest f!sl ~tfg i!1 =pr ni! cree !;.f 5 dayF sf:I!1g Itr".c!hods ar f 8!utin c:,s!ing o; trclli'ng w:f- ra t

f,fiahj Or IL!'eS NOIQ' Hyi!ita Slr., !!4 Qc!SSI ave ht pi, S',ockpd in ' 3- cree-l!'.i:!,I oi 5 Qai/,

Local Name: stoa-r barfishS ze: La, record 3 lb;. 4 az ge1e a!Iy 1-2 lbs.Seasan. best ffs'3 fg .r winter and scnng ere!el Iir, '.,

25 clayF';sltfncJ Methods an«Ba'' . Des! w'!h light tackle 3-ii f! es

S L! i t1! f e r S . Of' VV i i 1 b 3 i I trn» I n 0 W 3

7. WARMOUTH L.epar::s gu,'osusLac at Name gcg;!p'c; '.Size. La. record ti: ~ lbs.. go;1erally 6-12 oz.SL so!1: san e as Cilt,e, I'! Qt' rt tost sun;!sir O' ' ' .I i:I 100

QayF:sit!fig Met"ioc!$ ar1d Baits. s;t;!1e as biiiL,:,II

8 YELi OW BASS l'io"one rnississ pp -=, "rsLocal Na1!e: str:pc:r barf::shSi e: La. record not I sted for snec es; gert!' ~ '!y 1 2:bs.Season. bes':!is"�n in sprit-tg creel Iin!'t, 50 !;yFist'it!1g Mfet ioc.s iarid Bans: 5!f1 filar to vvhi,e bas

11

BLUEGILL Leporn }1 n ac ocijirus

6. WHITE BASS !Via one chrysoos

11.

12.

13

Lt ' al N=n e. lac,iSixe La rLL d 130 = lbs.. ca!Tfmonly 1-50 lbs.Se;1sn» fni:3; coi!::;I: ir1 cl rin ' sLimmerF'-:'!1!Qg iM!i !hade <" !it B:::+s st!lifts"»ng 'v th live La'it, most

ofteii r,e,-: rtgs;".,g rg or tral!.ng w,th artif!c al lures ori'.3!u!a! ha"s lik-. Squid and f!S'1

WHi! TE MiARL!N le' I'' urus 3 bier i' sLocal Nan, w-.ta marlir,S'z- La ieL'ifd 134 ihs, ustially 50-60!bsS,.:=:s i: g.:.»e;aI'!y tray to Octobe~Ffs i'tg iMic!f ods all I Baf!s. Sfmf!ar *:,Li b!ue ma "lin but

s'.' tcf lief be t s at!! i a ' use

SHEEPS - AD Arc!fosargus probe!Qcepi jaiusI ot-wi Naf"�., s.'1pci!si'iiac,S ze La re=ord 2! ' iLs.. commonly 3-5!bsSeas » r yi:ar fait!1 k o-st tn' wli I i'Fls 1 tg Me" "OL'3 ..' 0 Ba.'.s: bottom-I sl-iina w!th shnmp.

OySte.". Or Crah p!=CQS O!1 hOOk near pl!!ng", rigS. Orbnc!rcs.

SNAPPER'' I ut s s!.p.L jc .I Na: .;".:. red. gray canc y, scl.oolr1asier and cubera

S".Sou "r~,ze L record 79 ms, corn!roe!1 y 1 5 fbs~aason: }'cef,-t'aii!1dF'sli "ng M=lh»:'s and Ba,ts aotton, ttshfng vvith cut ba fs

si:,u a j g, c 'ner1 "Iy near r'gs,

FLOH!DA POMPANO Tracjtinotus ca "o'riffsLo .=.I Nacn=. porn" =: aSiz» L!L record 8'; lbs g rcrally 2-4 lbs.Sea-.on be=,t t»11ei:n La. Is Novemb!er ta MaichF s!'rg M. tho = ai,d Bai!s bot'.Om':s!1ng Ls,r1g snial!4gs

Oi "aok= W.'ii S, ."',...;. Or S.,ii d

ATL AN !C CRC!AKER," f rapogo'i as ndula! rsc"' ' kpi "'il! c O3kcf

S ~ e i =. !ecatd 6 lbs ' ammo,,ly ':-3 l'bs.Sea:» x i.' '' '; -f'Li» 'n.l. bo'. f11o '; ' cintlnol1, r: v'artfner mfanths.

