Summer is coming and so is the 2009 fishing tournament/rodeo season!  Just like last year, Team Marsh and Bayou will be attending as many tournaments as possible.  We know we are going to have some stiff competition (especially from all those Marsh and Bayou devotees that know all our secrets) and we want to make sure that you and your fishing team know the list of tournaments this summer so you too can take part in these exciting events.  To help you choose which ones you are going to attend we have compiled a best-of-the-best list of the tournaments available this summer.

May 15^th  & May 16^th - Boat Stuf Owner’s Tournament

Hosted at Venice Marina in Venice, Louisiana this tournament is open all to individuals that have bought a boat or motor from Boat Stuf.  This invitational boasts big prizes for winning fish in categories including Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin, Speckled Trout, Redfish, and others.  Contact Boat Stuf for more information (985) 649-9044, (504) 340-4991.

May 16^th  & May 17^th – 8^th Annual St. Matthew’s Fishing Rodeo

From offshore fishing to steak dinner, this rodeo has it all!  Hosted by the St. Matthew’s Action Club (AKA Dad’s Club), this event offers angler’s the ability to fish any legal waters for all manner of inshore species and even includes a “heaviest fish” for offshore enthusiasts.  This rodeo aims its sites on rewarding the perseverance and accomplishments of the junior anglers by offering 1^st thru 10^th place trophies for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead, Catfish, Drum and even Crab!!  Not only will junior anglers walk away with a trophy, but they will also be awarded a rod and reel combo.  Adult anglers will compete for the same basic categories (minus Crab) and with the addition of Bass.  Anglers will also have the opportunity to enter a 5 trout stringer 50/50 category with a minimum pay out of $500!!  Anglers competing in the 5 trout stringer category will be required to pay $100 per boat team in addition to the normal entry fee.  For those choosing to compete in the offshore category there is a Penn rod and reel combo for the first place angler and a $500 tackle package for second place.    Entry fees range from $15 for junior anglers, $35 for inshore participants and $75 for those wishing to compete offshore.  For the entry fee, participants receive a rodeo T-shirt, a pack of Deadly Dudley lures, and a steak dinner and soft drinks at the weigh-in.  The fishing starts at 12:01 am on Friday and the weigh-in closes at 5:00 pm sharp on Saturday.  The rodeo is headquartered out of St. Matthew the Apostle School, 10021 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge, LA 70123 For entry forms contact George Bendeck at (504) 202-1215 or visit www.smacla.com/rodeo/application.htm

May 16^th  & May 17^th - 13^th Annual Save Our Lake and Our Coast Fishing Rodeo

This rodeo is headquartered out of Seabrook Harbor.  All participants are allowed to fish all of the Pontchartrain Basin.  The Basin area includes bayous, rivers, and tributaries of Lakes Pontchartrain, Maurepas, St. Catherine, Borgne, and Breton Sound.  Entry fees are set at Adults $25/ Children (under 16) $10.  The entry fee includes entry into the fishing rodeo and awards picnic, 1 year membership to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, a rodeo T-shirt, and 2 tickets to the Back to the Beach Festival, May 30, May 31 and June 1 at Laketown in Kenner. Rodeo tickets must be purchased before Friday, May 15 at 11:59 PM.  More information can be found at www.saveourlake.org/back_to_lake.htm

May 22^nd thru May 24^th - Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo

The Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo is held on Memorial Day weekend at Bridgeside Marina in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Rodeo participants will enjoy three days of fishing, two meals and live entertainment, door prizes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo was established in 1997 and is a non-profit organization. The rodeo was formed to promote sport fishing in Grand Isle and to cultivate and promote civic and community projects.  Rodeo tickets are $20.00 each.  A rodeo ticket will entitle you to participate in the fishing rodeo, door prizes Sunday, dinner and dance on Saturday, and lunch served on Sunday. Ticket holders will have a chance to win $1,000.00 in cash prize drawings. Drawings will be in increments of (1) $500.00 and (5) $100.00 (need not be present to win cash).  For more information visit www.speckledtroutrodeo.com

May 26^th thru May 31^st - Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic

This will be the Fifth Annual Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic hosted by Venice Marina in Venice, LA.  Venice Marina has raised the bar in Venice and the Cajun Canyons Tournament is taking advantage of the additional slips and the new, full-service marina store, bar, and grill. The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic features a modified-release format for billfish species, along with BIG prize money for Blue Marlin, Tag or Release, Dolphin, Tuna, and Wahoo. The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic will attract tournament participants from the entire Gulf Coast and the nation to south Louisiana. The tournament name stems from the world-famous Mississippi Canyon and Green Canyon, home to true, world-class sportfishing.  Even if you don’t fish this event it’s one that you don’t want to miss!  Visit http://www.comefishla.com/ for more information on the 5^th Annual Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic.

