Chandeleur Islands

[Chief]

This trip is in my to do list, good luck

[Stolle]

Thanks everyone. I will give a report when we get back.

[lilavidhunter]

I have been twice and I think a 16in spec is the biggest i have caught. I had more fun shark fishing off the mother boat at night. Had a couple I just could not stop. It was a blast!

I have been there 3 times and never caught a trout over 16". Got into some nice reds about 25". Had a lot of fun though. It's worth the trip while the Islands are still there. They will probably be gone within the next 20 years.

[CLR]

Only have reports from Hackberry so I am no help. We expect multiple pictures!

[MarkV]

A guy from work went last week. Said good thing the food was good because the fishing was terrible. Said they were told they were tearing them up before they got there but they didnt have any luck.

Hope yall have better luck.

[bboswell]

Looking forward to your coverage Matt. I'm thinking seriously about taking the family on this trip next year.

[Swampa]

I've been on the VII. Great trip, lots of fish. I wish we would have planned better and focused more on the fishing. We got into huge schools of redfish, caught fai numbers of trout. Sharks!!!!!! Were everywhere! Robbie was good people and took us offshore one day. I'll be back!

[Atfulldraw]

we used to fly out there -- makes the fishing a bit easier

kinda like spot and stalk

Good Luck!!

[CoolHandLuke]

I've been on the VII. Great trip, lots of fish. I wish we would have planned better and focused more on the fishing. We got into huge schools of redfish, caught fai numbers of trout. Sharks!!!!!! Were everywhere! Robbie was good people and took us offshore one day. I'll be back!

I'm ready for round 2! Definitely focus more on fishing this time!

[Stolle]

I have been there 3 times and never caught a trout over 16". Got into some nice reds about 25". Had a lot of fun though. It's worth the trip while the Islands are still there. They will probably be gone within the next 20 years.

My brother caught this trout the last day. It was 25 and some change.

Only have reports from Hackberry so I am no help. We expect multiple pictures!

I will send them out! When are you heading to POC? We will be back 4th of July week.

A guy from work went last week. Said good thing the food was good because the fishing was terrible. Said they were told they were tearing them up before they got there but they didnt have any luck.

Hope yall have better luck.

I have been hearing this report more than I have wanted. I hope the wind lays and we catch them like we did last summer.

Looking forward to your coverage Matt. I'm thinking seriously about taking the family on this trip next year.

They would love it!

I've been on the VII. Great trip, lots of fish. I wish we would have planned better and focused more on the fishing. We got into huge schools of redfish, caught fai numbers of trout. Sharks!!!!!! Were everywhere! Robbie was good people and took us offshore one day. I'll be back!

Sharks are always bad. The good thing is that they are there for the same reason we are. I really don't mind wading with the sharks

we used to fly out there -- makes the fishing a bit easier

kinda like spot and stalk

Good Luck!!

Did y'all stay on the Islander? We fished off the Islander the first 3-4 years we started going to the Chandeleurs.

Here are a few more pictures of last years stringers.

[Legdog]

Man you guys live large!

Good luck!

[Swampa]

I'm ready for round 2! Definitely focus more on fishing this time!

I'm ready! Cutt was talking about wanting to go back yesterday.

[LeifBarnes]

Im flying out Sunday and will be fishing in the area on Monday, back on Tuesday. Short and sweet! Good luck, I wish I was going offshore as the reports I have seen are tremendous.

[Skipshot]

Good luck dudes! Wish I was going!

[Cajun Blake]

interesting Chandeleur Islands history

Founders day : It was the eve of Feb. 1 in the year 1700 — a day long celebrated by Europeans as “Candlemas,” a day when their religious clergy blessed the candles that would be used in their religious services for the remainder of the year.

On the eve of that holy day, French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville dropped anchor alongside a long chain of uninhabited islands off the border of the Louisiana/Mississippi coast and christened them Les Iles de Chandeleur (Translated in English a “The Chandeleur Islands”) in honor of the event.

At the time, the main island may have stretched for 100 miles or more — at least double its length today — and included Breton Island, Grand Gosier Islands, Curlew Island and Breton Island.

The 2,000-year-old remnant of a former Mississippi River delta, the Chandeleurs have a long and rich history. President Theodore Roosevelt was so impressed with their rare beauty, almost pristine water and abundance of fish and wildlife that he made them the United States’ second national wildlife refuge dubbed the Breton NWR.


the Lighthouse(s) , which are no more : History buffs might be interested to know that three lighthouses once stood on Chandeleur Island, and prior to 1915 there was farming on the island and a fishing settlement.

The first lighthouse was 55 feet high, constructed of brick and went into service in March 1848. It was destroyed by a hurricane just four years later.

A second lighthouse, also of brick, was constructed in 1855. It was captured by Union forces during the Civil War but managed to survive the conflict intact.

However, in 1893 a hurricane left it with a severe lean, and a metal, skeletal framework tower replaced it in 1895.

That lighthouse stood for over 100 years, and survived many storms and hurricanes, including hurricane Camille in 1969.

In 1998 Hurricane Georges erased the island beneath the lighthouse and left it standing in about 3 feet of open water.

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina toppled it, and its remnants have never been found.



5 minute video history of the Lighthouse and Katrina : http://www.laseagrant.org/lighthouse/lens.htm


very cool lighthouse pics.... including inside and from up top ...http://www.laseagrant.org/lighthouse...lighthouse.htm


2nd Lighthouse 1856 ... destroyed by Hurricanes


1940's - 50's pic ??


1980's


1990's


2000's


in 2004, the Lighthouse was standing in 3 feet of water .... post Katrina, the water was measured at 17 feet deep, and lighthouse has never been found


not much left as this was also a major rookery for nesting birds