By DON DUBUC

There is one less CCA/STAR-tagged redfish swimming around this week.

And there is one more new boat owner because of it.

It did not take long for the first of 50 specially tagged reds to find its way into an angler’s ice chest. As a matter of fact it was on opening day of the state’s richest and longest fishing contest that began Memorial Day Weekend and ends on Labor Day.

“I didn’t really know what to do or really what to think when I saw the tag, I just told my dad we had a tagged fish,” winner Charlie Lieux said. “He told me to put the fish in the box and get to the marina.”

At Sand Dollar Marina on the eastern end of Grand Isle last Saturday, the fish was weighed and verified as one tagged for the current 2002 tournament. Lieux passed the required polygraph examination Wednesday and will pick up a 21-foot Fishmaster boat powered by a 150 hp Mercury Outboard and trailer at the STAR awards banquet in September in Baton Rouge.

Lieux’s catch was even more unusual since he was participating in the Grand Isle Speckled Trout Rodeo and was catching reds only because of a request.

“I usually go after big trout and don’t keep many reds; but a friend of mine wanted some redfish so I kept a few for him. I’m not giving him this one!” he said.

STAR (Statewide Tournament and Anglers Rodeo) director Sam Barbera was almost as exited as Lieux.

“We want to give away all of those boats if we can. So we want people to register, go fishing and enjoy participating the STAR. You never know when you’re going to catch that fish with a tag in it or land that trophy trout or flounder or snapper. Charlie Lieux didn’t know he was going to catch a tagged redfish on the first day, but he registered just in case, now he’s got a new Fishmaster boat,” Barbera said.

Nine more anglers can cash in by catching one of the 49 remaining redfish or win 14 other prize fishing rigs by catching the largest fish in speckled trout, flounder, red snapper, cobia, dolphin and sheepshead divisions. There are also special categories for kids in the Tide Division. But everyone must be signed up before they catch their fish.

Registration is $15 for current CCA members and $40 for new membership and entry fee. Locations and complete contest rules can be found at www.ccalouisiana.com or by calling the STAR hotline at (225) 343-FISH.

Lieux’s redfish was caught at the Caminada Pass rock jetty, are more tagged fish there? Maybe, maybe not.

New licenses available

Recreational fishing and hunting licenses will expire at midnight June 30.

The 2002-03 licenses will be available today at all vendor locations, by telephone at (888) 765-2602 and on the LDWF Internet Web site at www.wlf.state.la.us with a Visa or a MasterCard credit card.

The licenses will be effective from date of purchase through June 30, 2003.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.