Drove down Thursday evening after work. Reminded me of driving to Grand Isle in the 80’s, before the bypass and 4 lane. No cars on the road, but slow down to 30. Really? Nothing makes me more anxious than waiting, for nothing. Arrived at Coco Marina around 730 and joined the BCKFC in the restaurant and bar. Probably 30 members and friends eating and hanging out. Awesome! For those who’ve never qualified, there’s a FB Messenger Championship Chatroom where there’s lots of $h!t talking and enormous claims. I cruised the room greeting competitors and discussing said claims, with doubt and extreme prejudice, and exchanging pleasantries. Quite entertaining, I assure you. I’d been warned by my normal tournament roommate, Josh Redd, that I’d be particularly unhappy with the room. So when I started loading my gear in, I was definitely unpleasantly surprised. A double bed, a set of bunkbeds and a small bathroom. Reminded me of Bridgeside pre-Ida. Above and beyond the size, it wasn’t particularly clean. Lovely. The only, slightly redeeming feature was that the coffee pot was so close to my bed, I didn’t have to get up to turn it on.
Friday
Walked out to a cool, stiff breeze and launched around 6 for pre-fish, just like the tournament. I’d called Sean Rastanis before 6 as I had heard him mention something about sleeping in, to ask about that kayak extended warranty he’d called me about at the championship a year before, to no avail. Hit all the areas where I’d easily caught trout and reds two weeks before in mild conditions. Friday was 15 to 20 NNE breeze, low 40’s at launch rising to a balmy 55 or so. Water temp was 52.7 at launch and dropped below 50, before rising to 52. It had been breezy for days so the water clarity was about a 6. Fabulous. I went north and west further than I’d been before to be blessed with 2 small slot reds and one bull drum, in 8 and a half hours. Yeah. Josh returned when I’d just gotten out of the shower and I put new braid on a reel while he enjoyed the tiny, leaking shower. Redeeming feature: hot water. We talked about our day and showed me a spot where he’d caught a couple trout, then agreed to let me meet him there. We made our way to the restaurant and our table filled fast, as well as the one next to us with competitors. Again, pleasantries exchanged and a good time had by all. I had a biga$$ salad, cheeseburger poboy with sweet potato fries, and brownie alamode with caramel and chocolate drizzle. Fabulous! Everyone moved to the bar, where Wade Barbay flashed the jeweled Championship belt like no one has before! Afterwards, I hung a little then retired before 9. The dj was cranking but it was like a low volume, bad radio station from an uncivilized area, like Kentucky or West Virginia, or Monroe Louisiana. I briefly woke when Josh came in but fell back asleep quickly. At about 215, we found out all the waitresses and restaurant staff were staying next to us, as the paper thin walls revealed their deepest secrets, and heavy intoxication, for about half an hour. Great place to stay!
Saturday
Woke at 430, coffied up, took a dump, and wrapped up to meet the weather. Stepped outside around 5 and was greeted with rain, which we thought would hold off till 11. Lovely. Re dress with rain gear. Then to the launch, where once again pleasantries were exchanged and jabs thrown. Got my rig ready and was getting in just before 6 for Shotgun Launch Nazi and I realized my seat pad and pfd were still in the truck. Awesome! The horn went off just as I reached the truck and maybe 25 boats were in the water. Some slept in or hid from rain, some hadn’t arrived. Cold, wind and rain lay ahead of me as I pedaled into a stiff breeze. I stopped to cast and pee a few times but pedaled a couple hours to get to the spot Josh had shown me. About an hour and a half in I detected a rain pants malfunction as my left thigh became slowly soaked with the cold rain. Great. I passed Jay Schultheis and he asked how far I was going. I said till I don’t see another boat. I saw Breck Hotard going in the direction I was and was relieved when he turned off. A couple miles later, I saw another kayak going in the same direction about a quarter mile away. I wasn’t happy because it was on a more direct path than I was and they’d get to our area first. Damn Breck! As I neared the location I saw there was definitely a boat there already and I was extremely relieved to see Josh. I got fairly close and anchored. He hadn’t had a hit, so my heart sunk a little. It was after 9 and I had nothing. Josh repositioned and started catching rat reds, then I did, both using 4Horseman Cork and da Boom Boom Shrimp. There’s no describing the relief of landing the first legal fish on tournament day. He was in better position and quickly started catching legal trout, then a couple legal reds, while I struggled with catching structure and re tying. Lovely. I finally started catching legal trout and rat reds as well. Josh left when he had 5 legal trout and had upgraded a red, so he had a tournament limit, but went looking for a redfish upgrade. Within half an hour, I was over 5 trout and had a red over 17 inches. The tide stopped and so did the bite. I waited until it started moving again which didn’t take long, but the bite didn’t develop and time was ticking. I pedaled back on a more direct path which allowed me to cast at some new spots, to no avail. I fished hard on the way back but never had a bite. Passed Robert Burkhardt on the way, who had a red. Passed Breck Hotard while he was trying to get on plane but he was tight lipped, as usual. Got to the launch at 230 aiming a single finger in the air towards people waiting to weigh, retrieved the truck and had the boat loaded in record time. My kneck, wrists and left leg were soaked and I had a hell of a chill running through me. I dropped my box in line and had some of Ryan Gaudet’s gumbo, which hit the spot and helped warm me up while waiting. Once the weigh in started and those big reds started coming out, my chances dwindled, as today was a redfish day. Of 35 entries, 11 caught fish. Josh was the only one with a full tournament limit of 2 reds and 5 trout although the upgrade he got would not suffice. Only Ryan Alleman had a trout besides us, and also monster reds big enough to take the tournament, and big red, and angler of the year. Awesome! Josh knocked me out of big trout by .05 pounds, yeah, again, but all good. Wade bequeathed the Championship Belt to Ryan and pics were taken. When things started to settle, I was first at cleaning station and while I usually enjoy cleaning fish, the wet chill that swept through me diminished my enjoyment. Josh was behind me in line so I got the first shower, and it was marvelous! Finally got the chill off. After cleaning up, we rolled over to dinner and again enjoyed the company and food. Only about 15 remained but the celebration was large, thanks to Austin Johnson and Jen wearing the outfits they were supposed to be dressed in at a wedding they missed. Priceless in Cocodrie. I retired around 830 and got my stuff together for a rapid morning exit. Josh crashed in someone’s room who had left to avoid the song of the drunken late night restaurant staff. They again woke me, but it was short lived.
Sunday
I’m up at 430, loaded and rolling for 5. Mr Hardcore is going to GI to catch a limit. Yeah, launched at 7. Couldn’t anchor with 50′ of line and when I did, couldn’t feel my bait. Loaded up at 8 and rolled out. At 1155 I was on the sofa with a hot bowl of homade tomato basil soup. Watched the first few minutes of the Saints game, put my bowl in the sink and became unconscious. Woke at the beginning of the 4th quarter and got to view the victory. Woo, hoo. Took me a couple days to fully recover.
This was the 3rd tournament with brutal weather this year but I didn’t skunk as I did in first 2. Came in 10th for Angler of the year points after skunking 2 points tournaments. Not bad for the old guy. FYI, if you’re going to stay at Coco Marina, get a condo with a few people and it will cost about about the same as the hideous hotel rooms with a grater degree of comfort.
2023 Tournament dates have been announced so mark your schedules and come get u some! Also, I hear there’s a new board member to help keep the youngsters in line. As always, I can’t wait till next trip!
I stayed at the coco motel one time and it was decent. Sounds like after the storm build cheap because another storm will wipe you out again . Glad all got back safe