June 5^th - 6^th Annual Brother Martin High School Fishing Rodeo

This rodeo is heavily attended by the men and women affiliated with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.  Open to everyone, but geared towards the friends and family of prospective students, current students and alumni; this rodeo is a family friendly event held at the Kenner/Williams Boat Launch in Laketown.  The weigh-in will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The categories include Speckled Trout, Redfish, Sheepshead, Flounder, largest 2 Redfish 27” and under, most spots on Redfish, best 5-Trout stringer and largest fish by lbs., any species.  The fishing begins on Friday, June 5^th and anglers are free to roam all navigable Louisiana waterways accessible to the general public in search of a rode winner.  Adults will pay $30 to fish and children or Brother Martin Students will pay $15.  This rodeo offers online registration at www.brothermartin.com/alumni/documents/FishingRodeo09.pdf

June 11^th thru 13^th - 13th Annual Swollfest Fishing Rodeo

Hosted out Sand Dollar Marina in Grand Isle, LA, “Swollfest” is one of Grand Isle’s biggest fishing events.  The Swollfest Rodeo has come a long way in its thirteen year history.  Stemming from an idea discussed at a backyard barbeque in high school, Swollfest was established in 1997. The original rodeo consisted of eight competitors.  This first rodeo crowned the "swollest" (largest) fish caught by one of its eight participants with a tiny five dollar trophy.  After having a good time that weekend, the crew decided to try the event again the following year.  With a few more people interested, the second annual brought a total of 18 participants.  Over the years, Swollfest established itself as a prominent rodeo, boasting over 100+ sponsors, 600+ participants, television news broadcasts, radio air time, newspaper write ups, and thousands of dollars worth of prizes.  Seven years ago Swollfest began donating all their proceeds to the American Diabetes Association.  Over the last 7 years the rodeo has donated over $85,000 to the ADA, benefiting its educational and research efforts. The $85,000 contribution places Swollfest in the Top 25 fundraisers nationwide for the Tour de Cure!  Participating anglers will pay $40 per person for adults and $15 per child and the entry fee includes a free t-shirt.  There will also be a registration party at the New Orleans Yacht Club on Tuesday June 9^th.  For more information visit the Swollfest website at www.swollfest.com. 

June 4^th thru 7^th - 25th Annual Helldiver’s Rodeo

The Helldiver’s Rodeo -  What can you really say about this one?  This Rodeo was made infamous by Humberto Fontova in the 2001 book “The Helldivers' Rodeo: A Deadly, X-Treme, Scuba-Diving, Spearfishing, Adventure Amid the Offshore Oil Platforms in the Murky Waters of the Gulf of Mexico”.  Simply put, as far as dive rodeos go – this is it!!  The rodeo allows participants to fish/hunt all legal waters and arrive at the Kenner Boat launch for the weigh-in.  If you are interested in seeing some REALLY big fish and rubbing elbows with some of the bravest men in the diving world, attending this weigh-in would excite you.  For more information visit www.helldivers.org; however head the warning on the site, “To report problems about the website, call 1-800-Kiss-My-A$$, we're spear fishermen, not computer Geeks!” – Well put gentlemen!

June 20^th – 22^nd Annual Delta Trout Shoutout

CCA Louisiana and RFRI team up to bring you the Delta Trout Shootout on June 20th at Delta Marina in Empire, LA.  Last year’s event was a huge success.  There isn’t any information out yet, but check www.CCA.com for more information. 

 July 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th  - 88th Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo 

Established in 1928, the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is the oldest fishing tournament in the United States!  The stories, legends, folklore, and aura that are associated with this event make it an almost historical event.  Anglers have two registration choices 1.) the $100 “Registration Package” which includes: registration to fish the rodeo, a 2^nd chance at the Grand Prize, a rodeo poster, a hat, a rodeo program, Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo T-shirt, a huggie, a registration hat, and a rodeo hat; or 2.) the $30 “Fishing Registration Only” package which includes registration to fish the rodeo, a program and a registration hat.  Either way, anglers face off to catch the largest fish with categories that span basically every species of indigenous fish in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.  Of course, the big prize is the biggest Tarpon, which last year tipped the scales at over 153 lbs!!  The rodeo is held at the Tarpon Rodeo Tent and will feature live entertainment Friday night from the Topcats and live entertainment Saturday night from Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys.  The weigh-in scales close Saturday evening at 6:00 pm.  For more information visit www.tarponrodeo.org or contact the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo at :(504) 736-6405.

July 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th – 12^th Annual Faux Pas Lodge Invitational Fishing Rodeo

After a more than a decade on the scene, the Faux Pas Rodeo is giving the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo some stiff competition for the summer’s “IT” fishing event!  The Faux Pas is fast becoming southeast Louisiana's rodeo to fish. The Faux Pas Invitational offers a challenge for all types and skill level of anglers with four different divisions: inshore, rig, offshore, and live redfish. Additional prizes include Calcuttas for largest fish per species, grand slam Calcuttas per division, Blue Marlin Tag & Release, Live Redfish Division and the Redfish with most spots.  The rodeo is based out of Venice Marina in Venice, LA.  On Saturday the weigh scales will open at 3:00 pm and close at 6:00 pm sharp. There will be a check-in boat from 5:15 - 6:00 pm to check-in with, boats who fail to check-in before 6:00 pm will be able to weight fish.  For more information contact Faux Pas Prints, 620 Papworth Ave., Metairie, LA 70005, (504) 834-8342 or email kleo@fauxpasprints.com

Good luck to you and your team this year!