Louisiana
NJ fishing captain guides angler to pending Louisiana record tuna
One for the books: Records of biggest fish caught in New Jersey
New Jersey Fish & Wildlife is the keeper of the record catches made by recreational fishermen and spearfishermen.
Eddie Adams, a local charter boat captain from the Highlands, may have guided a fisherman to a new Louisiana state record yellowfin tuna after a member of his fishing charter, Jeffrey Tomaloff, landed a 256-pound yellowfin tuna on a Jan. 16 trip to the Gulf.
If the catch is certified, the fish would surpass the current record 251-pound yellowfin tuna set in 2012 by Elliot Sale who landed his near the West Delta Block oil rig, according to the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association records.
Adams told the Asbury Park Press that the paperwork is filed and they’re just waiting on the certification. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries confirmed that staff weighed the big fish but it’s the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association that keeps the records.
Adams runs Henry Smulewitz’s 39-foot Contender Down N Dirty. The boat, powered by triple Honda 350 outboard engines, runs charters here in the spring and fall out of Raritan Bay and Manasquan River. This winter the boat is fishing out of Cypress Cove Marina and Lodge in Venice, Louisiana as part of the Fish Venice Charters’ fleet.
On Jan. 16, Adams had a four-man charter on board and was chasing pogy balls – what they call menhaden pods in Louisiana – about 12 to 15 miles off the coast. In one of the thick clusters of bait, Tomaloff, a Floridian, hooked the big bruiser of a yellowfin on a clear popper. Tomaloff fought it on a 8-foot Jack’s Custom spinning outfit spooled with 80-pound hollow core braided line. Adams said from the hook up to gaff, it took Tomaloff 30 minutes to wrestle in the yellowfin tuna. On the boat was also Mike O’Sullivan from Boston, Mike Le from Louisiana and Andy Brown from Florida.
Lake Hopatcong Ice Contest
The frigid air of late has created a nice layer of ice on the state’s largest freshwater body, Lake Hopatcong. Laurie Murphy at Dows Boat Rentals on Nolans Point Road said in the shallows around the coves the lake has 5 to 7 inches of ice on it. Out in the main lake, she said the ice cover is 4 to 7 inches. Next week, the forecast calls for the temperature to drop down to as low as 5 degrees overnight on Thursday, while daytime temps will be in the teens for most of the week. That has the potential to keep the lake locked up in ice for a while.
As such, the Knee Deep Club will hold its first ice fishing contest on Feb. 1 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are cash prizes for the three heaviest fish in each category. Entry fee is $20 for club members and $25 for everyone else. Anglers can sign up at Dows or Lake End Marina. Both locations will also serve as official weigh stations. As far as the catch goes, Murphy said anglers are picking away at perch and pickerel. There have been some bass around the state park and a couple walleye out in the deeper parts of the main lake.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him at dradel@gannettnj.com
Louisiana
‘Growth pays for growth’: Entergy’s Fair Share Plus model to save Louisiana customers $2.8 billion
Think tank proposes capping Social Security benefits at $100,000
A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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