By DON DUBUC

This week is designated as both National and State Fishing Week.

In celebration, the LDWF has declared this weekend as “Free Fishing Days.” During this weekend, residents and non-residents may fish without purchasing otherwise recreational licenses.

The idea is to introduce the non-fishing public to the outstanding sport fishing opportunities here in Louisiana.

Top fisherman named Big Kahuna

Last weekend Rich Hewitt became this year’s Big Kahuna. No, he is not a new tribal chief on some Polynesian island; he earned the title as the top fisherman in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation’s “Back to the Lake Fishing Rodeo.”

Hewitt won the Kahuna Award by placing highest in the most categories. He took first and third places in the sheepshead category and another third in the catfish category.

A fisherman named Amy Weaver captured the Little Kahuna by catching a redfish with the most spots – 26. She also took first place honors in the all-age flounder category.

Overall the saltwater categories saw most activity while the freshwater species entries were slim. There were no entries in the bream category this year.

Final results were as follows: CATFISH – Robert Helffrich, 8-6; Dawn Ricks, 6-6 and Rich Hewitt, 5-11; REDFISH – Jeff Magee, 19-15; Bill Lejeune, 17-1 and Phillip Duby 17-5?; SPECKLED TROUT – Jim Palmes, 6-8; Marlene Wagner, 5-14 and 5-11; FLOUNDER – Amy Weaver; 3-1; Don Dubuc, 2-14 and Robert Helffrich, 2-12; CROAKER – Dawn Ricks, 0-12; Erin Schayot – 0-9 and Dudley Vandenborre, 0-8; BLACK BASS – Tim Ursin Jr., 3-1 and 2-0 and Gary Hayes, 1-10; BLACK DRUM – Sal Fontana Sr., 7-11; Robert Tournet, 6-15 and Bob Gourned, 6-4; SHEEPSHEAD – Rich Hewitt, 7-6; Marlene Wagner, 6-12 and Hewitt, 6-11; WHITE TROUT – Sal Fontana Jr., 1-2 and 0-11 and Jay Giardina, 0-10; BOY’S BIGGEST FISH – Marty Reeves, 17-0 redfish and Sal Fontana Jr. 5-5 speck; GIRL’S BIGGEST FISH – Amy Weaver, 7-8 redfish and 3-1 flounder.

Be a smart boater

The Lake Pontchartrain Sail & Power Squadron is offering “BOATSMART – A SAFE BOATING CLASS” on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum in Madisonville.

The class is free but there is a $20 charge for the textbook. It is highly recommended that the textbook be picked up prior to the class.

Books are available at the Glass Menagerie in Mandeville. Prior to taking the written exam, an informational video will be viewed and questions will be answered during a course review. Upon successful completion of the course, safe boater certificates will be issued.

Many insurance companies offer discounts to boat owners who complete the course. For more information, contact Ron Everett or Marlene Sobkowich at 985-624-9116.

Elk foundation to hold banquet

The South Louisiana Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will hold its second annual Banquet June 15 at the American Legion Hall at 2431 Metairie Road in Metairie. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by raffles, dinner and silent and live auctions. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance by calling Wayne Herberger 985-893-9570. Couples, Corporate and Corporate Donor tickets are available by calling Herberger in advance.

Longtime magazine discontinued

One of the country’s longest running outdoor magazines, Sports Afield, has been discontinued after 115 years.

Owner Robert Petersen made the decision to shut it down blaming a two-year recession, the Sept. 11 tragedy and an overall downturn in the magazine industry. Writers for the illustrious magazine have included many outdoor writers from President Theodore Roosevelt to Cormac McCarthy.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.