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bluemoons
| Favorite team: | New Orleans Saints  |
| Location: | the marsh |
| Biography: | |
| Interests: | being awesome |
| Occupation: | |
| Number of Posts: | 5866 |
| Registered on: | 10/24/2012 |
| Online Status: | Not Online |
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How was it?
1
Here is an email I sent to the Committee. Feel free to modify/use for yourselves. Just send an email.
Dear Committee Members,
Good afternoon. My name is XXXXX. I am a lifelong recreational angler in Louisiana writing to express serious concern regarding industrial menhaden (“pogie”) fishing in Louisiana waters, the recent decision by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (“LDWF”) to weaken nearshore buffer protections, and the critical legislation currently before this Committee addressing these issues.
As you are aware, the LDWF Commission recently voted to reduce the nearshore buffer for industrial menhaden vessels from one-half mile to one-quarter mile across much of Louisiana’s coastline. This decision reversed a compromise that had already proven effective and was widely supported by anglers, conservation groups, and the public alike. Rolling back that protection less than two years later, despite overwhelming public opposition, represents a significant step backward. It allows large industrial vessels to operate in shallow waters, directly impacting fragile nursery habitats and increasing bycatch of critical species like redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon. The rollback was also not grounded in any legitimate factual or legal imperative. Towards the end of the commission meeting, Commissioner Sagrera rambled on about the pogie industry potentially “going out of business” as a result of the existing ½ mile buffer zone, when the pogie representatives themselves admitted that the previous year had been a banner year.
Meanwhile, Louisiana’s recreational and charter fishing economy, which depends on those very species, generates far greater long-term economic value for the state than the pogie industry extracting menhaden for fish meal and oil. The recent buffer rollback, combined with the scale of industrial harvesting, sends a clear message that short-term industrial interests are being prioritized over long-term sustainability, ecosystem health, and the interests of Louisiana citizens. Industrial-scale pogie harvesting, particularly in nearshore waters, removes that foundation while simultaneously generating and killing significant bycatch. Studies have shown tens of thousands of breeding-sized redfish and hundreds of thousands of speckled trout are killed annually as bycatch in this fishery. Anecdotally, I have seen thousands of dead redfish in extremely close proximity to pogie boats within sight of Chandeleur Island.
Now, the Legislature now has a clear opportunity to correct course through several important bills under consideration:
• HB 855 (Rep. Orgeron) would restore a science-based buffer by effectively keeping industrial menhaden vessels out of shallow, nearshore waters where they cause the greatest ecological harm. This is a critical step to reduce bycatch of redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, and other key species that Louisiana anglers, guides, and coastal communities depend on.
• HB 757 introduces meaningful accountability by establishing real penalties for buffer zone violations, including escalating fines and potential license revocation. Without enforcement, regulations are ineffective.
• HB 872 would require AIS tracking on all commercial menhaden vessels, ensuring real-time monitoring and preventing unreported violations. Transparency and enforceability are essential to restoring confidence in this fishery, and this bill dovetails into the accountability measures set forth in HB 757.
• HB 886 would require public access to harvest data, reinforcing that Louisiana’s coastal waters are a public resource and that their use should be subject to public accountability. This is a key step in further science-based management, as the existing ½ mile buffer zone on its own provides insufficient protection for menhaden. This will assist the Legislature in future efforts to further curtail the catastrophic effects that the industrial menhaden industry has on Louisiana’s fisheries.
• SB 186 addresses one of the most glaring gaps in Louisiana’s current framework: the absence of harvest limits. Every other menhaden-producing state imposes limits. Louisiana does not. Given that menhaden are a foundational forage species supporting the entire coastal food chain, this lack of limits is both unsustainable and out of step with responsible fisheries management.
Louisiana’s coastal fisheries, including but not limited to the pogie, are a public resource subject to the public trust doctrine. They should be managed with long-term sustainability and accountability—not subject to rapid regulatory reversals that erode public trust and environmental protections. Weakening protections for the benefit of industrial extraction threatens this long-term economic engine in favor of short-term gain. Beyond the ecological and economic concerns, this issue raises fundamental legal and fiduciary obligations under the public trust doctrine. Louisiana’s coastal waters and the fisheries they support are not private assets—they are public trust resources held by the State for the benefit of all citizens. As trustees, both the Legislature and LDWF have an affirmative duty to manage these resources prudently, prevent their depletion, and ensure their long-term sustainability for present and future generations. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Committee to:
1. Support and advance HB 855, HB 757, HB 872, HB 886, and SB 186;
2. Exercise legislative oversight of the LDWF decision to reduce buffer zones;
3. Reinstate and protect science-based nearshore buffers; and,
4. On a go-forward basis, ensure that Louisiana’s menhaden fishery is managed with transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability in mind.
