Through Friday, there's no official word from state fisheries biologists and managers about the extent of the fish kill caused by January's midwinter Arctic blast which brought record snow to south Louisiana.
On-the-water reports conveyed through social media platforms said speckled trout and white trout were the main species showing up in fish kills in two isolated locations in the Pontchartrain Basin, an extensive or what looked extensive kill in the Pointe-aux-Chenes area, another smaller kill near Golden Meadow and a small number of floating fish in a small bay in the Barataria area.
There was a report of fish, mostly trout, struggling to survive last week in the marshes between Montegut and Golden Meadow.
There have been no reports of dead fish in freshwater areas, nor freshwater species among the kills identified in the coastal marshes.
Last week's warmer weather conditions and rain trigger the appearance of dead fish, which laid on the bottom until warmer conditions release gases that makes them float.
Wildlife and Fisheries folks are asking for any fish-kill reports to its website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/fish-kills
More days
The historic snow prompted Wildlife and Fisheries secretary Madison Sheahan to extend several hunting seasons by two days, most of which involved deer hunting. That season was originally set to end Friday, January's last day.
Here are other extended seasons:
Quail, rabbit and squirrel to end March 2 on private lands and selected wildlife management areas;Nutria through March 2 except allowed through March 31 on four WMAs;Deer/archery season through Feb. 17 in State Deer 5, 6 and 9 on 13 WMAs;Feral hog season through March 2 on five WMAs;And, nighttime raccoon season through March 2 on 32 WMAs.The complete list of these WMAs can be found on the agency's website: wlf.louisiana.gov under "Recent News" near the bottom lefthand side of the site.
Sheahan could not extend migratory bird/waterfowl seasons because federal regulations mandate those season-ending dates.
That's a wrap
Mark Cullen was on the spot for his report on the last week the duck season in the West Zone, which, if you recall the Jan. 31 close, was the latest season-ending date in generations.
Cullen hunted the last days in the Sweet Lake area in the northern reaches of Cameron Parish and was in blinds the last seven days.
He described "very good" and "good" flights of ducks four of the seven days with bluewing teal, mallards and gray ducks in the mix, and said flights slowed down Tuesday through Thursday when warmer conditions entered the hunting equation.
Cullen also noted the changes offered by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for the 2025-2026 duck season, a move that will cut the season from three splits to two splits and close the season Jan. 18. He said he plans to offer public comment about this early close.
Other hunters will be able to do the same during Thursday's commission meeting and its March 6 meeting, both in Baton Rouge.
Cullen said the third split "was fantastic" in the three days leading up to the snow event and added flights of mallards didn't show up until the snow came.
"On balance if the intent of the third split was to hold more ducks, it's working," Cullen said.
The commission
Thursday's Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting starts at 9:30 a.m inside state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
The 2025-2026 hunting seasons are up for public comment and any amendments along with a notice to extend the alligator season.
The seven-man commission also will receive an update on the agency's Artificial Reef Program from CCA Louisiana; an update on bowfishing; and, the State Legislature-mandated stock assessments on striped mullet, sheepshead, drum and Southern flounder.