The last 5 days in the Myrtle Grove/Lafitte area were absolutely fantastic for catching fish. Elloit and his partner from Baton Rouge had a good day.

November 30th, 1999

Manny Benitez, and company from Houston had a great day of fishing earlier this week. Winter fishing from Myrtle Grove and Lafitte is as good as it gets. These guys planned this trip right. They're first correct choice was to stay at the Marina, and with good accommodations taken care of, the next step was to enjoy the fishing trip. Boy did they ever, with a load of speckled trout first thing in the morning, then a limit of black drum, and a bull red that took 2 people to get in. I thought I would never get done cleaning fish. Next was a fresh fish lunch,shower and  nap, and a PROFITABLE trip to the Casino. What more could you ask of a fishing guide?

The winter fishing will continue to be excellent inbetween the fronts so get with it and give Papa Joe a call. . He will build a trip to fit your needs.  Only the fish are guaranteed, the casino is at your own risk!  504-392-4409.

July 25th, 1999

Boy the time really went by since my last report, I didn't realize how long it's been until I just looked. This month has really been busy, we fished so many days in a row with the July heat that I had to back off because of de-hydration. So far this has been a fantastic summer for fishing, with some really great trips, and a great bunch of customers. Like John Bushong from N. Carolina,  the Jesuit Rodeo Group, Kenny with Stone Oil, and Craig with Chevron. I must admit I'm looking to the fall fishing to get out of this heat. The speckled trout and redfish will be the best in years. Give us a call and book a wonderful South Lousiana fishing experience, and I won't wait so long before posting my next trip.

June 20th, 1999

Wow! its been a while since my last report, time really flies when you fish every day. But after a very busy first half of June I am  taking a few days to recoperate. I have had the oppertunity to fish with some great people like Mike Jeansonne, Boyd Favolero, Ricky Vaughn, and Mark Alteri. We have had some fantastic Speckle Trout Trips in Barataria Bay, and now the Reds will be hitting hard on the reefs in the bay, as well as the specks in the surf. We are really looking forward to that during July and August. 

We also filmed 5 TV shows during the past 2 weeks, so you can look forward to seeing Papa Joe on Local channel 20 and UPN 54 with John Pounders as well as the Discovery Channel, and Alan Warren Outdoors with the Chevy Sportsman. Man are we excited about that. So the fishing is great, and I'm looking forward to the middle of next week when my break is over, its only been a couple of days and already I'm getting fishing pox.

May 28th, 1999

We pushed away from  the dock at C-Way Marina in Lafitte Louisiana at 5:30AM sharp. The cool  morning wind from the speed of the boat filled our shirts as we watched the top of the sun peak over the horizon. It was a typical New Orleans spring morning and I was happy to be fishing with Guy Favaloro, his son Guy, and their friend Ken. Guy and Guy Jr. have fished with me before and I knew  they were  very capable anglers. 

The anticipations were as high as the humidity, so I headed  to the hottest spot I knew, but it wasn't until the 4th or 5th spot that we hit the speckled trout. Guy Sr. said that next time he wants to go to the last spot first. The filets from  54 trout filled 3 large plastic bags. Good eating guys, it was my  pleasure, and I hope to see you all again soon. 

Best Fishes, 
Papa Joe.

May 20th, 1999

The weather got off to a windy start, and kept us out of Barataria Bay early but we made a comeback around 10AM when the wind calmed down. Had a lot of fun today fishing with Mike Skiles, Troy Brignac, and Ken and Heath Peloquin. Almost all the trout we caught were on the gold fish shrimp made by H&P Plastics in Alabama- those things are really a great bait. I think the fact that this plastic bait is so soft makes the trout hold it a little longer when they bite it. The trout hit the bait so hard that Heath and Troy coined a new fishing term (self-hookalization) meaning the fish hooked itself. They were right, we sure had plenty of that today. Ken said just being out on the water was good enough for him. Catching fish was extra. I'm glad you had a good time guys. Thanks for entertaining me also. 

Want to get into some trout self-hookalization, be out on the water and fresh air, and have a fun day? Call Papa Joe 504-392-4409, we have it all.

