Wish to Fish Louisiana

05/14/2026

🎣 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆? 𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱.

We still have spots open for two hands-on fishing courses happening 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟲 in Lincoln Parish. Whether you’re brand new or just a little “rusty on the reel,” these classes are designed to get you confidently out on the water.

🎣 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲
📍 Elmore D. Mayfield Park
1701 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Ruston, LA 71270
🕘 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Learn the fundamentals: casting basics, simple rigging, bait selection, and essential gear knowledge to get started fishing with confidence.

Sign up here: https://buff.ly/eitPTTX

🎣 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
📍 Grambling City Park
2045 W Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Grambling, LA 71245
🕐 1:00 – 3:00 PM

This 2-hour course is geared toward beginners and anglers looking to sharpen their bass fishing skills. Participants will learn core techniques including versatile rigs, bass behavior, bait choices, and gear setup … followed by an hour of fishing with LDWF staff.

Sign up here: https://buff.ly/u50hEYC

📌 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀:
• A valid Louisiana fishing license is required for participants 18+
• Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Spots are limited and filling fast, so grab yours and spend the day learning (and fishing) with us! 🎣

12/10/2025

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀!

The Striped Bass Collaborative Anglers Project (𝗦𝗕𝗖𝗔𝗣) 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 with the latest angler catch information: https://buff.ly/cUjHFXH. Age data from submitted carcasses is now available; genetic results are still pending.

🎣 This project helps biologists manage Striped Bass in the Lake Pontchartrain & Pearl River Basins, which is the western edge of the Gulf Strain Striped Bass population! 🐟

If you fish any Louisiana waterbody east of the Mississippi River, including Lakes Maurepas, Pontchartrain, and Borgne and all rivers that drain into them, as well as the entire Pearl River system, 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀.

Every tagged fish you report helps us better understand movement, growth, and population trends. If you want to participate it’s not too late to request a fin-clip kit. ✂️ And, if you’ve already submitted samples, let us know if you need additional supplies.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 in this project as your efforts truly make a difference! 🙌

10/12/2025

And they are off!!! I can’t thank Captain Clinton and Captain Mackie enough for offering this day of fishing and fun to some amazing young men from the Son of a Saint organization. We are so happy we can offer a day of smiles, laughter, and memories to last a lifetime!

Connecting Youth to the Outdoor, One Cast at a Time!

Venetian Isles Fishing Rodeo

10/08/2025

🎟️ 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿: Tickets are still available for 𝗔 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 – 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸!

Join the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, at 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗮𝗸 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗲 for an unforgettable evening of Louisiana cuisine, cocktails, music, and great company – all support of efforts to enhance and encourage public enjoyment of Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries resources.

🌿 Don’t miss out! 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆: www.lawff.org/wildnight2025

07/25/2025

Wish to Fish Louisiana 2025 🐟❤️
When people with big hearts come together, beautiful things happen.

We were truly blessed to take 14 amazing participants from the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans on a fishing adventure out of Venice, Louisiana on Wednesday July 23rd It was an experience filled with smiles, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Thanks to our incredible sponsors and selfless volunteers, this day came to life in the best way. Hotard Coaches donated transportation, bringing participants and their families safely to the marina, where they were welcomed by their captains with open arms and big smiles.

Though the weather didn’t start out in our favor, our captains adapted without hesitation, providing everything needed to fish right off the dock. Bass, catfish, and black drum were biting, and the excitement was already in full swing! When the skies cleared, everyone headed out on the boats where they reeled in beautiful redfish and flounder.

Back at the dock, the amazing team at Venice Marina had the decorations all set up and provided delicious hamburgers and hotdogs and also served outstanding barbeque thanks to LA23 BBQ. Volunteers from Lambda Theta - Beta Sigma Phi and local festival queens from the Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival and Plaquemines Parish Orange Festival kept the fun going with face painting and family activities.

Every participant left with a heart full of joy and arms full of gifts thanks to our generous sponsors. From Louisiana Fish Fry seasoning, rod and reel combos, Flambeau tackle boxes, trophies, and more—our families had everything they needed to relive this day at home.

