On Saturday, March 26, New Orleans City Park hosted the 73rd annual Big Bass Rodeo and Fishtival, with over 500 anglers competing for the championship title. Throughout the day, many anglers brought in 2 and 3-pound bass to the scales.

Angler Scott Daigle brought in a first-place-worthy largemouth bass weighing 5.57 pounds, earning him top honors for the day and the Joe Courcelle Award. The Paul Kalman award for the Junior Angler’s Bass Division went to Joeseph Alcina for his 3.23-pound bass. Team Camo continues to keep their presence on the Cichlid and Bream Trim Team Challenge leaderboard with a combined weight of 6.56 pounds.

For the fourth year, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hosted the student angler competition, Battle for the Bass. Fourteen different schools battled it out to earn the title and bragging rights for the upcoming year. The Castin’ Crusaders Gold from Brother Martin High School beat out 30 other teams with a winning two-fish combined weight of 5.19 pounds.

Boats on the Bayou continued to bring experienced kayak anglers to Bayou St. John, but also encouraged novices as well. Courtesy of Massey’s Outfitters, interested anglers were able to rent a kayak free of charge during the event. Participants could place in two different categories, and the 2022 winner of the Kaye Florane Award and largest bass went to Luke Beslin with a weight of 4.19 pounds.

A complete list of winners is available below. For more information on Big Bass Rodeo, go to www.bigbassfishingrodeo.com or contact Danica Williams at dwilliams@wlf.la.gov.

Photos are below the list of winners

Boats on the Bayou:

Trashbash Category:

1st Place: Melanie Chacon wt. 0.41 bream

2nd Place: Melanie Chacon wt. 0.15 bream

 

Bass Category:

1st Place Kaye Florane Award: Luke Beslin wt. 4.19

2nd Place: Zachary Zimmermann wt. 2.39

3rd Place: Wilson Marsh wt. 1.59

 

Battle for the Bass:

1st Place: Brother Martin– Castin' Crusaders Gold wt. 5.19 Travis Haworth, William Plunkett, Sam Haworth

2nd Place: Northshore High School –Lunker Loco wt. 4.70

3rd Place: Jesuit – C Triple D wt. 4.51

 

Big Bass Rodeo:

Cichlid & Bream Trim (Team Event) Category:


1st Place: Team Camo wt. 6.56

2nd Place: Team Henderson wt. 3.89

3rd Place: Team Hase wt. 2.99

 

Champions Challenge Category:

1st Place: Douglas Blanda wt. 3.69

 

Jr. Angler – Bream, Cichlid & Perch Category:

1st Place: Remy Lips wt. 0.27

2nd Place: Eddie McCarthy wt. 0.21

3rd Place: Remy Lips wt. 0.14

 

Jr. Angler – Bass Category:


1st Place Paul Kalman Award: Joseph Alcina wt. 3.23

2nd Place: Peyton Barrett wt. 1.69

3rd Place: Levi Lavarine wt. 1.22

 

Adult – Bass Category: 


1st Place Joe Courcelle Award: Scott Daigle wt. 5.57

2nd Place: Justin Landry wt. 4.41 BFB

3rd Place: Luke Greer wt. 3.94

 

Photos

Boats on the Bayou Winners - 1st place Luke Beslin 4.19 lb bass, 2nd Zachary Zimmermann, 3rd Wilson Marsh

 

Battle for the Bass Student Competition Winners - 1st place Brother Martin, 2nd Northshore High School, 3rd Jesuit

 

Big Bass Rodeo Cichlid & Bream Trim Team Winners - 1st Place Team Camo, 2nd Team Henderson, 3rd Team Hase

 

2022 Big Bass Rodeo Jr. Angler Bass Winners- 1st place Joseph Alcina, 2nd Peyton Barrett, 3rd Levi Lavarine

 

2022 Big Bass Rodeo Adult Bass Winners - 1st place Scott Daigle 5.57lb bass, 2nd place Justin Landry, 3rd place Luke Greer 

About the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup. 

About New Orleans City Park:

For over 170 years, New Orleans City Park has provided access to abundant natural and cultural resources to residents of the region and visitors from around the world. The Park’s 1,300 acres make it one of the largest urban parks in the United States. City Park is a popular place to fish on the bayou, picnic, experience safe outdoor play, or engage in athletic pursuits—as evidenced by more than 16 million visits each year. To learn more about the Park, visit NewOrleansCityPark.com.