First of all, I want to apologize in advance for the long post. But, It is a necessary one.

We have all heard about Senate Bill 573. The attempt to ban the taking of redfish by bow and arrow and spear. Well, on Thursday night I attended a meeting of about 40 concerned bowfishers. Some Charter captains, some recreational fishers, and some people who just enjoy the sport. We meet to discuss and start the "Louisiana Bowfishing Association." This association is going to try to accomplish many things, but right now, our main focus is to KILL SB573! This bill goes to vote infront of the Senate Natural Resource Committee on Thursday, April 22nd. If anyone is available to go to the Capitol on thursday morning, please feel free to join us. We need all the support we can get.

As of right now, the "LBA" does not have a working website. It is currently under construction. Once it is up and running, there will be more information available about the Association and its plans. The website will be The association is open for membership. As soon as I get the rest of the information about memberships, I will post it on the Forum for anyone who is interested.

I know that there was also a petition that was posted. If anyone has not already signed the petition, I'm begging you to please take a few minutes of your time to do so. The website for the online petition is

From what I understand, this is only the first bill coming from the capital that will affect the way we get to enjoy OUR outdoor resources.

Following this post i will be posting some information that I recieved from Capt. John Verret. He has been a major player in getting this association off the ground.


Thanks in advance to everyone. And feel free to contact me with any questions. If I do not have the answers, I will try my best to get them for you.

Scott C.

A letter from Capt. John Verret


I think all of you should see and read for yourselves the things I have been writing to all who are concerned. I think this is fair.
This correspondence is as far as I am going with what sounds like “CCA Bashing”.
Even though I have heard and read some ugly things coming from the CCA side. I hope this is no surprise to you that I do have friends and many clients who have been involved in the CCA for many years.

I can’t understand after all the years of “peace” we must do battle again. Everyone knows that Mr. Jenkins is the real catylist behind this argument. I know what the exact outcome is for myself and others involved in bow fishing if this amendment passes. How is the CCA going to fair? Is it really fair to your membership to drag them into this fight? The CCA sent out a poll to the membership after the CCA stated support of HB 573?
Isn’t that being presumptuous? It also seems the leadership took liberty without consulting the membership. I am not making this up. Was this a last minute decision?
I’m hearing that many are not going to be renewing their memberships.
Please do not be silent if you are skeptical of the bow fishing argument. Please let your leaders know your concerns.

I have caught on to a tactic that is being used in the CCA publications. The CCA quotes, “In the “80’s” the CCA saved the Redfish from the gillnetters”. This is the truth, but now the CCA is equating bowfishing with gillnetting. This is absolutely wrong. I am 44 years old and I lived through the gill net years of Louisiana. I am old enough to have seen it first hand. Gill netters brought in thousands of pounds of redfish in one boat in one trip. If we are fair, what is five fish per person per trip taken with a bow compared to that?
Right now the CCA is leaving us some fish to bowfish as it stands if passed, but that is like a Potatoe and salad dinner only. Don’t get me wrong, I like potatoes and salad, but it is not fair for the CCA to have all the best Steaks and the gravy!

Taking a lesson from the CCA’s history it won’t be long before everyone realizes it’s the CCA that will be placing a bounty on the Black Drum population. What is the CCA going say when it sees Limits of Black drum being taken with bow and arrow?
I guess that is what everyone is saying…. what is next?

I want to remind the CCA that it does not reflect the entire population of LOUISIANA. Right now even apart from the bow fishing ban that is being proposed, the CCA is not winning any popularity contests lately. In fact, right now it looks like the bully picking on the little guy. Many are saying the CCA is doing this because it has nothing else to fight for. It is running out of causes. To say it again, the CCA is equating bow fishing with gillnetting. That is dirty politics. The CCA should not assume that it will win this fight because it won the gill net battle or that it will come out unscathed, because “only in Louisiana” there is “NO LIMIT on politics!
I invite your reply.

Sincerely,
Capt. John Verret

The CCA's stand on the issue, again just a copy from Capt. J. Verret


CCA Louisiana supports reform of gamefish law
The Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana supports Senate Bill 573 filed by Sen. Dan Claitor of Baton Rouge. Sen. Claitor’s bill amends RS 56:320 so that red drum is provided the same protections extended to other species designated as “gamefish.” Existing Louisiana law prohibits using bow and arrow and standard skin diving spearing equipment to harvest most gamefish. However, the current law exempts red drum, which the Louisiana Legislature designated a gamefish in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Red drum is the only Louisiana gamefish as defined by state law that can legally be shot with a bow and arrow,” said David Cresson, CEO of CCA Louisiana. “Also, Louisiana is the only Gulf Coast state that allows bow and arrow harvest of a game fish. We feel Sen. Claitor’s legislation is a solid conservation measure, which will benefit the species.”
CCA led the efforts in the 1980s that resulted in the Louisiana Legislature designating red drum as a gamefish. Gamefish status means that the species provided such protection can be harvested only by recreational fishermen. Gamefish status is often bestowed on species that require protection from overfishing.
Red drum was being severely overfished by commercial interests until states began designating the species as a gamefish and the U.S. government banned its harvest altogether. In Louisiana, recreational anglers are allowed to keep five red fish per day within certain size restrictions.