We can’t say thank you enough. We are humbled by the love and support, and so proud to offer families something that truly matters. It’s about more than just fishing, it’s about connection, inclusion, and unforgettable moments.

Meeting the families of the Miracle League is always a gift, and watching the bonds formed between volunteers, captains, and participants is something we’ll never take for granted.

This partnership with the Blue family and Faux Pas Lodge Invitational Rodeo started in 2008 and still growing strong. So grateful they chose Wish to Fish to help youth experience the magic of Sportsmans Paradise!

Connecting youth to the outdoors, one cast at a time. 🎣💙

07/21/2025

🎣 We’re so excited for the 2025 Wish to Fish Venice trip this Wednesday, July 23rd! 🙌 Please send good vibes (and maybe a little sunshine) for our
Miracle League of Greater New Orleans participants as they head to Venice Marina for an unforgettable day on the water with some amazing, generous captains. 🚤☀️

We couldn’t do this without our captains, volunteers, and supporters. THANK YOU for helping us CONNECT YOUTH TO THE OUTDOORS, ONE CAST AT A TIME. 🎣💫

BOAT STUF Sea Tow New Orleans Delta Ice Air & Heat
Fisk Marine Insurance International Faux Pas Lodge Invitational Rodeo LA23 BBQ Redfish World Series Tito's Handmade Vodka Audubon Gutters

https://youtu.be/hWuetWiGsOs?si=1f0-dZt8fY_GEGxB
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Connecting Youth to the Outdoors, One Cast at a Timewishtofish.org

06/29/2025

What an awesome first-time event! So many amazing organizations came together to create a day full of fishing, crabbing, boating, and nonstop fun. From the moment we arrived, the energy was contagious—it was incredible to see everyone so excited and passionate about making this experience possible. Huge shoutout to Ashley Ray for turning this idea into reality, and to Lacombe Recreation District #4, USFWS, LDWF, USCG, Bayou Adventure, and all the incredible volunteers who shared their time, knowledge, and love for the outdoors. What a day!

06/27/2025

Can’t wait to be a part of the first FISH.CRAB.EXPLORE event on Lake Road in Lacombe tomorrow. Come out and see us. Lacombe Recreation District #4

02/23/2025

Time to clean out the shed! Consider donating lightly used or new fishing gear.

07/29/2024

The 2024 Wish to Fish Venice event was a great success! Twelve participants from the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans and their families went fishing out of Venice Marina on Wednesday thanks to many sponsors and 7 generous captains that took a day out of their busy schedule to offer a fishing adventure of a lifetime. Thanks to Captain Mark Trahan, Mike Jeffcoat, Boola Landry, Jarred Cubbage, Gerald Rock Tompkins, Ron Price and Kyle Maher! Thanks to Hotard for providing transportation from Metairie to the Venice Marina. They arrived eager and ready to get out on the water.

The weather held up and they were able to get out on the water, catch tons of fish, and even drive a boat. When they returned to the dock Venice Marina staff provided hamburgers and corn dogs and LA23 BBQ provided pulled pork sandwiches, beans and coleslaw. Venice staff also provided decorations, photo backdrop, and sidewalk chalk and volunteers from Lambda Theta - Beta Sigma Phi offered face paining and other activities.

All participants went home with a rod and reel, a special trophy from Luis Colmenares, Flambeau Outdoors tackle box and Louisiana Fish Fry Products. And of course fish to eat and memories to last a lifetime.

This was our 17th event in Venice and we can't thank everyone enough for the hard work, love and support of our program.

"Connecting Youth to the Outdoors, One Cast at a Time!"

BOAT STUF Hotard Coaches Tito's Handmade Vodka Faux Pas Lodge Invitational Rodeo Redfish World Series Sea Tow New Orleans Venetian Isles Fishing Rodeo Coca-Cola Dylan Butler Ashley Butler Boola Landry Jared Cubbage