The Long Road Back
By Captain Cade Thomas
Every thing was going great. I had the greatest job in the world, and was having the best year of my carrier. In fact it was going so well I quite my job and started guiding full time. Yea everything was just great, and then BAM; everything I had worked for was taken from me in the matter of hours.
On August 8th 2005 Hurricane Katrina made land fall on the coast lf Southeast Louisiana. The eye passed directly over what used to be our fishing camp and took everything from Port Sulpher to Venice. When I say everything I mean everything. The devastation is unlike anything I had ever saw. My Dad (Captain Donnie Thomas) was in a Special Forces unit in Vietnam and he said he had never saw anything like this. New Orleans has gotten all the publicity but the look in lower Plaquemine Parish is total devastation.
All the commercial fishing and guide fishing industry in this region was devastated. The infrastructure is gone, all the hotels, docks, and marinas are destroyed and boats were just flung about like toys. Suddenly hundreds of Guides and Commercial Fishermen were unemployed.
I was out of work but that don’t matter to the credit companies, and I have a wife and two kids to feed. So I worked. I worked anywhere I could to make a dollar. I could have just sit around and waited on FEMA but I was raised different. I held 5 deferent jobs in 6 months. I had done everything from working in a nearby mill to doing flood adjustments for a friend. I scraped by and told myself if I could just make it till the spring that I was going to come back and fish.
I could have just quit, but I am not a quitter. So that brings us up to date. The fishing is absolutely fantastic, better than I have saw in a long time. Some say it has to do with the new water pushed in by the Hurricane, but I believe it’s because of the lack of pressure. Whatever it is it has been great fishing.
The only problem we have had is the lack of an infrastructure to support the Guides and commercial fishermen. That is slowly coming back. The Venice Marina has some trailers for rent for $150 a night that sleeps 5 people, and some friends of mine are doing the same. The Cypress Cove Marina and hotel is supposed to be opening by April 1st.
So if you want to come down and help in the revitalization of our great fishery just give me call (985) 515-0687 and we will get you somewhere to stay, and go catch some fish. Just remember to brace yourself for the devastation that is still evident all over, and the fish you will catch.
Thanks
Captain Cade Thomas
Run Away Charters
The Long Road Back
By Captain Cade Thomas
Every thing was going great. I had the greatest job in the world, and was having the best year of my carrier. In fact it was going so well I quite my job and started guiding full time. Yea everything was just great, and then BAM; everything I had worked for was taken from me in the matter of hours.
On August 8th 2005 Hurricane Katrina made land fall on the coast lf Southeast Louisiana. The eye passed directly over what used to be our fishing camp and took everything from Port Sulpher to Venice. When I say everything I mean everything. The devastation is unlike anything I had ever saw. My Dad (Captain Donnie Thomas) was in a Special Forces unit in Vietnam and he said he had never saw anything like this. New Orleans has gotten all the publicity but the look in lower Plaquemine Parish is total devastation.
All the commercial fishing and guide fishing industry in this region was devastated. The infrastructure is gone, all the hotels, docks, and marinas are destroyed and boats were just flung about like toys. Suddenly hundreds of Guides and Commercial Fishermen were unemployed.
I was out of work but that don’t matter to the credit companies, and I have a wife and two kids to feed. So I worked. I worked anywhere I could to make a dollar. I could have just sit around and waited on FEMA but I was raised different. I held 5 deferent jobs in 6 months. I had done everything from working in a nearby mill to doing flood adjustments for a friend. I scraped by and told myself if I could just make it till the spring that I was going to come back and fish.
I could have just quit, but I am not a quitter. So that brings us up to date. The fishing is absolutely fantastic, better than I have saw in a long time. Some say it has to do with the new water pushed in by the Hurricane, but I believe it’s because of the lack of pressure. Whatever it is it has been great fishing.
The only problem we have had is the lack of an infrastructure to support the Guides and commercial fishermen. That is slowly coming back. The Venice Marina has some trailers for rent for $150 a night that sleeps 5 people, and some friends of mine are doing the same. The Cypress Cove Marina and hotel is supposed to be opening by April 1st.
So if you want to come down and help in the revitalization of our great fishery just give me call (985) 515-0687 and we will get you somewhere to stay, and go catch some fish. Just remember to brace yourself for the devastation that is still evident all over, and the fish you will catch.
Thanks
Captain Cade Thomas
Run Away Charters
