Ride the Bull Extreme Kayak Fishing Rodeo
By Christopher LeCoq
If you say the name “Sturgis” to any motorcycle enthusiasts across the country, you may see their ears perk up. That annual pilgrimage of ramblers to a small town near South Dakota’s Black Hills has gained recognition even outside of the biker community. Resembling that summer spectacle of steel & leather, there’s one weekend each year where a small Gulf Coast fishing community attracts more plastic & nylon per square foot than most sporting goods stores. I’m referring to Ride the Bull, the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament, held each August in Grand Isle, Louisiana. In fact, the tournament’s founder, Danny Wray, has been quoted numerous times saying the event, “is like Sturgis for kayaks”.
Ride the Bull founder, Danny Wray.
Let’s cut to the chase, and in this case the chase is catching the biggest bull redfish among a sea of hundreds of other kayak anglers set for the same objective. On the morning of Ride the Bull, the iridescent glow of a sign that reads “Bridgeside Marina” casts a neon glimmer across a mass of kayak anglers teeming across the landing as each preps their tiny boats for a morning of fishing. What began as 80 participants in 2009, has since exploded in popularity and now annually attracts hundreds of kayak enthusiasts to join in the excitement. To date the largest number of entrants to descend on the tournament was 733 anglers in 2015. It was this year that Ride the Bull earned the moniker, The World’s Largest Kayak Tournament. As the sun creeps over the eastern horizon of Grand Isle, each angler paddles out towards the starting point lined shoulder-to-shoulder waiting for the starting horn, from the air it looks like a herd of cattle gathering to cross single-file through a lone gate of an open pasture. At safe light the horn sounds and much like the Great Midwestern Land Grab of the 1800s, anglers rush out into the open waters of Caminada Pass to stake their claim on the “best spot” to anchor up for a morning of fishing. Men, women, and youth in paddle craft of all length and color enjoy this one-of-a-kind event.
Three generations of anglers fish Ride the Bull.
The bait of choice for most is a cracked blue crab or cut mullet. The game is to sink the bait to the bottom, tighten the line, and wait. It could be minutes, or it could be hours before the first fish of the tournament is caught. But if a giant bull redfish grabs a hold to the end of your line – HOLD ON! These fish possess a strength that will bring even the most muscular of anglers to grunts and groans. Not to mention you are fighting the fish from a sitting position in a kayak, so the advantage here is not on the side of the angler.Many have described the fight with a bull redfish from a kayak as “The Cajun Sleighride.” One great example of sportsmanship displayed at Ride the Bull often happens when one angler has a fish on the line. It is not uncommon to see and hear other nearby participants cheering them on as they tango with the angry fish.
A tournament participant holds up a big bull redfish.
For those who are lucky enough to land one of the massive beasts, volunteers on bay boats will be waiting to scoop up the fish, collect the angler’s name and registration number, and usher the fatigued catch back to the marina. There waiting is a team of volunteers who imitate a Nascar pit crew. The fish will be weighed, measured, tagged for scientific study, given a boost of energy in clean oxygenated water tanks, and released right back into the water in just a matter of minutes. This drill continues all morning and is not uncommon to see over a hundred bull redfish brought in throughout the day, all vying for a spot in the Top 10 leaderboard.
A bull redfish catch worthy of the leaderboard.
The beauty of Ride the Bull is you don’t have to be an experienced kayak angler to finish atop the leaderboard. The current top 3 first place finishers proves that it takes combination of skill and luck to become a winner. The largest bull red to come to the RTB scale was in 2015, when female angler Jamie Clouatre reeled in a 39.18 pound giant while fishing out of a canoe. In 2018, on a borrowed kayak, rookie angler Steven Pracht landed a 36.78 pound bull at his first ever Ride the Bull event. It was this year also that the biggest ovation from the crowd came when the awards ceremony had to be delayed because word had spread that a youth angler was in an hour-long battle with a giant red. Unfortunately, the youngster was not able to land the fish but was welcomed to a roar of cheers from a crowd of 500+ as he was escorted back into the marina. Brock Miller took the title at 16 years old when he brought in a 34.56 pounder in 2016, which sits at 3rd overall in the tournament’s history.
Now organized by the Louisiana Coastal Conservation Association, the Ride the Bull jamboree has evolved to a festival-like event boasting “more than just a fishing tournament” with bands, kayak decorating and costume contests, plus a variety of other special categories to win prizes even if you don’t end up on the Top 10 leaderboard. It’s become much like a summertime Mardi Gras party, with a fisherman’s twist. It’s true that each participant is there for a common goal. To expand the sport of kayak fishing, enjoy the camaraderie with other anglers, and to be a part of the south Louisiana gem that is Grand Isle. Participants have traveled from nearly all US states, and even from as far as Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, to be a part of the celebration that has become Ride the Bull. The tournament has adopted the phrase “Bring a Friend” as its annual motto, and each participant is encouraged to not only return next year.. but also bring someone new along.
To see what the event is all about check out this documentary of the 10 Year Anniversary of Ride the Bull. To learn more about participating visit CCA Louisiana website registration page or follow Ride the Bull Kayak Fishing Tournament on Facebook .
Have you done something interesting outdoors? Join Global Outdoors and write a review to tell everyone about it! We’re building the home for trusted reviews of outdoor experiences, outfitters, and guides.