g=n iaily ac-e frair1 bavs by late Cciobe : good offshoreiV I

F'3'�;:I :Methods ann Baits: bottcm !sh�ng w.',h pieces ofcrab s!u iip or squid also sn1ali "touts

TRIPLETAi' I o!:Ores sur!nan.ensist o . 3 I N 3! i i ~ I~ I." "k r ' iqS'zp La. re .'!f 3g. It! ., gc1e ail}r 20 30 I'bs$ :! - "..;-;; QL- I tfs.; Jxg n summerFis-»ni MethotdS and Ba,s: st!!lfis'hir;g f,ea~ wrecks or

3"! furil r gs v; th shi imp or small l,sh.

TUNA Tifuni �. spp

Loca' Na -i=s gp!iL! 3!:y ~efe. red to str1pfy as tuna: bluefiniye! !o" I n, at!6 ala ..k;.!1 are species sougl-,t in La. waters

Siz- La. r= L f'ds 691 Ibs blue'in!: 211 Ibs ye!Iowlinj,31,bs f hla .x tnl

Se1S;n: i:est fish r g for al' th",ee spec'.es May to JulyF s;,ng fv!Qbsods and Baits. trolli:1" v'.!6 fish c" art ficial

I '.;-::=. to h'ac~fit! Qnta stll'::-shing w tht'vefjshnearrlgs.KING MACKEREL Scan.bcromoru- cavalla

LOLa! ¹n e k:na, k::-a'»sh, ar king mackerel

Freshwater Fish

3a. BLACK CRAPPIE2, SPOTTED BASS1. LAR G E MOUTH BASS

~ J'!'W~-

3b. WHITE CRAPPIE5. STRIPED BASS

4. BLUEGILL

8. YELLOW BASS7 WARMOUTH6. WHITE BASS

Saltwater Fish

9. AMBERJACK 10. WHITE MARLIN

gj-

Jj,

13. FLORIDA POMPANO12. S NAP PER

pg;lT1

11. SHEEPSHEAD

16. TUNA

14. AT LA NTIC CROAK E R 15. TRIPLETAIL

18. SPANISH MACKEREL17. KING MACKEREL

12

19. BLACK DRUM 20. LITTLE TUNA 21. JAG K CR E V ALLE

22. BLUE MARLIN

25. COBIA24. SAILFISH

26- WAHOO 27. BLUEFISH

29. SPOTTED SEA TROUT28. DOLPHIN

31. RED DRUM30. SOUTHERN FLOUNDER

13

30

24

*These are the on! y two saltwater fish for which there is a creel limit � acombined total of 50 speckled trout and redfish per day, with amaximum of two days' catch in possession. Fishermen may not riavemore than two redfish longer than 36 inches per day.

"La records are hsted for snapper; there are 4-6 species m La. waters.The cubera and red snapper are the largest.

*" This fish is popular as a sport f! sl' but s not widely regarded as a goodfood fish.

19

20

21

22

23

Size: La. record 82 lbs., "school mackerel" generally10-40 lbs.

Season: year-round: best late fall and winterFishing Methods arid Baits: trolling with strip bait, spoons.

jigs, or surface plugs: also stillf!shing with live fish nearrigs.

SPANISH MACKEREL Scomberomorus macuiatus

Local Name: Spanish mackerelSize: La. record 10' '2 lbs., generally 1-4 lbs.Season: summer eand fallFishing Methods and Baits: trolling or casting with jigs

lures, or spoons.

BLACK DRUM Pogonias cromisLocal Name: drum, sea drum, drumfishSize: La. record 77 lbs., usually 20-50 lbs., common 1-5

lbs. in marshSeason: year-roundFishing Methods and Baits: bottom-fishing with clams,

crabs. or shrimp.

LITTLE TUNA**' Euthynnus alletteratusLocal Name: bonito not true bonito!Size: generally 5-10 lbs, sometimes to 20 lbs.Season: year roundFishing Methods and Baits: trolling or casting w th artificial

lures: sometimes with fish.

JACK CREVAl LE Caranx hipposLocal Name: jackSize: La. record 51".~-lbs., commonly 20-35 lbs.Season: year-round, most common in summer and early

fallFishing Methods and Baits; casting with plugs, spoons, or

live bait such as mullet: also drift fishing.