May 7th & 8th, 1999

We fished with Mike Jeansonne and his crew from Laffyette, Louisiana and Texas. The morning of the 7th was a typical spring morning in south Louisana - cool, a slight breaze, with a few clouds in the sky. On the way to pick the guys up in my boat  I can remember thinking how lucky I am to have a job like this. I have never  felt like a part of the city, but I feel like I'm a part of the great outdoors here in New Orleans. 
 

Mike's camp is a great place tucked away in the swamp but as soon as I arrived we loaded their gear and headed to Barataria Bay and some great speckled trout fishing. Between the two boats for two days we had approximately 160 Speckled Trout and 6 Redfish. 

Most of all everyone enjoyed the trip and wants to do it again - in the long run that's what its all about. You can't beat getting  away from the daily routine and experiencing the beauty of the Louisiana marsh.

April 28th, 1999

Light winds + moving tide = Speckled Trout in Barataria Bay. When Yoshi Morita e-mailed me from Japan to book a trip for him and his wife Kan Nobuko with friends Katsumasa and Mika, he had no idea what fishing in south Louisiana could be like. We hammered the trout Wednesday  morning, and I’ll bet they will be talking about this trip for a long time. We had all the trout they needed by 9:30AM, so I took them to catch a redfish and see some alligators. Both of which we accomplished in time to return to the launch and clean the fish. Yoshi I hope you and your party enjoy the fish, Jazz Fest, and have a safe trip home. I really enjoyed fishing with you today.

There are a few open dates left in May, so if you are coming to New Orleans call Papa Joe for a trip to Barataria Bay, its not just another fishing trip, it’s a great experience. 

April 25th, 1999

Sam and Sammy Barnes had a great time fishing the specs in Barataria Bay this morning. Today's tide didn't run like it did yesterdy, but the wind and tide cooperated long enough for us to catch a mess of fish. We had all the specs we needed by 10AM, and it's a good thing because when they stopped biting they really stopped biting. The weather should be fairly stable from here on out. The reds have left the ponds for now so we are headed for the trout. Good Luck.

April 24th, 1999

If you didn't fish today, you still have a chance for tomorrow. This looks like the best weather weekend of the year so far. Everyone I saw today was catching fish. Barataria bay is alive. So get off that winter pattern and head towards the larger bays. I fish today with Tommy and Henry Heier and Henry's two sons. A couple of real smart Jesuit boys, they got the hang of catching the trout. By 10AM we had all the trout we needed and headed for the reds. But they didn't cooperate like the trout so we only wound up with two. We had a great time. You just can't do better than taking the kids fishing. 

April 11th, 1999

Saturday was very windy so we stayed in the ponds and managed to catch a limit of reds. Since my people came in from Oklahoma we got off to an 11AM start. All things considered it turned out to be a good day's fishing. 

Today, though, was a new ball game. The wind was perfect, and Patrick and Mike from Maine had a fantastic time with the specs, most of which were a lot larger than expected - some up to 3 Ibs. Neither Patrick nor Mike had ever caught a redfish so we headed to the ponds once the trout slowed down. But we only managed 3 reds. At least they both caught one their first time out. If you are coming to the New Orleans area and want to experience some great fishing, give Papa Joe a call at 504-392-4409. 

April 3rd, 1999

Fished with two great guys Saturday - Mike Inch and his buddy Jimmy. They were in town from Michigan with their wives who went swamp touring while we were fishing. I knew the trout would be tough to find from Fridays trip so we targeted reds the whole morning. The water was high so I was able to bring my 23' boat up into the marsh where I normally only use my Go-Devil  We caught and released what I thought was about 20 but Mike and Jim figured possibly 25. 

We had some Bass and a black drum mixed in, and the trip was a great success. In addition the Otters, Nutria, Aligators, Birds, etc, were a nice treat and great entertainment to watch. Thanks Guys, it was a fun day.