Louisiana’s coastal fisheries are a defining public asset and a cornerstone of its culture and economy. Decisions made now will determine whether these resources are preserved or diminished for future generations. I urge you to act accordingly. The industrial removal of over one billion pounds of menhaden annually from our waters presents a direct threat to the health and sustainability of our ecosystem’s entire food web and thus, our state’s overall economic health. I urge you to act accordingly.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dear Committee Members,
Good afternoon. My name is XXXXX. I am a lifelong recreational angler in Louisiana writing to express serious concern regarding industrial menhaden (“pogie”) fishing in Louisiana waters, the recent decision by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (“LDWF”) to weaken nearshore buffer protections, and the critical legislation currently before this Committee addressing these issues.
As you are aware, the LDWF Commission recently voted to reduce the nearshore buffer for industrial menhaden vessels from one-half mile to one-quarter mile across much of Louisiana’s coastline. This decision reversed a compromise that had already proven effective and was widely supported by anglers, conservation groups, and the public alike. Rolling back that protection less than two years later, despite overwhelming public opposition, represents a significant step backward. It allows large industrial vessels to operate in shallow waters, directly impacting fragile nursery habitats and increasing bycatch of critical species like redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon. The rollback was also not grounded in any legitimate factual or legal imperative. Towards the end of the commission meeting, Commissioner Sagrera rambled on about the pogie industry potentially “going out of business” as a result of the existing ½ mile buffer zone, when the pogie representatives themselves admitted that the previous year had been a banner year.
Meanwhile, Louisiana’s recreational and charter fishing economy, which depends on those very species, generates far greater long-term economic value for the state than the pogie industry extracting menhaden for fish meal and oil. The recent buffer rollback, combined with the scale of industrial harvesting, sends a clear message that short-term industrial interests are being prioritized over long-term sustainability, ecosystem health, and the interests of Louisiana citizens. Industrial-scale pogie harvesting, particularly in nearshore waters, removes that foundation while simultaneously generating and killing significant bycatch. Studies have shown tens of thousands of breeding-sized redfish and hundreds of thousands of speckled trout are killed annually as bycatch in this fishery. Anecdotally, I have seen thousands of dead redfish in extremely close proximity to pogie boats within sight of Chandeleur Island.
Now, the Legislature now has a clear opportunity to correct course through several important bills under consideration:
• HB 855 (Rep. Orgeron) would restore a science-based buffer by effectively keeping industrial menhaden vessels out of shallow, nearshore waters where they cause the greatest ecological harm. This is a critical step to reduce bycatch of redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, and other key species that Louisiana anglers, guides, and coastal communities depend on.
• HB 757 introduces meaningful accountability by establishing real penalties for buffer zone violations, including escalating fines and potential license revocation. Without enforcement, regulations are ineffective.
• HB 872 would require AIS tracking on all commercial menhaden vessels, ensuring real-time monitoring and preventing unreported violations. Transparency and enforceability are essential to restoring confidence in this fishery, and this bill dovetails into the accountability measures set forth in HB 757.
• HB 886 would require public access to harvest data, reinforcing that Louisiana’s coastal waters are a public resource and that their use should be subject to public accountability. This is a key step in further science-based management, as the existing ½ mile buffer zone on its own provides insufficient protection for menhaden. This will assist the Legislature in future efforts to further curtail the catastrophic effects that the industrial menhaden industry has on Louisiana’s fisheries.
• SB 186 addresses one of the most glaring gaps in Louisiana’s current framework: the absence of harvest limits. Every other menhaden-producing state imposes limits. Louisiana does not. Given that menhaden are a foundational forage species supporting the entire coastal food chain, this lack of limits is both unsustainable and out of step with responsible fisheries management.
Louisiana’s coastal fisheries, including but not limited to the pogie, are a public resource subject to the public trust doctrine. They should be managed with long-term sustainability and accountability—not subject to rapid regulatory reversals that erode public trust and environmental protections. Weakening protections for the benefit of industrial extraction threatens this long-term economic engine in favor of short-term gain. Beyond the ecological and economic concerns, this issue raises fundamental legal and fiduciary obligations under the public trust doctrine. Louisiana’s coastal waters and the fisheries they support are not private assets—they are public trust resources held by the State for the benefit of all citizens. As trustees, both the Legislature and LDWF have an affirmative duty to manage these resources prudently, prevent their depletion, and ensure their long-term sustainability for present and future generations. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Committee to:
1. Support and advance HB 855, HB 757, HB 872, HB 886, and SB 186;
2. Exercise legislative oversight of the LDWF decision to reduce buffer zones;
3. Reinstate and protect science-based nearshore buffers; and,
4. On a go-forward basis, ensure that Louisiana’s menhaden fishery is managed with transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability in mind.