BLUE MARl IN Makaira nigricansLocal Name: marlinSize: La. record 1018' z lbs.. usualty 300-500 lbs.Season: most common May to OctoberFishing Methods and Baits: trolling offshore with artificial

lures, spanish mackerel, ballyhoo, mullet, squid:TARPON Megatops attanticusLocaf Name: silver king, grande ecailleSize: La. record 222':~ lbs., sometimes 150-175 lbs.,

commonly 75-150 lbs.Season: summer and early fallFishing Methods and Baits: troll:ng with plugs, spoons.

mullet or squid; also stillfishing with mullet and crab.

SAILFISH lstiophorus plafypterusLocal Name: sailfishSize: La. record 96 lbs.Season: best fishing from May to OctoberFishing Methods and Baits: similar to martin.

COBIA Rachycentron canactumLocal Name: lemonfish or lingSize: La. record 105'4 lbs.. commonly 10-50 lbs.

26

27

28

29

Season: most common late spring to early-summerFishing Methods and Baits; casting with plug, five bait such

as mullet or squid near rigs. buoys, floating debris.

WAHOO <canthocybium solanderiLocal Name: wahooSize: La. record 139'.:~ lbs.Season: best fishing April through August =Fishing Methods and Baits: trolling with batao halfbeaksi

or mullet similar to marlin}, probably most caught whilemarlin f!shing.

BLUEFISH Pomatomus sallatrix

Local Name; b!uefishSize. La. record 21 lbs., commonly 1-5 lbs.Season; year-round. but most common in surnrner around

!'!gsFishing Methods and Ba!ts: trolling or jigging with artificial

lures: st llfishing with cutbait; will strike at almost any-th'-:ng; use of wire leader recommended.-

DOLPHIN Coryphaena hippurusLocal Name; dolphinfish, dorado, bull dolphinSize: La. record 71! ~ lbs.. .commonly 10-20 lbs.Season: most common in June and JuiyFish! ng Methods and Ba,ts: surface trolliog with fish mul-

let or flying f!sh! and squid; also artif!cia} lures.

SPOTTED SEA TROUT Cynoscion nebutosusLocal Name: speckled trout, "spec," trout:Size: La. record 12 lbs. 6 oz.. sometimes 6-8 lbs.. com-

monly 1-4 lbs.Season; year-round, but fishing genera!Iy best in fall and

early winter in marshes: in warmer weather in open wa-ters and along beaches

Fishing Methods and Baits: casting with jigs "tout ' oroth r shad rigs!, spoons or plugs, still or drift fishing withshrimp or cockaho minnows: shad rigs. baited withshrimp and with a popping cork.

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER Paralichthys lethostigmaLocal Name: fiounder, mud flounderSize: La. record 12 lbs., commonly 1-5 lbs.�Season: can be caught year-round, 1arger-cines caught

from November to FebruaryFishing Methods and Baits: bottom fish!ng wit"i shrimp or

cockaho minnows; also, gigging!n sand at night. usingspear and lantern,

RED DRUM Sciaenops ocellatusLocal Name; reds; small ones called "rat reds" or 'puppy

drum," large ones "bull reds"; rarely called channel bass.Size: La. record 56':2 fbs., generally 20-40 lbs. bulls!.

common 5-10 lbs.Season: best fishing in late summer and early fall bull

reds!: fall and early winter in n;arshes rat reds and puppydrum!.

Fishing Methods and Baits: bottom fishing with cut mulletor crab for bulls; casting with j!gs, shrimp. crabs, or coc-kaho minnows for smaller reds.

F sh lllustrat ons by JOHN BRQV'tN

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helpful and salient points that can bestressed here.

D If a visitor's boat is registered inanother state, he does not have toregister it in Louisiana, unless he planstO keep it in the State far mOre than 90consecutive days.

Regardless of size, every boat mustcarry at least one life preserver for eachperson on board, including rowboatswithout motors. Only devices approvedby the U.S. Coast Guard are acceptable.

All boats must have an efficientsound-producing mechanical device � ahorn, whistle, or bell.

If a boat is operated between sunsetand sunrise, it must have lights; formanually operated boats, a flashlight orlantern is sufficient, but for motorboats,depending on size, a more complicatedsystem of lighting is required.

Sailing About Boats Regardless of size, every boat mustcarry a fire extinguisher whenever openflames or devices for heating andcooking are used onboard. The type offire extinguisher required depends onthe size and type of inotorboat.