April 2nd, 1999 

Friday I fished with Chris Russo. Our target was speckled trout but we missed the mark. We must have traveled 60 miles from C-Way Marina and back with only a few trout. The story is not the same with the redfish though. Every stop I made to check the reds, we caught a couple. Chris only wanted a couple to eat so the remainder were returned to the water. No matter what your favorite lure is - the reds favorite is the gold spoon, but don't forget to use a swivel with it so your line doesn't twist. 

The scenery and wildlife are really beginning to explode with the 80 degree spring weather. Most of my customers that are not familiar with the Louisana marsh are amazed by its beauty, I see it almost every day and can't get enough. Want to see the marsh, wildlife, and catch fish? Give me a call for a great experience. 504-392-4409 - You'll be glad you did.

March 19th, 1999 

Redfish, Redfish, Redfish! We just completed back to back days with limits of redfish. Yesterday we left the launch at 6AM sharp and as we approached the first hot spot Nick Gagliano hooked an 11lb red before I could shut the motor off. I think he was a little anxious. Anyway that started the day off with some great  action that continued until we returned to the landing.  Today, the fish were in slow motion  until  9AM when we broke the ice with the first keeper size fish. 
 
For some reason they were striking short most of the morning, but once they found the right spot we were ready and waiting. Bill Canavan is an accomplished fisherman from N.Y. and he was very impressed with the amount of redfish, as well as our duck population. Thanks Bill, I hope you enjoyed the rest of your vacation as much as the fishing trip.

March 3rd, 1999

Had a real fun day fishing with Holly and Mark from Idaho. These folks were great sports and fished hard. We were in the specs early,  but they weren't hungry long, so we took off after the reds. Holly told me the weather was realy warm compared to back home. We wound up with a nice mess of fish, and if Holly uses my recipe they will have a feast. Thanks Holly and Mark. Come back and see us again soon.

March 1st, 1999

Saturday was a better day than predicted. At least that was the thoughts of David Cook and his party - Ed Sledge, Michael Marshall, and Thomas O'Hara. These guys stayed at the C-Way Marina Friday night after a dinner in New Orleans, they wanted to get an early start in the morning. So we did, we started off with early morning specs, and when they slacked up we caught late morning specs on our way to find the reds. 

Then because of the time, weather, and a slight boat grounding we only caught a red, and a black drum. All and all we had a big mess of fish, and even more important a good time and a great experience. These guys are true sportsman.  For a great fishing trip call Papa Joe at 504-392-4409

February 28th, 1999

What a week, fishing in the mornings and boat showing at night. Just now got back from trailering boats back to Sportsmans Cove from the dome. Enough about the show. Let's talk fishing. 

Had a great trip Friday with Max Kuykendall from Dallas, He is the Sea Pro Representative, so I wanted him to see the paces we put the boat through here in south Lousiana. Even he was impressed with the preformance in rough as well as shallow water. And man - we had both. 

After catching trout early in the morning, we headed to the ponds to get some reds. Had 8 between  4 and 8 lbs and 2 below 16". We only kept 3 for Max to take home. 

Will tell you about Saturday and Sunday tomorrow. I got to get some sleep before tomorrow's trip. Looking to catch fish? Good! I'm looking for fisherman and fisherwomen! Let's get together for a great experience. Call Papa Joe and book a trip. (504) 392-4409.

February 10th, 1999 

It is unusual for me to post someone elses trip report, but this actual internet post to good for me to pass up. It conveys the excitement much better than I can.
 

Today was only the second time I've ever been on a GO DEVIL, but I can now testify that the stories are all true. This kind of fishing is a blast.  Imagine having the near effortless ability to stalk redfish in remote shallow water duck ponds.  Sight casting to blunt red torpedoes pushing V wakes along the banks and waiting for that first tug, man its hard to beat this kind of excitement.

And connecting with a 7 pound redfish in 10 inches of water is a pleasure onto itself.  The fish has nowhere to run, marking its progress with small explosions of mud and rootbeer water, a singing reel and lots of hollering.

Fishing in shallow water, you really stalk the fish.  Of course you make the standard blind casts, working the bank as you go.  The difference is when you spot a fish.

