Calendar
You may sort the calendar events using the Categories and/or Tags options at the top of the calendar.
Hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the City Park Conservancy, the Big Bass Rodeo is the oldest freshwater fishing rodeo in the nation and offers categories and activities for all ages and skill levels. The Big Bass Rodeo consists of adult and youth divisions for bass anglers to compete.
In addition to the bank-fishing-only main event, other activities include:
- Battle for the Bass – Student fishing competition grades 6-12 competing for the 2 heaviest bass
- Boats on the Bayou – Bayou St. John fishing competition for kayakers and other non-motorized vessels competing for the heaviest bass and other species
- Cichlid + Bream Trim – Teams of up to five compete for the heaviest 15-stringer of bream, cichlids, and perch
- Fishtival – FREE event featuring DJ, food, door prizes, a host of educational exhibitors, and new and used fishing gear for sale at great prices
REGISTER NOW to compete at the 77th Annual Big Bass Fishing Rodeo on March 28, 2026. The FREE Fishtival does not require registration.
Let’s make this year’s Big Bass Fishing Rodeo and Fishtival the biggest and bassiest year yet!
If you are interested in being a sponsor, exhibitor at the Fishtival, or event volunteer, please contact Danica Williams (dwilliams@wlf.la.gov).
Anglers 18 years and older participating in these events must possess a valid Louisiana recreational fishing license. To purchase a license, visit our licensing site here.
Graduate Interjurisdictional Research Award Fellowship (GIRAF)
Offered in Partnership by Louisiana Space Grant (LaSPACE) & Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG)
The joint Louisiana Space Grant and Sea Grant Graduate Interjurisdictional Research Award Fellowship (GIRAF) Program invites interdisciplinary proposals from across the state. The fellowship requires the use of data from vast archives and remote-sensing capabilities available through the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address a high-priority research need within Louisiana’s nearshore environs, coastal areas, wetlands, watersheds, and/or human activities in these areas (e.g. aquaculture). Successful proposals must adeptly utilize relevant measurement instruments and/or remote-sensing data sources from NASA, NOAA, and/or other sources that can include, but are not limited to, radiometers, spectroradiometers, satellite sensors, LIDAR, aerial imagery, and other data collected from airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and/or unpiloted submersibles in the execution of the proposed work.
Applicants must be a full-time, enrolled graduate student at an accredited college or university within Louisiana, an affiliate of Louisiana Space Grant, and a citizen of the United States. Please direct any questions to laspace@lsu.edu or mbethe3@lsu.edu with the subject line “GIRAF program.”
2026-27 GIRAF Program Focus Areas:
Coastal Louisiana and North Carolina are extremely vulnerable to the loss of sediment in our coastal systems and the resultant impact to our coastal habitats and biota. Both states need new information and approaches to help generate mitigation and adaptation responses. Sediment loss is driven by land-side as well as water-side processes. Both are relevant topics for this opportunity and we welcome applications focused on either, or both.
· Sediment Budgets;
· Erosion;
· Habitat transformations and the resultant impact on biota;
· Management Response as it relates to developing mechanisms, methods and/or tools to help natural resource managers make optimal decisions.
The Wetland Education Teacher Workshop (WETshop) is hosted by LDWF each summer. It is a week-long immersive program focused on coastal awareness for formal and non-formal educators. Participants work alongside scientists to explore Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, their challenges, and their rich history through hands-on, high-quality learning experiences.
- The next WETshop is scheduled for June 8-12, 2026 and will be held in Grand Isle, Louisiana.
- Registration opens on February 2, 2026. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified the week of April 6th regarding their acceptance status.
- Fifteen participants will be selected.
During WETshop, participants have the opportunity to:
- Learn about fisheries management
- Observe fishing techniques like trawling and seining
- Study barrier islands and their role in coastal health
- Visit a brown pelican rookery to learn about coastal ornithology
- Take a walking tour of coastal botany
- Examine water quality testing
- Tour one of the country’s largest oil ports
- Explore an oyster hatchery and other coastal restoration sites
- Understand the role of invasive species in coastal land loss
- Connect with wetland scientists and researchers
- Network and brainstorm with like-minded educators
The Town of Delcambre, Louisiana, located about 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, is home to one of the area’s most productive shrimp fleets. The town devotes an entire weekend to honor this economic lifeblood. Events include a shrimp cook-off, queens pageants, fais-do-do’s, food booths, carnival rides, and the blessing of the shrimp boat fleet. There’s plenty of fun for “kids” of all ages and lots to see, hear, and EAT!
The Delcambre Shrimp Festival is home to one of the best 5-day festivals in South Louisiana. The festival has gained it’s popularity by providing a variety of delicious dishes and top notch entertainment including National Recording Artists. Enjoy signature shrimp dishes like boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp sauce piquante, shrimp salad and many more. Each and every shrimp dish consumed at the festival is prepared by volunteer members of the festival association. If you’re not in the mood for shrimp, the festival also offers a variety of other “festival” foods, cold beer, cold drinks and water. Souvenirs, t-shirts, hats, posters, etc…
Visit the Delcambre Shrimp Festival webpage at www.shrimpfestival.net for more information.
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