Paddies, anchor, rope, flares, andfirst-aid kit are not required by law butcan be important to have for both safetyand convenience.

Sailing Weather Days

Southeastern SouthwesternLouisiana Louisiana

Diving

Adayisconsideredagoodsailingdayiff'usingthe7am, f0am, f pm,and4 pm C.S.T. observations!:

~ windspeeds of 7-16 knots occur at least twice~ precipitation occurs no more than twice~ visibility reaches 2 miles or more at least once~ temperatures of 65 F or more occur at least twice

17

Southerly breezes make sailingpopular in a number of lakes and baysalong Louisiana's coast, particularly inlakes Pontchartrain and Borgne in thesoutheastern area and in Vermilion Bayin the southwest. As indicated by thesailing weatlier table, conditions aregood to excellent from mid-Marchthrough mid-N ov ember. During thisperiod, winds frequently range from 7to 16 knots. Temperatures are warm,and showers, though plentiful, areusually brief. Winter provides a numberof good sailing days, although manyare spoiled by cold fronts and lowpreSSure SyStemS with their rain andstrong, gusty winds.

Scuba diving � most of it near the oilproduction platforms in the Gulf ofMexico � is a very popular sport incoastal Louisiana. Traveling to the ngs,about 20 miles out into the Gulf, diverscan enjoy spearfishing, photography, andunderwater sightseeing.

A number of charter boats take scubadivers as well as fishing parties, andsome take only divers. Dive clubs andshops are numerous throughout thecoastal area, and there are severalmajor spearfishing competitions heldeach year.

Though Louisiana boating laws aretoo long and complex to list here in theirentirety, they generally reflectcommon-sense safety rules that mostpeople would follow anyway. The visitorto Louisiana can write to the LouisianaDepartment of Wildlife and Fisheries fora complete list of the state's boatingregulations There are, however, a few

JanuaryFebruaryMarch

AprilMayJune

JulyAugust

SeptemberOctober

November

December

8 916

2324

2119182122

14 9

6 6152224

2118162019

13 8

Hunting

18

Louisiana's coastal prairies andmarshes offer a variety of garne speciesfor the hunter. Deer, squirrel, rabbit,snipe, woodcock, and dove are plentifulin coastal areas, but the millions ofwaterfowl that winter in south Louisianaeach year attract more hunters � manyfrom throughout the nation � than anyother game species. Though muchpnme hunting land is posted and openonly to private hunting clubs, the coastalwiidlife management areas maintainedby the state are open to the public andoffer excellent opportunities for hunting.

The state's population of white-taileddeer is large. In coastal Louisiana deerare found in the swampy areas of thelower Atchafalaya basin, along thetimbered natural levees at the edges ofmarshes, and in the coastal prairies ofsouthwest Louisiana.

Throughout the state deer huntingseasons vary in length and openingtime, depending on the characteristics ofthe local habitat and deer populationThe use of trail dogs � in which huntersstand near deer trails whi e their dogsflush the animals from cover � iscommon in Louisiana deer hunting though illegal in wildlife managementareas!, as is stalk. or still, hunting, inwhich the haunter walks quielly along adeer trail looking for deer or hides nearan area used by them.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries permits hunters to kil bothbucks and does in several areas ol thestate at certain times of the year, butIhese regulations vary from season toseaSon. There is also an archeryseason, in which hunters may take deerwith the bow and arrow, so long as theydo not use dogs.

Louisiana has two species ofsquirrels � the fox and the grey � butbecause each species has vanousgeographic subspecies, Louisiana

squirrels appear in a variety of colorsand sizes. The state also has twospecies of rabbits, of which the swamprabbit is most commonly found on thecoast. Both squirrel and rabbit huntingare major sports throughout the stateand are also popular in the coastal area.Game birds include the migratorywoodcock, found in the lowerAtchafalaya basin and commonly called'bec" in Louisiana; several species of

dove, of which the mourning dove is ayear-round resident: and the residentbobwhite quail.

By far. waterfowl hunting has alwaysbeen the mOSt impartant hunting Spart incoastal Louisiana. Each winter,Louisiana's coastal marshes, lakes,swamps. and rivers, as well as the vastacreage of cultivated rice fields, attractvast numbers of ducks and geese; it hasbeen estimated that more thantwo-thirds of the great MississippiFlyway's waterfowl spend the winter inLouisiana s coastal wetlands. Besidesducks and geese, the state is also hostto gallinuies. coots. snipe. and rails, allmigratory, marsh-dwelling birdsavailable to the hunter.