What the Bowfishermen’s stance should be.
In the left column is the CCA’s stance on why the BOW and ARROW should be removed from the existing law, because redfish are game fish. The CCA’s stance is the proverbial ax chopping at “our tree”.
We need to focus on the weapon they have chosen against us--”the game fish law”-- not on every other issue someone wants to pick a fight with us about.
The “only in Louisiana argument” is null and void. “Only in Louisiana” is a list that goes on forever! We don’t need other states’ fishing rules applied here. We as Louisiana’s people are free to govern ourselves. If the CCA succeeds with this amendment, what is going to stop them from making us just like the other “Gulf States”? Do you want Louisiana to have the same limits as they do? Go check out the limits in Texas, Miss., Alabama and Florida--you won’t like it.
Game fish categories: “fresh water” game fish and “saltwater” game fish. For the sake of the argument, we are talking about methods of taking saltwater game fish. Here is the definition of game fish: a sport fish that is taken for recreational purposes only.
RS 56:8, 67b Saltwater game fish means any sailfish, blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, hatchet marlin, white marlin and red drum. In others words, these fish cannot be harvested by commercial methods. 1980’s, Red drums were severely being over fished--by whom? Commercial interests, not BOWFISHERMEN!
Why is there a game fish law? Because there is still some commercial interest to harvest some species of fish in Louisiana For example, if a commercial fishermen accidentally or on purpose catches a REDFISH in a hoop net, trawl, slat trap, crab trap or by any commercial method he/she cannot keep it or possess it. It must be returned to the water immediately. We need the REDFISH to stay as it is—a “GAMEFISH”. Bowfishing is a recreational “METHOD” of taking fish, and therefore should continue to be legal. No one I know harvests fish commercially with bows and arrows! They use hooks, nets or traps! There is no proof of “OVER FISHING” We Bowfishermen follow the same rule of a five fish limit. Capt John Verret

And one more from Capt. J. Verret


To Whom it May Concern:
SENATE BILL NO. 573
BY SENATOR CLAITOR
To amend and reenact R.S. 56:320(A)(2) and (C)(1), relative to methods of taking
3 freshwater or saltwater fish; to prohibit the taking of red drum by certain methods;
4 to prohibit the taking of red drum by using a bow and arrow or by skin divers
The Law as it is now 3/23/10
However, skin divers fishing for recreational purposes in fresh water, when submerged in the water and using standard spearing equipment, or any person using a bow and arrow, or any person using or possessing nets or traps, including recreational hoop nets, recreational slat traps, recreational pipes, recreational buckets, recreational drums, recreational tires, and recreational cans, may not take or possess any game fish as defined in R.S. 56:8 except red drum may be taken using a bow and arrow or by skin divers using standard spearing equipment fishing for recreational purposes while submerged in water.
However, skin divers fishing for recreational purposes in fresh water,
when submerged in the water and using standard spearing equipment, or any person
using a bow and arrow, or any person using or possessing nets or traps, including recreational hoop nets, recreational slat traps, recreational pipes, recreational
buckets, recreational drums, recreational tires, and recreational cans, shall not
take or possess any game fish as defined in R.S. 56:8

Note: the exception allowing redfish to be taken has been removed.

There is definitely a problem in Sportsman’s Paradise and it’s not "Fair Chase”.
It’s the circulation of false information about bow fishing for redfish at a time when we must be careful to realize who is the real enemy of our sports fishing industry here in Louisiana. Bow fishermen are not the enemy of Louisiana Sport fishing.
I would dare to say the enemy might be those disaster-seeking “politicians” playing politics, instead of being true stewards and letting good science dictate good conservation.

Here in this state we live in are abundant natural resources. Why? Because we have a good conservation effort that is continually at work protecting our natural resources.
There are already established seasons, limits, and methods of taking wild game and fish.
Now we want to take it off the books and make it illegal to use a bow and arrow to take redfish.

What is this really all about? It’s all because some people don’t like it. The mere thought (key word is thought or thinks) of shooting a fish repulses them. Why? They assume that bow fishing is easy and unsportsmanlike. They believe this because they don’t know about bow fishing. They assume that bow fisherman are greedy outlaws just looking to bend the law to their advantage and are not true sportsmen. They assume that if four or five guys get in a boat with bows and arrows and each get their limit of redfish that something is wrong with it. There is nothing wrong with it. A limit is a limit. The existing law prohibits the taking of more than five fish. We forget that at one time the limit on reds was 25 daily.

There are some that say bow fishing is not “fair chase.” If you’ve ever had the experience of bow fishing you would say that every aspect of bow fishing is “fair chase”.
Is any cliché’ applicable to bowfishing? “Like shooting fish in a barrel.” How does that work? Anybody you know try that? How is that done? Do you shoot the whole barrel? Do you shoot down into the barrel? “Like a deer in head lights.” Anyone who has ever been bow fishing knows that this is a stretch. Fish do not get paralyzed in bright lights. If this is true, then all fishing with lights should be dealt with.

