FRIDAY

FRIDAY NIGHT COOKIE JAR BASS SERIES: 7 p.m.-midnight, LA Express landing, Jarreau. Fee $40/boat, max 2 anglers. Weekly event through September. COVID-19 distancing restrictions. Call Storm Randall (225) 937-0489.

AROUND THE CORNER

AUG. 23—RED STICK FLY FISHERS FLY TYING: 7 p.m., Room 204, Adult Education Building, Broadmoor Methodist, 10230 Mollylea, Baton Rouge. Website: rsff.org.

AUG. 23-26—GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL MEETING: Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, 200 S. Alamo Street, San Antonio, Texas. Webinar available. Aug. 23, 8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Shrimp, Mackerel, Sustainable Fisheries committees; Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Reef Fish Committee w/public Q&A; Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Data Collection, Habitat & Law Enforcement committees & full council session w/2:45-5:30 p.m. public comment; Aug. 26, full council session. Website: gulfcouncil.org.

AUG. 28—NRA BASIC PISTOL/CONCEALED CARRY COURSE: 8:30 a.m., Southwest Mississippi Gun Club, McComb, Mississippi. Qualifies for Louisiana Concealed Carry Permit. Personal pistols/60 rounds ammo. Loaner .22 pistols available. Fee $65. Preregistration suggested. Email: douglasmbowser@yahoo.com

AUG. 29—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 7:30 a.m., squadding; 8 a.m. on the range, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. NRA match rifle or service rifle, 200-yard/50-rounds match course. Fee $12 members, $15 nonmembers, $5 juniors. $15 annual club & Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Email Rick Mol: southlahighpower@hotmail.com

ONGOING

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT AND ANGLERS’ RODEO: Through Sept. 6. CCA Louisiana saltwater rodeo with divisions & numerous categories. Must be CCA member. Website: ccalouisiana.com.

FISHING/SHRIMPING

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Red snapper (Friday-through-Sunday seasons), greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, several snapper species & all groupers except closed for goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

SHRIMP: All state inshore & outside waters open except Biloxi Marsh area (opening 6 a.m., Aug. 27).

CLOSED SEASONS: Commercial king mackerel (hook & line; gill-netting) in Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone. Commercial take of large coastal sharks (large coastal and hammerhead groups) closed in state & federal waters through Dec. 31. Take of blacktip sharks remains open.

LDWF UPDATES

• Aug. 31 deadline to apply for wildlife management area lottery deer & waterfowl including youths & hunters with disabilities, and general hunts on selected Office of State Parks properties. Application website: la-web.s3licensing.com/. For more, email David Hayden: dhayden@wlf.la.gov
• Daily free shuttles to and from the Elmer’s Island beaches toward Caminada Pass from the parking area off La. 1 operate from sunrise to sunset through Labor Day.
• U.S. 90 boat launch on Middle River of the Pearl River system closed for repairs.
• The Pearl River-Honey Island Shooting Range on the Pearl River WMA and all shooting ranges on the Sherburne WMA are closed for renovation.
• Hunter Education classes have resumed. Website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hunter-education.
• Drawdowns under way on Henderson Lake, and Black and Clear Lake (Natchitoches Parish).
• Road construction beginning Aug. 16 and lasting through October will limit access from Don Bernard Road to the Spring Bayou Boat Ramp Road on Spring Bayou WMA in Avoyelles Parish.
• False River drawdown (1.5 inches/day) tentatively set to begin Sept. 7 to reduce the impacts of sedimentation/improve sportfish habitat.

Email: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com