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Started By
Message
22.5 mile paddle on Atchafalaya w pics update: dead fish were Asian carp
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:59 am
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:59 am
Paddled from Simsport to Mellvile yesterday. Only crossed paths with two tug boats/barges. The current was nice but there was a bad headwind for about half the paddle. It really stacked the water up and created a bit of a small white cap environment.
I was shocked at how big some of the fish are in here. Saw 6-10 dead fish and all where 3 feet long or better. One had to be close to 5 feet in length.
Nice environment with a few nice sandbars. No development along that portion of the river. In an earlier post some thought I was crazy for kayaking it, but this section had the occasional waterboil /confused water, but nothing bad at all. Mississipi river had many more confused water areas per mile.
What area is it that you guys have seen trouble on the Atchafalaya?
A few pics
I was shocked at how big some of the fish are in here. Saw 6-10 dead fish and all where 3 feet long or better. One had to be close to 5 feet in length.
Nice environment with a few nice sandbars. No development along that portion of the river. In an earlier post some thought I was crazy for kayaking it, but this section had the occasional waterboil /confused water, but nothing bad at all. Mississipi river had many more confused water areas per mile.
What area is it that you guys have seen trouble on the Atchafalaya?
A few pics
This post was edited on 6/18/12 at 10:02 am
11
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:04 am to tigers win2
I see people all the time on the Miss with home made barges or on :yaks: Always wanted to make a few day trip and camp on sandbars
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:08 am to tigers win2
Nice trip. 
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:14 am to tigers win2
Very nice
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:21 am to tigers win2
Duct tape a motor on there, you'll get to see all those purty sights quicker and with a breeze on yer face. 
Posted on 6/17/12 at 10:13 am to tigers win2
I grew up in simmesport
Even the parts that are developed I wouldn't consider civilized
Even the parts that are developed I wouldn't consider civilized
Posted on 6/17/12 at 10:23 am to tigers win2
Nice!
Posted on 6/17/12 at 12:25 pm to tigers win2
pics of dead fish??? 
Posted on 6/17/12 at 12:59 pm to Croacka
quote:
Posted by Croacka
I grew up in simmesport
Even the parts that are developed I wouldn't consider civilized
That's the truth.
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:14 pm to tigers win2
quote:
Saw 6-10 dead fish and all where 3 feet long or better. One had to be close to 5 feet in length.
what kinda fish? I see a lot of dead spoonbills that size.
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:35 pm to 34venture
Y'all made it back from Artie's? Lol
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:41 pm to Ole Geauxt
quote:
you'll get to see all those purty sights quicker and with a breeze on yer face
quote:
OP
Very nice!!
Posted on 6/17/12 at 7:50 pm to Dooshay
I knew you guys were going to ask what type of fish, I really don't know. The body structure looked proportianate to a tarpon. I know it wasn't a tarpon, but that's what the body looked like. Now, these were dead and floating so maybe it's so bloated it really changed the profile look, but that's what it looked like.
I knew I'd be asked, but I didn't bring my waterproof camera and didn't feel like taking my iPhone out of its waterproof case.
Again, I Know it wasn't a tarpon!!!
On to Simsport; I saw a few cars there that must have had 35 inch wheels with super low profile tires. One was green and had the John Deer logo painted on the side of it. I swear I thought someone had turned a Buick sedan into a monster truck. It was so comical that I almost pulled over to take a picture. Then, saw three more smaller but just a redicoulus before I drove the 3 miles out of town......
Again, I know it wasn't a tarpon!!!!!!!!!
I knew I'd be asked, but I didn't bring my waterproof camera and didn't feel like taking my iPhone out of its waterproof case.
Again, I Know it wasn't a tarpon!!!
On to Simsport; I saw a few cars there that must have had 35 inch wheels with super low profile tires. One was green and had the John Deer logo painted on the side of it. I swear I thought someone had turned a Buick sedan into a monster truck. It was so comical that I almost pulled over to take a picture. Then, saw three more smaller but just a redicoulus before I drove the 3 miles out of town......
Again, I know it wasn't a tarpon!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:20 pm to tigers win2
Nice pictures. I have family in Melville. Dats muh place.
Posted on 6/17/12 at 8:31 pm to tigers win2
After googling " large fish in achafalaya river " and looking at a bunch of pictures. My best guess is Buffalo Fish. Never heard of them before, but the mouth in the pictures of buffalo fish looks similiar to what we saw.
Similar looking fish
Again, only a guess.
Similar looking fish
Again, only a guess.
This post was edited on 6/17/12 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 6/17/12 at 9:31 pm to tigers win2
interesting...hats off to you for having the balls to do a trip like that...
how long did it take?...
also, could have been buffalo, but that is pretty big for a buffalo...I'd say there are only a few kinds of fish in the atchafalaya that grow that large...alligator gar, paddlefish, buffalo, sturgeon....
based on your description, my guess would be that you are seeing sturgeon...if so, you are looking at a living dinosaur....
how long did it take?...
also, could have been buffalo, but that is pretty big for a buffalo...I'd say there are only a few kinds of fish in the atchafalaya that grow that large...alligator gar, paddlefish, buffalo, sturgeon....
based on your description, my guess would be that you are seeing sturgeon...if so, you are looking at a living dinosaur....
Posted on 6/17/12 at 9:59 pm to Spankum
My guess is Asian Carp. I see a ton of dead ones in the warm summer months
Posted on 6/17/12 at 10:06 pm to Spankum
Kayak in the chaff? Dude you got balls...that river has the strongest current in the state. I've fished catfish via trot line for years launching out of Melville. Did you notice any sway when you crossed a whirlpool? I've felt the rear of an 18' aluminum boat sway crossing a whirlpool when the river was high. No way in hell
I'd get in there with a kayak.
ETA: I've caught catfish up to 65lbs in there.
I'd get in there with a kayak.
ETA: I've caught catfish up to 65lbs in there.
This post was edited on 6/17/12 at 10:07 pm
Posted on 6/17/12 at 10:06 pm to FelicianaTigerfan
quote:
My guess is Asian Carp. I see a ton of dead ones in the warm summer months
did not know they were in the atchafalaya....I'd bet you are right, though....
Posted on 6/17/12 at 10:12 pm to Spankum
Yeah, reviewed a few more picture of Asian Carp and they have a similair odd mouth. Never thought they could get that large. The ones jumping behind boats in videos must be young.
Trip took 3:40 min.
Evidently "Asian carp" come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and colors.....may be a "catch-all" name.
quote:
www.watershedcouncil.org/.../asian-carp/ Asian carp can grow to an average of four feet and 100 pounds, and can consume up to 40 percent ... Carp have shown an affinity for becoming the dominant large fish species over more ...
Trip took 3:40 min.
Evidently "Asian carp" come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and colors.....may be a "catch-all" name.
This post was edited on 6/18/12 at 5:36 am
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