SEE UPDATE Some have given me a hard time for it, others don't see why it's a big deal. So let me explain.
Important Update
I wrote this article a few months ago in January 2018, and things have changed since then.
Unfortunately, I won't be renewing my membership with CCA Louisiana this year.
They're not supporting HB 391, a house bill written to fight for our right to fish tidal waters.
Yes, I know the bill isn't perfect and not every single menial detail is addressed by it, but it's a start in the right direction.
Besides, it bothers me that they haven't said a thing about water access until this bill came out, and now all the sudden they're making recommendations against HB 391.
This leads me to believe they haven't been 100% transparent with me, and instead recommend a long and arduous study to stall the issue, rather than resolve it to the benefit of their members.
Actions are louder than words.
If they really cared to do this study on water access, they would have said something years ago, but they didn't.
So I'm not renewing my membership.
Being a CCA Member
Why would I ever be a member of the Coastal Conservation Association?
Isn't CCA an outdated organization?
No, I don't believe so.
I am a member of CCA Louisiana for several reasons, here they are:
They Won the Homefront
Nets must be the oldest way of fishing, and they were the tool of choice for commercial fishermen here in Louisiana.
Gill nets were used to harvest fish and bring them to market so hard-working men could make an honest living.
But when redfish came into high demand, amateurs saw a quick buck and began leaving "set nets" (a kind of gill net) lying around the marsh.
These nets indiscriminately killed fish and would get stuck on unwary lower units.
To make a long story short, the CCA stepped in and motivated legislators to do away with these things.
I'm old enough to remember and, honestly, I am glad they're gone.
I believe the marsh is a better place as a result of it.
And They've Locked it Down
Every now and then legislation is introduced to bring back gill nets, or make some kind of provision for them.
My skin crawls at the thought, but I am glad to know CCA is there to thwart such endeavors at every turn.
And they have!
But it's not just gill nets......CCA helped fund the TAG Louisiana program, of which I am also a member and active participant.
Since former LDWF Secretary Charlie Melancon (a man with a distaste for recreational fishing) tried killing the program, CCA has agreed to take it over.
For that I am thankful.
Many anglers have put their time, dollars and energy into tagging these fish so we can better understand them, I'd hate for that to go to waste.
Important Update 2
Since they've taken over the program it's been run into the ground, and the data isn't being used to benefit our fishery.
It took some time, but now it's clear that it was nothing more than a gesture to appease inshore anglers, the same anglers who are angry that CCA has sat idle on real issues like water access.
And More...
There are more reasons, some of which are personal.
I've met with the folks at CCA Louisiana and talked to them about conservation and Louisiana's inshore anglers.
I feel they genuinely care about inshore anglers and to dismiss an opportunity to be a member would be foolhardy.
Conclusion
I'm not blind to what's going on.
My personal brand and Louisiana Fishing Blog are growing.
And with that growth, I come a little closer to my vision of what I'd like Louisiana's inshore fishing to be.
So it would be incredibly stupid of me to not build bridges, or even burn them down.
We're all in this together, and it's going to take all of us to move Louisiana from being a good place for inshore anglers to being a great place.
A small part of that is being a card-carrying CCA member.
Tight lines, y'all
Join A Genuine Conservation Organization
You aren't powerless to prevent the loss of water access, join myself and other concerned citizens at the Louisiana Sportsmen's Coalition.
They are the only grassroots organization fighting for your fishing freedom!
Join A Genuine Conservation Organization
You aren't powerless to prevent the loss of water access, join myself and other concerned citizens at the Louisiana Sportsmen's Coalition.
They are the only grassroots organization fighting for your fishing freedom!
Good point. Thank you for reading.
Devin , CCA didn’t have a thing to do with getting rid of the gill nets. it was GCCA. Most of those guys saw the writing on the wall and separated themselves when CCA came along. CCA just likes to claim the did it.
It truly griefs me not be a member any more, but they burnt the bridge not me. I can’t ignore some of poor decision they have made. It seems like they are more interested in politics & money than grass root fishermen. At The Sportsman show a couple of years ago their booth was more like a bunch of frat buddies than conservation organization.
They couldn’t answer my questions about pending changes of trout limits ( 2 years ago) and water access. Like I said it hurts my soul not be a member any more, but I am watch them hoping for a change. That they become aggressive instead of passive and stop trying to be on both sides I wish C Mac ran it.