Geese, which include white-frontedgeese also called speckle-belliedgeese!, make their way to Louisianamarshlands and mud flats in the fall andstay until mid-Ivlarch or early April.Ducks, the most numerous group ofwaterfowl in Louisiana, include 37species; all are migratory except themottled duck, the fulvous tree duck, andthe wood duck, which live in the stateyear-round. Surface-feeding ducksinclude the mallard, widgeon, shoveler,pintail, teal, black duck, and gadwall:they are commonly found in shallowmarshes and ponds and feed on aquaticplants. Divers. or underwater feeders,include the canvasback, redhead, ruddyduck. mergansers, ring-necked duck,and lesser scaup

Licenses

tg

Fishing: Any Louisiana residentbetween the ages of 16 and 60, whouses a rod and reel or pole with artificiallure, is required to have a basic fishinglicense. Nonresidents of the state musthave in their possession a basicnonresident fishing license.Nonresidents may choose to purchaseeither an annual or a seven-day icense,depending on how long and how oftenthey fish in Louisiana waters. Fishinglicenses can be purchased from mostlocal sporting goods stores, marinas,and sheriff's offices.

Hunting: A I resident huntersbetween the ages of 16 and 60 musthave a basic resident season licensewhen hunting game. In addition, there isa big game permit required for hunterswho hunt big game deer, turkey, orbear!. These permits can be obtainedfrom parish sheriff's offices free of

charge. Resident hunters who wish tohunt deer or turkey with a bow andarrow must also have an archery licensein addition to the basic i~cense and thebig game permit

f4onresidents may obtain basicseason or short-term hunting i ce nsesfrom parish sheriff's offices: there is alsoa nonresident big game permit and anonresident archery license. Militarypersonnel are given resident licenseprivileges while on active duty.

For safety, both resident andnonresident deer hunters must wear'hunter orange" on the head, chest, andback if hunting on public ands, such aswildlife management areas.

Complete hunting and fishingregulations may be obtained from theLouisiana Department of Wildlife andFishenes.

20

CampingOpporluni ties for camping in coastal

Louisiana are numerous. Tent camperswho rough it at Holly and Rutherfordbeaches, at Grand Isle, and at Elmer'sIsland can enjoy swimming, crabbing,and surf fishing, while campers in wildlifemanagement areas like Bohemia, Biloxi,Attakapas, and the Atchafa aya deltacan fish and hunt or simply enjoy beingoutdoors.

For those who prefer the comfort ofcamping out in recreational vehicles,there are a number of recreation areasin the coastal area that have campsiteswith trailer hookups, notably state parkslike Fontainebleau and St. Bernard.

Detailed information about campingfacilities in coastal Louisiana can beobtained from the Louisiana Departmentof Culture, Recreation, and Tourism andthe Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Bird WatchingBird watchers can find a bonanza in

coastal Louisiana, Besides the millionsof waterfowl that spend the winter in thecoastal marshes each year, the coastserves as an important resting place forthousands of warblers and othersongbirds that migrate to Central andSouth America to spend the winter andthen, in the spring, fly back across theGulf of Mexico to their northern nestingareas.

IVlany wading birds like the ibis, stilt,snipe, and gallinule are permanentresidents, Several kinds of herons forexample, the small cattle egret and thebeautifu'I snowy egret with its long whiteplumes � are common in coastalLouisiana, as are sea birds like laughinggullS and ternS. BrOWn peliCane. thestate bird, swoop in small v-shapedflocks over the coast; almost annihilatedby the use of DDT, these birds havemade a recovery, though they are tarless numerous than they used to be.

Other birds found commonly inLouisiana include the red-wingedblackbird, mockingbird, purple grackle,killdeer, belted kingfisher, myrtlewarbler, mourning dove, cardinal, purplemartin, wood thrush, yellow-billedcuckoo, ruby-throated hummingbird,cedar waxwing, eastern bluebird, andeastern kingbird.

