More than 50,000 red drum released into Calcasieu Lake in restocking program

More than 50,000 hatchery-raised red drum were released into Calcasieu Lake on Friday at the West Cove Boat Ramp on Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, marking the flagship event of Louisiana’s first redfish restocking program. CCA Louisiana, the Recreational Fisheries Research Institute, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries carried out the release with support from Cameron LNG and Sempra Infrastructure. Fingerlings raised at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at The University of Southern Mississippi were transported to the refuge, acclimated to local water temperature and salinity, and then released—some by volunteers transferring them by bucket to waiting boats. Louisiana plans long-term monitoring to evaluate survival, movement, and contribution to the wild population.