By DON DUBUC

A professional fishing guide and a recreational saltwater angler were smiling last Friday.

The reason – another record speckled trout application has been turned in to the Louisiana Outdoor Writer’s Association Fish Records for consideration.

Timothy Mahoney of Lafayette hauled in the biggest speck recorded this year while fishing with charter captain Steve Bono in Big Lake near the Texas-Louisiana border.

The 11.25 pound speck hit a Norton Sand Eel Jr. in the South Washout section of the lake. If accepted by the LOWA, Mahoney’s trout will occupy third place and is the fourth potential top 10 speck reported in the last two months.

Mahoney’s fish is the second from Calcasieu Lake; the other two were caught in Lake Pontchartrain. Given the quantity of seven-plus pound specks caught this spring combined with the spawning season peak and a full moon next Sunday, many fishermen believe the current number one state record (12.58) could be broken soon. Stay tuned!

Rodeo on the lake

The Back to the Lake Rodeo sponsored by the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation is set for May 25-26.

Categories include bayous, rivers and tributaries of Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, Lake Catherine and Breton Sound.

Eligible fish categories include black bass, bream, catfish, redfish, flounder, black drum, speckled trout, sheepshead, croaker and white trout.

Fish can be weighed in at the following locations: Gulf Outlet Marina in Chalmette, Tite’s Place in Slidell, West End Boat Launch in New Orleans and at rodeo headquarters at Williams Boulevard in Kenner.

Prizes include first through third in each category, Big Kahuna and Lil’ Kahuna (under 16) and an early bird registration prize of a hand-held GPS for those signed up before Monday.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 16. They can be purchased at Gulf Outlet Marina, Busy B Bait & Tackle in Slidell, Puglia’s Sporting Goods in Metairie, Bayou Specialties in Jefferson, and Schubert’s Marine Fuel Dock in New Orleans or by telephone at 504-836-7119. Awards will be presented during a ceremony at the Back to the Beach celebration on June 1 at the UNO Lakefront Arena along Lakeshore Drive.

S.T.A.R. gets bigger

Another fishing tournament, the S.T.A.R. (Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo) gets underway May 25 through Sept. 2.

The S.T.A.R. is the state’s richest saltwater tournament on the Gulf Coast offering a total of $500,000 in prizes in 12 divisions.

There will be 24 boat, motor and trailer packages worth up to $25,000 each to winners.

Here’s how the ready-to- fish boat packages will be offered. Ten 2150 Fish Masters with 150 hp Mercury to the first 10 registered contestants catching one of 50 tagged redfish; two 1900 Pathfinders with 150 hp Mercury to each first place speckled trout winner in the East and West Divisions; four 1806 Pathfinders with 90 hp Mercury for each monthly winner of the East and West speck divisions; a 1730 Baystealth with 75 hp Mercury for red snapper; a 1680 Baystealth with 60 hp Mercury for Cobia; two 1652 Sea Arks with 40 hp Mercury for East and West Division flounder and a 16-foot Sea Ark with 25 hp Mercury for sheepshead.

New this year is the Dorado (dolphin) category offering a 20-foot Triton with 150 hp Mercury to the winner. In the youth division there will be two 14-foot Alumacrafts with 25 hp Mercury for the largest speckled trout and flounder.

A 2002 Chevrolet Suburban will be given away as a bonus drawing from all registrations.

Tournament entry fee is $15 with a Coastal Conservation Association (sponsoring organization) membership of any type. For a list of weigh-in stations, complete rules and entry forms visit any Academy Sports & Outdoors store or log on to the CCA Internet Web site at www.ccalouisiana.com.

Mohr takes Bass lead

Mark Mohr by virtue of a strong first place finish in the last Three Rivers Bassmasters tournament at Caernorvan moved into first place in the club’s overall standings.

His total of 43.95 points gives Mohr a slim lead over second place Jake Impastato (41.00). With eight tournaments remaining Billy Hoelzel (40.05), Danny Owens (37.70), Cliff Arnold (33.00), and Glenn Tamberella (34.90) occupy the other top six positions.

Mohr won the Caernorvan event with a five-fish limit that weighed 15.60 and the tournament big bass weighing 4.45. Second place went to Owens with 13.95 and Mike Bock took third place money with 13.90. The club has a tournament this weekend at the Rigolets and another set for June 15 at the East Pearl Launch.

For membership info contact Eddie Ramon at 985-892-0234.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.

If you have an outdoors-related question for Don, please send an e-mail to lobnews@bellsouth.net.