The first thing a bow fisherman learns is that because of refraction you must aim 4” per foot below your target under water. A fish swimming two feet under water at three miles per hour requires a shot to be placed 8” below the fish plus a lead of 12”. All factors must be taken into account. I’m not even going to talk about water clarity. which is always a factor to success. Add the fact the fish will not be remaining still (waiting for you to shoot) while being approached by a noisy boat. Red fish run like rabbits when approached; instinct tells them to flee. just like any other animal that is pursued. Anyone who has been bowfishing can attest to how fast these fish can swim. I don’t think the anti-groups know the truth of HOW DIFFICULT bowfishing actually is. Excuse me if I offend, but fishing with a baited hook takes advantage of the fish’s instinct to feed. We do not do that to deer, duck, rabbit, etc. How do we “get” em? We shoot em! Take your pick--arrows are bullets, not hooks.

Simply put: People who are against bowfishing for redfish are making assumptions based on what they do not know. They assume that shooting a fish is worse than hooking one. There is an organization named PETA, and they are waiting for your contribution if you believe this; and they don’t like hunting or fishing. It’s been my experience that the people who don’t like bowfishing don’t go bowfishing and have never been bowfishing. So why should they sit in judgment of those who do? These people do not want see limits of fish shot with bow and arrow. Why? They are jealous, envious and mean-spirited when it comes to bowfishing. They want to impose their will on those who want to exercise a freedom that already exists on the books.

I believe the anti-bowfishing groups don’t mind seeing an ice chest full of fish, but are offended in seeing the same ice chest full of fish shot with an arrow. A dead fish is a dead fish. Once you fillet it and cook it you will not be able to tell the difference.

The question that seems to be another “anchor point” to the anti group is:
What do you do with an under sized fish once it’s been shot? The same thing that is done with a fish that is undersized and hooked in the gills. What sportsman goes out attempting to kill any undersize species? No true sportsman does.

Like with any sport you have the choice to shoot or not to. Just like duck or deer hunting, you make sure of your target, or you don’t shoot. You as a sportsman are not obligated to shoot anything. It is hard enough to shoot the larger fish, why would someone target small fish? It just doesn’t make sense. Duck hunters learn to identify species on the fly. Is there any reason a bow fisherman can’t do the same, that is, be able to indentify and size species of fish while bow fishing?

Then we come to the game fish status of redfish: Bow fishing for redfish is a recreational activity and falls right in with the purpose of Gamefish status. Here is a sticky issue-- some would say that bowfishing with a guide is a commercial operation and therefore illegal. All charter boat licenses are commercial fishing licenses! That’s how the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries issues them. If the law wants to stand by this assumption, then this means that all charter operations are illegal.

There are already enough regulations of our abundant fisheries resources. We should focus on enforcement of the laws already on the books. I could understand if there was proof and science behind the idea that bow fishing is hurting the resource, but there is none. I repeat, there is no scientific evidence that bowfishing is detrimental to the resource. In a state full of studies, maybe there should be a study on which methods do take the most from the resource. Maybe then we should begin to regulate those more. Just because you put a rod and reel in someone’s hand does not make that person an angler bound to limit out every time he or she fishes. The same can be said about a rifle. The rifle doesn’t make the person an expert marksman. Bowfishing is the same--not everyone will limit everytime they fish.

Many Louisianans enjoy bowfishing. It is a fun and exciting adventure. We also enjoy the flavor it brings to our dining tables. There is nothing wrong with a good redfish court bouillon. In the past ten years. I’ve guided quite a few prominent Louisiana politicians, lawyers, doctors, law enforcement officials, pastors, preachers, teachers, coaches, priests, and even many CCA MEMBERS. Bow fishermen come from all walks of life. All who have experienced bowfishing from my boat complimented what a great time they had and had no regrets with the experience.

Bow fishing is now popular on TV. What makes good TV? Extreme sights that capture your imagination make a good TV program. When you take a 4-6 hour bowfishing trip and edit it to 20 minutes of tape (less the commercials) you get a program that shows you one fish being taken every minute. To some its looks fun, to others it looks like a slaughter/meat haul. One shouldn’t assume that every bowfishing trip is like that.
There is definitely a problem with some of the public perception of bowfishing.
Some of this is self-inflicted, but most of it is the anti-groups going around playing Chicken Little and inciting negative public opinion. The anti-bow-fishing public “thinks” and “assumes” it’s all bad and must be stopped! They speak with authority about what they do not know.

Help us protect our privilege to bow fish and continue to take our share of Redfish.
Vote No on this amendment.

Let us not to attempt fix what is not broken and remember when fun is outlawed only outlaws will have fun!

Sincerely,

Capt. John Verret
Airboat Charters, Inc. www.airboatcharters.com captjverret@hotmail.com

I emailed the senators who sit on the Senate Natural Resources Committee today. I expressed my opposition to thus bill. The only response I got so far was from Troy Hebert. He states that he is against the ban, & will vote against it. I also plan to be at the Capital Thursday.

I hope all you bowfishermen support BSBA. They are fighting for our bow hunting rights.

www.bayoustatebowhunters.org