By Wesley Harris
From the lakes of north Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s no shortage of prime fishing spots in the Bayou State, and summertime means anglers take full advantage of those bountiful resources.
Fishing tournaments become one of the summer activities of choice for seasoned pros with their fancy boats and top-notch gear to weekend warriors with trusty old rods and a cooler full of snacks.
The tourneys provide a chance to have a good time and perhaps win a little prize money.
But the popular contests can have a dark side as some participants seek every advantage, even illegal ones.
Some Louisiana tournaments offer big prizes—thousands of dollars, new boats, top-of-the-line gear. When big money is involved, a few unscrupulous anglers seek unfair advantages despite strict rules and precautions.
Last week, wildlife and fisheries enforcement agents arrested a Pollock man for alleged bass fishing contest violations on Toledo Bend.
Agents arrested Aaron Moreau, 38, for fishing contest fraud.
The arrest occurred after directors of the Big Bass Splash tournament at Toledo Bend reported a participant placing lead weights in a fish he caught on May 17.
When enforcement agents arrived at Toledo Bend, they determined Moreau had placed 2.59 pounds of lead weights inside a fish he used for weigh-in and then fled the scene.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant and Moreau turned himself in on May 23. He was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center.
When the most valuable prize offered in a Louisiana fishing contest amounts to a value of $100 or more, offenders face a fine of up to $3,000 and up to one year in jail or both.
The grand prize of the Big Bass Splash tourney included a fully equipped Phoenix 721 Pro XP bass boat, a Dodge Ram truck, and $5,000, a package valued over $100,000.