Silently maneuvering the boat relative to the fish, Papa Joe would put me right on the spot for the optimum angle and distance. There really is an art to this sport and working a pond effectively is a challenge for any guide.  I really feel that you could easily end up having more fun catching the same number of fish.

All our fish were caught on a gold spoon or a PURPLE DEATH (purple cocahoe with white tail).  I'd also recommend bringing along a lot of Skin So Soft.  I forgot mine and since this was a photo shoot, Papa Joe didn't bring his usual, and the gnats damn near drove me crazy.

One special note: On the way back in, Papa Joe spotted a big wave boiling in the water and pointed it out to me.  As we were trying to figure out what it was, the 2-foot mound of water changed course and charged towards the boat. l'm not kidding, for an instant there I was kind of worried.  Only when the USO (UNDERWATER SWIMMING OBJECT) come alongside did we identify it as a large porpoise.  It swam just an inch or so beneath the surface for about 15 seconds.  I could have easily touched this beautiful mammal, but opted for a quick picture and to try and enjoy the moment.  Papa Joe told me later that he'd never seen a porpoise do that and neither have I. Talk about exciting.

I’m already trying to rationalize buying a GO DEVIL myself but I'll probably just go GO-DEVIL fishing with Papa Joe. We shot some great pictures and I got to fish and learn a few new tricks from one of Louisiana's senior skippers. THANK YOU PAPA JOE!

I highly recommend Papa Joe’s Cajun Wetlands Guide Service for a truly unique fishing experience, please give him a call at 504-392-4409.

January 27th, 1999

The past two days were absolutely beautiful, and the fishing was equally great. Monday and Tuesday I had the pleasure of fishing with Leonard Jordan and his wife. Not only were they excited about the fish, but all the other things i.e.: alligators, oil wells, birds, raccoons, etc. was really a thrill. I enjoy taking people fishing even more when I can feel their excitement. The winds were light both mornings but picked up about 10 AM. So you had to be out there early to get a head start on the trout. Reds and bass were back in the protected canals for hours after the trout quit biting. They stayed at the Victoria Inn right in Lafitte and loved the comfort as well as being close to the marina in the morning. A trip into the Louisiana marsh is more than just fishing, its a great experience. Give me a call at 504-392-4409. I guarantee a wonderful trip. 

January 20th, 1999

Left the launch at 3 PM for a late trip,  what a surprise I got when the first pond I hit produced 5 Red fish and the second spot produced 11 Bass. I was back at the launch for 5:30PM. This new Go-Devil is a great fishing tool. I hope you will call and give this a try - it's great.

January 17th, 1999

Been fishing since Thursday with some great friends. Thursday afternoon Chic Pierson caught his first red fish and had a great time in the marsh. I really enjoy seeing people catch fish especially the beginners or the ones that have had trouble catching fish in the past. Friday morning I had a limit of specs before 7:45AM Most of them were in the 14" range but others were 16" & 17". 

Friday evening Ronnie Mathis and I caught the reds on a purple and white plastic cockahoe. Saturday morning we were back at the spec hole but the trout weren't - we only had a few, but Saturday afternoon Mario Calonge and I nailed the reds. Today I spent recuperating. It looks like my investment in a Go-Devil to fish the marsh is going to be a great move. These reds in shallow water are more fun than you can imagine. 

I am now booking trips out of Myrtle Grove with my new 18' Go-Devil. The duck season is over and the reds are in. Let me pole you through the ponds for red fish, you will be glad you did. Call 504-392-4409 now and book your trip for February and March. In addition I am still running my 23' Sea Pro out of the C-Way Marina in Lafitte. 

January 12th, 1999

Had a successful trip today with Jerry Blanchard and Danny Scheffler out of C-Way marina in lafitte. We caught Reds, Trout, and Bass. The weather was great until the wind picked up at 10 AM. Once the Duck season is over this weekend, I will be taking more Bass and Sac-a-lait trips as well as polling through the duck ponds for reds out of Myrtle Groove with my new Go-Devil. We still have open dates in February and March. Want to fish? Call 504-392-4409

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