A third tagged redfish has been caught for the third consecutive week by a STAR registered angler, netting her a 23’ AVID Mag boat for the CCA Louisiana Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo (STAR), presented by Chevron.
Allyson Schulz, of Mandeville, Louisiana, caught her prize winner on a fishing trip with her family in Hopedale. Schultz is the first angler this year to catch a tagged redfish from a boat, with the first two tagged redfish being caught by bank anglers. She is the third angler to be registered for the tournament.
Schulz had been fishing earlier in the week celebrating her son’s 11th birthday where her family caught 11 fish on June 11th. Coincidentally, that son had been born at 11:11p.m. The #11 theme carried all the way until Saturday, when Schulz ventured out again in Hopedale.
“My son caught a redfish after casting in a hole and he told me to aim for the same spot, so I did,” Schulz said. “I cast in the same spot and while reeling in the fish, my son said it had a tag on it. Ironically, when I landed it in the boat, the time was 11:11a.m., and my husband started the video.”
Schulz’s catch lands her a 23’ AVID Mag boat with a 200 hp Mercury and McClain Trailer.
“It was very exciting, cleaning the tag off and seeing 2024 CCA STAR,” Schulz said. “I’m still in shock about it.”
CCA Louisiana tags 100 redfish with red tags and 80 with blue tags. Registered anglers catching fish with a red tag can win: a truck and multiple Avid, Freedom and GatorTail boat packages. The blue tags net the winner “beer for a year” from Michelob Ultra.
The Chevy Silverado, the wrapped 23’ AVID Mag boat package and another 23’ AVID Mag boat package have now been claimed but there are plenty of tags still out there and some incredible prizes like other boats from Freedom and GatorTail. STAR is one of the largest and richest saltwater fishing tournaments in the state, offering over $750,000 in prizes. The tournament spans the entire Louisiana coast and is open to anglers of every age. In addition to the Tagged Redfish Division, STAR has over 25 divisions, that cater to all types of saltwater anglers. The tournament lasts until Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 2024.
“We are very excited for all of our tagged redfish winners thus far,” STAR Director Sam Hopper said. “There’s still plenty of time and lots of tagged redfish out there waiting to be caught!”
This is only the third year for Schulz to fish STAR.
“I would rather be fishing than anywhere else,” she said. “Summertime is family fishing time and I make the most of it!”
Schulz is the first woman to win a coveted tagged redfish prize since 2005 and is the fourth woman to catch a winning tagged redfish since its inception.
“Everyone needs to register! You’re foolish if you don’t,” she said. “I can’t imagine missing out on this!”
Registration for the tournament is only $35 with your CCA membership. To register as well as see a complete list of divisions, leaderboard, weigh stations, sponsors and rules, visit CCASTAR.com.
For more information about STAR, contact Sam Hopper at (225) 952-9200.