An excellent way for natureenthusiasts to enjoy both the bird lifeand plant life of coastal Louisiana is totravel Louisiana highway 82, whichfollows the coast from the Texas borderto Pecan Island and then veersnorthward. Just north of the highway isthe Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, awintering area for ducks and geese,where nature study and bird watchingare permitted throughout the year. HollyBeach in Cameron Parish is animportant area for bird watching.Plovers, willets, snipes, sandpipers,gulls, terns, and pelicans are numerous,as are migrating songbirds, especially inthe early spring. The Rockefeller WildlifeRefuge in the coastal marshes ofsouthwestern Louisiana is host tothousands of ducks, geese, coots, andwading birds and is also an importantresting area for migrating songbirds. For

bird watchers with boats, the MarshIsland Wildlife Refuge and GamePreserve between the Gulf of Mlexicoand West Cote Blanche Bay is a majorarea for migrating waterfowl, as are theDelta National Wildlife Refuge and thePass-a-Loutre Wildlife ManagementArea at the mouth of the MississippiRiyer in the SOutheaatern pOrtiOn Of thecoast.

Avery Island, rising from the marshesand coastal savannahs north ofVermilion Bay in Iberia Parish, ofters theJungle Gardens, in which flourish nativevegetation and exotic plants from allover the world, and Bird City, in whichcolonies of nesting herons can beviewed. Grand Bois Park, near Hournain Terrebonne Parish, is partly awilderness area containing a widevariety of birds,

Vacation Hazards

Hurricanes are severe lropicalcyclones with torrential rains and windsreaching or exceeding 75 miles perhour. Louisiana's position on the Gulfmakes it vulnerable to the devastatinqeffects of hurricanes and, in the past 30years, a number of these storms havecaused widespread death and propertydeslruction in the coastal region. Ofparticular hole are hurncane Audrey,which inundated the coastal parishes in1957 with waves over 12 feet high:hurricane Betsy in 1965, with winds oi136 miles per hour, and hurncaneCamille in 1969. wihich brought stormsurges over 24 feet high and winds of200 miles per hour

Weather

While hurncanes can form any time,the official season for them is June foNovember. The months when Louisianaseems especially vulnerable are August,September. and October

FOga In ihe winter and early Spring,when light southerly winds bnng warm,moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to flawover the colder surfaces of inshare waterbodies. heavy fogs result. In thesummer, too, frontal fogs occur,associated with heavy seasonal rainfalland with the passage of cool frontsthrough the area Though these fogs canprevent river and coastal trafhc frommoving, they usually affect visibility onlyin the early mornings and disappear withthe sun by noon

22

V>sitors lo coastal Louisiana should beaware of a number of hazards that couldendanger their lives or, at the least.cause annoyance Most of these, ofcourse, are nal peculiar to Louisiana butapply to any coasta! area, and theexercise of common sense is the bestdefense against them.

Thttnderstor tns and Hurricanes.As in any marine area, the weather incOaalal Lauiaiana Can be IreacherOuS,thunderstorrris, which are most frequentduring July and August. can s'Irike withastonishing suddenness and anyoneoutdoors � in particular those on openwater--should be alert to warningsMasses of dark clouds, along with anysteady increase in wind speed�especially if the wind is moving in adirechon oppos~te to a strong tidalcurrent --are obvious indicators ot anapproaching squall or thunderstormand baaters should head for lhe shoreimmediately Besides wind and waves.WhiCli Can OVerturn a baal. lightning iSa se<iaus danger and kills more peopieeaCh year Ihan h<irriCaneS Ort<irna does

Ttio safest place lo be during a stormis irid<xiis. of coiirse, bul if caughf in theiriar a>i Or aflOat in IhO apen Gulf. <hemOS> impOrlanl rule IO remember iS IOsi >y d<>wn Those in large boats shouldgn below if possible keeping away from<ny m< ial obtocls not groundod by thet>oal s protection syslein fl on land withii<i sliiilliir i>vaifable, it iS WiSe lO Seekpr<>lu<:iron in ditCheS ar under IOWsiiiul>v Qpnn spaces should be;<void<<i

Rfp Currents Rip currents arestrong, narrow outflows of water rushingfrom the beach back toward the sea.These currents are very sfrong and onebeach may have several at one time InLouisiana. rip currents are especiallycommon in coastal bays and inlets andin the adal paSSes between barrierislands. Swimmers caught in thesecurrents o'Iten try to tight them in aneffort lo get to shore, but this can causeexhaustion and panic and can even leadfo drowning Because rip currents breakup the normal wave pattern and areusually visible in the water, swimmersshould be able to avoid them Since a ripcurrent is usually only about 10 to 12feet wide. a swimmer caught in one canswim parallel to the shore and soon beout of it, or he can let the current carry

him out beyond the surf zone where thecurrent quickly dissipates.

