It took only a few weeks since opening day for the first eligible angler to reel in the truck-winning tagged redfish for the CCA Louisiana Statewide Tournament and Angler’s Rodeo (STAR), presented by Chevron.
Matthew Staub, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, caught his prize winner off the bank in Grand Isle. Staub was the second angler to catch a red tagged fish this year, but the first to be registered for the tournament.
“I was fishing in a trough, in knee deep water,” Staub said. “On my second cast, I caught a redfish but I couldn’t read anything on the tag and just thought it could’ve been Wildlife and Fisheries doing a survey. When I went back to the camp, cleaned off the tag and saw it was a STAR tag, I googled what to do. So I clipped the tag, went back to the water to release it and went to the weigh station.”
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.
Staub, who has fished in Grand Isle since 1962, has been wade fishing most of his life.
“Growing up, I mainly fished from the beach because my mom wouldn’t let us go very far,” Staub recalled. “I had a boat for a while, but Hurricane Ida took that away. Since then, I’ve returned to bank fishing.”
His interest in the STAR tournament was renewed in 2023 by meeting a fellow bank fisherman.
“I had always been a part of STAR in the past when my kids were young,” Staub said. “While fishing, I met a gentleman who told me he won a boat fishing from the bank. I checked the website and saw that he did win. A few weeks later, I caught a speckled trout that was over 5lbs., but I wasn’t a CCA member or registered for STAR, so I missed out.”
After catching that monster trout, Staub checked the leaderboard online and realized he could have won with that catch.
“I signed up right then in case I was able to catch another big one,” Staub said.
This year Staub was prepared as he renewed his CCA membership and registration for STAR in February.
“I made sure to renew and wasn’t even thinking about STAR when I went fishing on Friday,” he said. “But once I saw the red tag and CCA on it, I knew it was all over for me.”
The Chevy Silverado has now been claimed but there are plenty of tags still out there and some incredible prizes like the Michelob Ultra wrapped Avid Boat and Mercury Outboard boat package as well as many other boats from Avid, 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.
“There are plenty of tagged fish out there swimming,” STAR Director Sam Hopper said. “We’re looking forward to giving away a great boat package with the next catch.”
Staub’s advice to those wondering if they should join CCA and register for STAR.
“Just get registered,” he said. “It’s the best thing you can do, cause you never know.”
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.