Louisiana’s coastal fisheries are a defining public asset and a cornerstone of its culture and economy. Decisions made now will determine whether these resources are preserved or diminished for future generations. I urge you to act accordingly. The industrial removal of over one billion pounds of menhaden annually from our waters presents a direct threat to the health and sustainability of our ecosystem’s entire food web and thus, our state’s overall economic health. I urge you to act accordingly.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
quote:
My cucumber leaves look terrible and have no idea why. Plenty of water/sun/nutrients.
Probably just the cooler weather. My leaves look fine, but they haven't grown much. Once this current round of cool gets out of here they should take off.
re: The Fly Fishing Thread: Questions, pics, discussion all here
Posted by bluemoons on 4/1/26 at 4:22 pm to OzzunaFromTheBraves
Nice. I'm heading to the Bahamas in a month. Hoping for decent weather and big fish still up on flats.
re: The Fly Fishing Thread: Questions, pics, discussion all here
Posted by bluemoons on 4/1/26 at 3:47 pm to OzzunaFromTheBraves
DIY or with guide? Crooked is on my short list. I've heard the guides down there are pretty hostile towards the DIY guys though.
re: Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
Posted by bluemoons on 3/29/26 at 6:34 am to nsudemon10
Flow zone is the best. Love mine.
We just bought my wife a Sequoia with the iForce. Got a Westcott level and Toyo RT trails. I bought it to have a second tow vehicle and also have something that I could use running around farm with dog, etc. It's too new to talk about the reliability, but it's a really nice vehicle.
Pros: super nice car and it drives really well. The iForce has a lot of arse. It pulls my tandem utility trailer with a sxs like it's nothing. Same with my aluminum boat. I haven't put anything heavier behind it yet but will do so soon. I do wish I would've gone with Bilstein 6112s instead of the Westcott kit. It looks cool, but ride suffers a bit off road with the pre-load collar setups. I think 5100s in the rear would've been better for towing as well, but it's not my primary tow vehicle so whatever.
Cons: Only cons I have so far are (1) you can't disable the auto start/stop because it's a hybrid, and (2) the lack of cargo space in the back because of the hybrid battery, which we knew going into buying the car. The third row doesn't fold flat and you can't put a dog kennel back there with the seats in the car. I'm sure the 4Runner is worse. I removed the back seats and ordered a third row delete platform to solve the issue. On the auto start/stop deal, it's not nearly as noticeable as my F150.
Overall, no issues with the iForce so far. Wouldn't hesitate to buy again.
Pros: super nice car and it drives really well. The iForce has a lot of arse. It pulls my tandem utility trailer with a sxs like it's nothing. Same with my aluminum boat. I haven't put anything heavier behind it yet but will do so soon. I do wish I would've gone with Bilstein 6112s instead of the Westcott kit. It looks cool, but ride suffers a bit off road with the pre-load collar setups. I think 5100s in the rear would've been better for towing as well, but it's not my primary tow vehicle so whatever.
Cons: Only cons I have so far are (1) you can't disable the auto start/stop because it's a hybrid, and (2) the lack of cargo space in the back because of the hybrid battery, which we knew going into buying the car. The third row doesn't fold flat and you can't put a dog kennel back there with the seats in the car. I'm sure the 4Runner is worse. I removed the back seats and ordered a third row delete platform to solve the issue. On the auto start/stop deal, it's not nearly as noticeable as my F150.
Overall, no issues with the iForce so far. Wouldn't hesitate to buy again.
re: Can't remember the name of Plant Nursery in Covington/Mandeville area
Posted by bluemoons on 3/20/26 at 11:04 pm to Hand of Justice
Westfarm’s nursery on 450 between Franklinton and Folsom is great. GSOM is just a retail plant center, like another poster mentioned.
I'm going into year 4 with Palisades in SELA. I love it. It is fairly low maintenance but it does require being cut once every 5-6 days during the growing season. I've not dethatched and I had one year where I had some fungus issues, but it rebounded.
I had centipede before and I always heard that centipede was a lazy-man's grass. IMO, centipede is 5x the work zoysia is. Like another poster said, it does get a bit thin in the low/wet spots in the winter, but it rebounds within a month of greening up when those spots dry out. It also recovers well from foot traffic and dog piss spots. We spend a lot of time outside in our yard and the centipede was always destroyed.
It does a great job of choking out weeds. I try to keep spray chemicals to a minimum just because of my dog, but I do granular pre-emergent in spring and fall, spot spray a couple of times in spring/summer with 24d or Celsius, and fertilize 2-3 times starting mid-April. With that program, it pretty much chokes out the weeds.
