Mississippi River Off-Limits To Anglers?

Filed in archive Outdoor News on October 2, 2006

A ruling by a U.S. District Court judge has alarmed hunters and anglers in northeastern Louisiana and they say the decision could affect outdoorsmen across the country. On Aug. 29 federal judge Robert G. James ruled that the public has no "right to fish and hunt on the Mississippi River."

U.S. District Court Judge Robert G. James ignored recommendations from his own magistrate in ruling in a case pitting a group of anglers against East Carroll Parish Sheriff Mark Shumate over the legality of trespassing arrests stemming from their fishing on Mississippi River flood waters in Northeast Louisiana.

"This is gigantic," said Mark Hilzim, president of Restore Our Waterway Access, Inc. "He has opened up Pandora's box. If I read that (ruling) right, does that mean nobody has the right to fish above the low-water mark? Every fisherman in the country needs to pay attention to this."

Hilzim went on to say the case is broad enough that it could potentially prohibit hunting and fishing on navigable waters across the U.S.

Read the full article on the Louisiana Sportsman.