CADE — Once again, more than 750 Teche Area outdoorsmen, mostly recreational saltwater fishermen, filled the Cade Community Center for a fund-raising banquet Thursday night for the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana.

And, also like last year, those men, women and children who attended the Sugar Chapter event raised an estimated $135,000-$140,000.

The fervor for which they support the nonprofit conservation organization continued to amaze CCA-Louisiana officials who joined them Thursday night in the jam-packed hall.

“It’s unbelievable. It puts the Sugar Chapter among the very elite chapters in the United States that have that level of support for CCA,” CCA-Louisiana Executive Director David Cresson said. “That chapter continues to raise the bar, continues to set the pace for other chapters in Louisiana. I could not be more proud of that chapter and what they do in their efforts to conserve Louisiana’s marine resources.”

It was a night of raffles and auctions, both live and silent, socializing and, of course, good food catered by Bon Creole. Banquet-goers dined on roasted pork loin, stuffed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls and cheesecake.

Title sponsor for the event was Arceneaux Ford of New Iberia. Other sponsors included Community First Bank, Superior Energy Services, Thibodeaux & Son Scrapyard Inc., Acadiana Outfitters and HolleMire International, Landry said.

Cresson, who works in the state organization’s office in Baton Rouge, said the money raised helps fund the group’s advocacy activities, its conservation work across the state, and lobbying on the statewide and national level for positive legislation in relation to fishery management.

The CCA-Louisiana boss tipped his cap to the local chapter’s leaders, including outgoing president Corry Landry of New Iberia, countless volunteers and community support. Those are among the reasons for the unqualified success of the six-year old chapter, he said.

“Great volunteer leadership is the main reason. Their volunteers have a can-do attitude and a real team-oriented approach to what they do and the community has reacted to it,” Cresson said. “You’re in the heart of fishing country. There’s growing momentum for recreational fishing in this part of the state.”

Landry, who will turn over the chapter’s presidency to local resident Blake Fouquier, said it appeared to be touch-and-go on if there would be enough room for everybody attending the banquet.  He said he got a text message around mid-afternoon from Kirk Sieber, the chapter’s first president, noting the event was “pretty much maxed out.”

“I actually didn’t think we were going to have enough room,” Landry said, adding there were 87 tables presold, “which shows the support we have in the area.” A platinum table cost $800 while the other tables were $480.

“We had a sellout crowd. We packed the house. We had a great group of CCA supporters there. We raised a lot of money,” he said.

There was a “party atmosphere” that night inside the community center, said Rad Trascher, CCA-Louisiana director of development and S.T.A.R. director. He, too, was somewhat concerned about seating capacity.

“They (Sugar Chapter) keep growing every year. Until the crowd sat down, it looked like a jam-packed house. Once they sat down, that kind of spread them out. Literally, we used every table that place owns,” Trascher said.

The most poignant moment of the night for him was a recognition of Landry, he said.

“We called up the entire committee to recognize Corry Landry for his service the last three years as chapter president. He has been an incredible volunteer for CCA. He was instrumental in starting the chapter in New Iberia,” Trascher said.

Landry said, “It was a humbling experience for me but, you know, it’s not just one guy. It’s a whole committee that comes together. I just drive the train. Everybody else is doing their part. It’s a team effort.

“I greatly appreciate the recognition for the last three years. This committee is in great hands for the future. Now Kirk (Sieber) and I can kind of relax a bit.”

The Sugar Chapter announced at the banquet plans for a Southwest CCA Trout Shootout scheduled to be held July 14 at Cypremort Point. The sponsor will be Musson-Patout Automotive, Trascher said.

“It will be spearheaded by the Sugar Chapter. Vermilion, Cajun and Acadiana CCA-Louisiana chapters will be involved, he said.

The Southwest CCA Trout Shootout’s tournament director will be Landry, Trascher said.