I had centipede before and I always heard that centipede was a lazy-man's grass. IMO, centipede is 5x the work zoysia is. Like another poster said, it does get a bit thin in the low/wet spots in the winter, but it rebounds within a month of greening up when those spots dry out. It also recovers well from foot traffic and dog piss spots. We spend a lot of time outside in our yard and the centipede was always destroyed.
It does a great job of choking out weeds. I try to keep spray chemicals to a minimum just because of my dog, but I do granular pre-emergent in spring and fall, spot spray a couple of times in spring/summer with 24d or Celsius, and fertilize 2-3 times starting mid-April. With that program, it pretty much chokes out the weeds.
re: Boxwoods question
Posted by bluemoons on 3/19/26 at 7:43 am to CapitalTiger
quote:
Rip them out and plant distylium. Indestructible and can easily be hedged. Better color than boxwood too.
I did this. Swapped boxwoods (which were a major PIA) with swing-low distyliums. Other than the pain that is keeping the distyliums out of my walkway, they have been maintenance free. I'll take hedging them once every 2 months over all the diseases that boxwoods get any day of the week though. Not sure why people still buy boxwoods. They're awful.
No damage here. I watered everything well, covered with 6 mil plastic, and put some heat lamps underneath. Will do the same tonight but hopefully same result. Looks a hair warmer tonight.
Going to cover my beds with 6 mil plastic and put heat lamps underneath the plastic. Hopefully that will keep things warm enough. I doubt I'll cover my satsuma and same for me with the herbs.
Barley Oak on the lakefront has my favorite Reuben. Vasquez in Covington has a great Cuban and great club. Even better with the plantains. Greyhound's doner kebab, while not really a sandwich, is great. Greyhound's Reuben is also great. Cured and Haven also have good sandwiches. DiMartino's has a good muffuletta.
Coffee Rani in both Covington and Mandeville have some really good sandwiches on their menus. Philly Deluxe and Croissant Club are great. The Fat Spoon clubs and Cubans are also good.
I live near Covington. All the above said, one of the only things we lack is a good sub spot. Bears/Busters/etc. are fine for po-boys, but I wish we had something like Inga's in BR that made high quality subs.
Coffee Rani in both Covington and Mandeville have some really good sandwiches on their menus. Philly Deluxe and Croissant Club are great. The Fat Spoon clubs and Cubans are also good.
I live near Covington. All the above said, one of the only things we lack is a good sub spot. Bears/Busters/etc. are fine for po-boys, but I wish we had something like Inga's in BR that made high quality subs.
quote:
Other than my brother they are very inexperienced. An easy going and patient captain would be preferred
Mike Gallo.
Forecasted to be 34 in Covington. They may be fine. Covering with 5 gallon buckets works pretty well. If Sunday comes around and the forecast still looks low, I'll cover them. I only have 12 plants though.
re: Cajun HRC
Posted by bluemoons on 2/25/26 at 10:22 am to KemoSabe65
Lately it's mostly ROTC kids or the pathways youth kids. Honestly, the pathways kids have been better than the ROTC kids in my experience. Lots of the ROTC kids just treat it like a service hours deal.
Not I. Great group though. My young golden got her HRCH before last season and I kinda checked out of tests, but now I'm thinking about running her in the Pontchartrain test in April. She loves the tests and I need to stay consistent with he training.
re: Best restaurants in Covington, La?
Posted by bluemoons on 2/19/26 at 2:10 pm to GynoSandberg
We went by a night or so after they opened. My understanding is that it's a couple and maybe one other individual who used to work at Carousel Bar across the lake.
It's a cool spot. I think it will self-regulate from a crowd standpoint because once the bar fills up it's a bit uncomfortable. There are booths along the wall but they're pretty tight and not very good for sitting and talking.
It's a cool spot. I think it will self-regulate from a crowd standpoint because once the bar fills up it's a bit uncomfortable. There are booths along the wall but they're pretty tight and not very good for sitting and talking.
I'm on a well in St. Tammany. I flush mine once every couple of years or whenever I think about it. Never really notice much whenever I do but it's easy and makes me feel like I'm taking care of it.
re: Best restaurants in Covington, La?
Posted by bluemoons on 2/19/26 at 10:00 am to NorthshoreClown100
On the short list. Hopefully one day over the next couple weeks.
Have y'all checked out the Little Blue Door? Very cool spot. It's in the alley directly south of Buster's but north of Mattina Bella. It is small and it was crowded, but I think it'll be a really cool bar once it settles down.
Have y'all checked out the Little Blue Door? Very cool spot. It's in the alley directly south of Buster's but north of Mattina Bella. It is small and it was crowded, but I think it'll be a really cool bar once it settles down.
Agreed :cheers:. We hit up Greyhound for work lunch quite a bit. Love their pizzas. Reuben and the kebab are also excellent.
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