What many Teche Area bass anglers regard as the kickoff tournament for the season has been scheduled for Feb. 24.

The Louisiana Bass Cats Open, which features a guaranteed first-place prize of $1,000, has been held by the local bass club every year since 2003, according to Peter Romero, who has been the Louisiana Bass Cats president since 2003.

While previous Opens were held out of Cabot Landing on the Intracoastal Waterway, the upcoming contest will originate from Fairfax Foster Bailey Memorial Landing in Franklin, Romero said Wednesday evening. He said he considered changing the location because of the unknowns on the Intracoastal Canal, such as heavy fog that once played havoc with the start, plus the fact it is heavily traveled by barges and can be whipped into high seas by strong winds from certain directions.

“I thought about it for a while, I told Chris (Louisiana Bass Cats member Chris Vedrines of New Iberia) it bothers me. It can be dangerous,” Romero said.

After Vedrines and other bass club members agreed with his reasoning, the launch site was changed for this year, he said, adding participants can still run to Bayou Sale, Quintana Oilfield and Lake Fausse Pointe, among other choice locations, from Fairfax Foster Bailey Memorial Landing. He also believes the switch might attract more bass anglers to the tournament.

“I think it’ll be a plus. I think we’ll get more people from our area. A lot of guys who fish our Hawg Fights, a lot of those guys will be there,” he said.

Another plus, he said, is that it is being held later in the month of February. Usually, it’s in mid-February, he said.

With that switch, the Louisiana Bass Cats Open will be the second major bass tournament in the area with a “two-man team” format in 2019. The Legends of the Lake Bass Tournament, sponsored by the Carencro Bass Club, is scheduled to be held earlier in February at Lake Fausse Pointe out of Marsh Field Boat Landing, according to reports.

The Louisiana Bass Cats Open entry fee is $100 per boat with an optional big bass fee of $10.

Romero, 52, started his reign as the bass club’s president by ushering in the Open.

“It was a fundraiser. We were trying to build the club. It continues to be a good fundraiser for the club,” he said. 

Thirty-three boats fished the event in February 2018. The winning five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces, was carried to the scales by Greer Billeaud of Lafayette and Josh Champagne of Breaux Bridge.

Romero said, “A good turnout would be anywhere in the 30s. We have had as many as 42 boats. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us have 40 boats, especially (with the tournament) in late February.”

He plans to fish with one of his twin 12-year-old sons, probably Ben Romero. The boys, who have been regulars on the Wednesday evening bass tournament circuit, alternate fishing tournaments with him.

“They know whose turn it is,” he said with a chuckle.

Vedrines, 58, can’t wait.

“It’s a good tournament and we usually catch a lot of fish,” he said about the field each year.

“You get to pick your best partner of the year and go after it. Another thing about it, you get to see a lot of good fishermen in the area who are not in clubs. It’s certainly our most competitive tournament.”

Vedrines, who along with his wife, Cheryl, owns Advanced Graphics Engraving in New Iberia, plans to team up with Ronnie Dressel of Loreauville on Feb. 24. Vedrines and Dressel won the Open title several years ago.

“I’m certainly fishing. I’m fishing with my old buddy Ronnie Dressel. We usually do pretty good in it,” he said.

Romero and Vedrines also talked about a membership drive welcoming new members to the bass club. There are more joining this year, both of them said.

Vedrines said he believes three more ULL Fishing Team members joined the Louisiana Bass Cats to raise the total to six from the Ragin’ Cajuns. There also are some new bassers from the Catahoula Bass Club.

The combination of young guns and crafty veterans should make it an interesting year, starting Feb. 24, he said.

“I’m ready. I’m ready to go,” he said.