Sun The semitropical Louisiana suncan be bru1al to unprotected skin, evenduring the winter. and a reliable sunscreen, applied liberally and often, is anecessity for boaters, swimmers, andfishermen. Protective clothing shouldalso be carriecf along on boats ar ta thebeaches

The National WeatherService

Before venturing outdoors. boatersand fishermen should check localweather and sea conditions. TheNationa! Weather Service of the NationalOceanic and Atmosphenc Administration NOAA! provides general marineweather reports and forecasts as well asspecial warnings along the Louisianacoast. Stations are located in LakeCharles, Baton Rouge. and Slidell.Mariners can tune to 162 40 MHz,162.475 MHz, or 162.55 MHz for thecontinuous broadcasts, which canusually be received 20 to 40 miles fromthe transmitting antenna, depending onthe terrain and the quality of the receiverused. Where transmitting antennas areon high ground. the range is greater, 60miles or more Offshore weatherinformation is broadcast hourly fromLake Charles and Sfidell.

This information is also available byrecorded telephone message in NewOrleans and Baton Rouge:

�04! 522 2686 New Orleanslf504! 355 4823 Baton Rouge!

Animals

23

Alligetol'e. SOuth LOuiaiana iSfamous for its alligators and they arefound in the lakes, bayous, bays, andinarshes of the coast, both fresh andbrackish. Though these reptiles have afearsome reputation, it is largelyundeserved. They are sluggish andgenerally not aggressive and unlessantagonized � for exainple, stepped onor teased � they will not attack a person.To be on the safe side, however, themarsh fisherman or crabber would bewise to investigate any harmless-lookinglog before stepping on it.

Shakes. Though Louisianacontains six species of poisonoussnakes two kinds of moccasins, threekinds of rattlers, and the coral snake!,the 'cottonmouth," also called thewater moccasin, is the poisonousspecies most commonly found in thecoastal wetlands. It commonlyfrequents freshwater marshes andswamps but is occasionally found inbrackish areas. The cottonmouthreaches a length of three to four feetand can be identified by the deep,brown-black color of its back. the blackand yellow pattern on its underside.arid the white, cotton-like lining visiblewhen its mouth is open The snake isdormant during the winter months andsluggish in the early spring, sunningitselt on banks and logs. In the summerand early fall, however. it is active anddangerous. Despite a common belief,'hase snakes do bite in the water,

so swimmers should be carefulBoaters should check any overhangingshrubs or branches carefully beforedropping anchor.

Jellyfish Several species offellyfish, as well as the Portugueseman-of-war. are common in Louisianacoastal waters, especially during themonths of July. August, and September.Jellyfish stings are painful andswimmers, beach crabbers, andfishermen should watch for thesecreatures in the water.

fheect8. An inevitable nuisance inthe humid Louisiana inarshes is themosquito, which appears in legion in thespnng and does not abate until late fall.Mosquitoes are most active from lateafternoon to early morning. particularlyin areas where there is liftle wind. Othernuisances are gnats. which are activeboth day and night and a problem formarsh fishermen who anchor close toclumps of marsh grass, and horse flies,which are numerous on coastal chenierndges and natural levees. Boaters andfishermen in the marsh should applyinsecf repellent to all areas of exposedskin. especially when outside aftersunset.

For Further Information

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriesP.O. Box 44095Capitol StationBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70804

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and TourismOffice of Tourism666 North Foster DriveBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70806

National Weather Service Forecast Office1120 Old Spanish TrailSlidell, Louisiana 70458

Communications OfficeLouisiana Sea Grant College ProgramCenter for Wetland ResourcesLouisiana State UniversityBatori Rouge, Louisiana 70803

National Oceanographic Data CenterNOAA iEnvironmentaf Data and

Information ServiceWashington, D,C. 20235

Southeastern LouisianaGreater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission334 Royal StreetNew Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Grand Isle Tourist CommissionP.O. Box 776Grand isle, Louisiana 70358

Southwestern Louisiana

Lafayette Convention and Visitors CommissionP.O. Box 52006I afayette, Louisiana 70505

Atchafalaya Delta Tourist CornrnissionP.O Box 2332Morgan City, Louisiana 70381

Lake Charles. Calcasieu ParishConvention and Tourist CommissionP.O. Box 1912Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601

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