What If Louisiana Had No Fishing?

What if Louisiana's fishing were to suddenly disappear? It’d be a crisis, and that crisis would be far worse than what you’re guessing right now.

I want you to take a moment, clear your mind, and consider what Louisiana would be like without the adventure of going fishing.

Imagine not knowing what it’s like to watch the sun rise over the marsh. Imagine never having caught that first fish, or that epic memory-making fishing trip you still cherish to this day.

It wouldn't be a Sportsman's Paradise

People wouldn’t venture “down the road” to see the vast prairie marsh or gawk over catches, both brought in by recreational and commercial fishermen.

It’d just be empty. 

It’d be a different economy

Without fishing there is no reason to have a boat. The boat dealers would be out of a job.

Without a boat, there’d be no need for a launch. The marinas we know and love would never exist.

Tackle stores, boat mechanics, gas stations, trailer dealers and more would all be gone. The places where currency and value exchange hands wouldn’t be there to provide a living.

People would be different, too

Fishing teaches lessons found in few other places.

One must toughen his or herself to endure the sweltering heat, biting cold, blinding rain, strong wind and other harsh conditions.

It’s not just physical toughness. It’s also mental toughness.

There are no gutter-guards, referees, or boundaries in inshore fishing. Fish have tails and will swim somewhere else, leaving you scratching your head and maybe even frustrated.

This is how fishing brings out our character, giving us the opportunity to not only better ourselves as anglers, but as human beings.

The Cajun Navy would have never existed..

The majority of people making up the Cajun Navy in 2016 were anglers of one breed or another, and such a "navy" would never have existed if there was no fishing in Louisiana.

We just wouldn't be who we are!

Our fishing champions would never have existed in the first place

The Bassmaster Classic is referred to as the "Super Bowl of fishing tournaments", being held once a year on one body of water or another in the United States.

And do you know who won the 1975 Classic?

Here is the scary part

This very well could become a reality.

Fishing as we know it would be eradicated if people in power were to create “no fishing” zones.

If that happened, many parts of Louisiana's coast would be gated off and accessible only by those sitting on enough cash to afford it.

Then fishing would become a rich man’s pastime, and the rest of us would talk about the “good ol’ days” of fishing tidal water like anywhere else in the United States.

It’s already happening

This make-believe world I’ve asked you to imagine is a reality that already exists in more than a few parts of Louisiana.