The Cameron, Louisiana Jetty Pier and RV Park.

Update August 27, 2011:

A Cameron Jetty Pier and RV park employee told me that the pier is supposed to be repaired within 60 days.  We'll see...

Update May 2011.  A barge hit the Cameron jetty pier last month and damaged it.  The park is open but the cameron jetty pier is closed until repairs can be made.  The Cameron Parish website said " a barge hit it, while failing to negotiate a turn"....which is interesting, since there is NO PLACE to TURN at that point in the ship channel.  Where was he going?  He had two choices, north or south.  Go figure.  I hope they get the Cameron jetty pier fixed soon !

 Before Hurricane Rita, Cameron, LA was once a tiny yet busy town near the SouthWest tip of Louisiana, butted against the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Lake Calcasieu ( locals call it Big Lake) to the North.

     Having fished in Big Lake several times, I grew to appreciate Cameron. Yet each time we stayed in the area, we couldnt help but think how vulnerable it was to a major hurricane. But it had survived them before. Especially the court house. The Cameron, LA courthouse has been about the only building standing after more than one hurricane. Today's construction engineers need to go take a look at it and learn something. The last time I was there, in April, 2010, they had built a new courthouse in Cameron, and for the life of me, I dont know why. But since I had never been inside the old one, I suppose the Cameron Parish Police Jury know best about such things. I just know it was still standing after Rita wiped out Cameron.

     The good news is that the Parish of Camerion, Louisiana has rebuilt a brand new Cameron jetty RV park and jetty pier. I was there a few weeks after it reopened a few years ago.  It's a very nice facility, especially compared to the still present signs of Rita's devastation in the city of Cameron.

     It said to me: " Cameron is coming back !" Bird watchers and fishermen flock (pardon the pun) to the facility now. Cameron is part of the Creole Nature trail and if you havent visited the area, I urge you to do so one summer. Bring the family. Let the kids fish from the concrete jetty pier or take them across the ferry and up highway 27 towards Sulphur, LA along ALLIGATOR ALLEY to watch the gators.  Stop along the way at one of the roadside recreational areas and let them catch some blue crabs for dinner. Just dont let them get in the water, for there are 100's if not 1000's of wild gators lurking.  I have them on video, within 5 feet...of MY feet.

    Then drive back to the Cameron Jetty Pier to fish under the lights after dark. ( that's when the speckled trout show up) It's Ok, mom, there are clean restrooms and even a cold outdoor shower available. Dont forget the covered jetty park pavillion where you can sit on picnic tables and enjoy a nice lunch after hubby cleans the fish at the fish cleaning station located on the pier's walkway.

     There's even a fenced playground for the kids. I was told they might add a tent camping area. As of April, 2010, you could only stay overnight if you had an RV.  Or you can stay in the nearby Cameron Hotel.

     You CAN, however, fish on the Cameron jetty pier from daylight until 10 PM for $5 a day. It's well worth it, too. You can come and go all day, as long as you wear the wristband they gave you at the gate.

     Fishing on the pier can produce some seriously large fish. We've caught sharks, bull redfish, speckled trout and even some fish I had never seen before from the Cameron jetty pier. That's saying a lot too, because I was raised on the Gulf Coast....but I'm still learning.

     The employees at the Cameron Jetty Park and Pier facility have always been friendly and helpful to us each time we've visited. When it first reopened after Rita destroyed it, we met one of the Cameron Parish Police Jurors and his wife there. It was evident to me that these two were highly instrumental in getting the project going and running smoothly, although they didnt tell me that. Sometimes I'm a fairly bright guy and can figure things out for myself.  Who would have guessed?

     It was just about time to close the pier for NON RV fishermen and they came out and visited with us, since we were the last couple standing. Nice folks, they were. The Police Juror even fished with us for a little while, while his wife was performing her last minute clean up chores, as she was working at the facility at the time. She's no longer employed there...and we miss her smile, her outgoing personality and general helpfulness. Where ever you are, Julie, we miss you ! I dont know who let her get away, and this is not a criticism of the present personell, but they'd do well to double whatever they were paying her and try to hire her back. She KNOWS how to treat her guests and represented the Parish of Cameron , Louisiana very well. My girlfriend caught her very first redfish that day and Julie was kind enough to take her photo along with her 25Lb Bull redfish, using her own camera. Yep, good folks down there in the city of Cameron, LA.

     That goes for the Cameron Crab Man too. One of the nicest older bait shop owners you'll ever meet. As long as he's there, I'll never buy my bait or ice anywhere else. He, his wife and his son are all good people. 

     Update on the Crab Man's health, August 27, 2011:   The Crab man is out of the hospital and doing fine. He looked good....but crabby as ever. ( just kidding, Curtis !)

     Above is a photo of me about 8 AM one Saturday morning on the Cameron Jetty Pier with a 41 inch bull redfish I had caught on my 3rd cast. The bait was a chunk of freshly frozen mullet that the Crab man had sold me earlier that morning, I used a #12 circle hook purchased at Lake Charles Tackle on the day before. The reel was the Penn 750 SSG ( it has the green line, in the photo) and an ABU Garcia Bruiser 9 foot surf rod. Take note of the net on the pier behind me. The Crab Man in Cameron makes and sells them for less than $20 or so. It's essential for pier fishing. Also notice the tricked out rolling cooler/rod and umbrella holder.  You might want to make one yourself.  If you're going to the Cameron Jetty Pier and RV park, stop at Lake Charles tackle on Mcneese street and then head on down to Cameron, to go see the Crab Man. He's located on the water right off the main highway. Just ask anyone, they'll tell you how to get there. Stock up on groceries in Lake Charles before you go, because there's only one tiny store in the city of Cameron. It's also the only gas station. Their food and bait prices are just short of grand larceny.

     After writing this, I feel the need to make another trip down to the Cameron Jetty Park. Maybe I can squeeze one in before the summer is over. Hope to see you there. If you go and see some old dude wearing his lucky orange Columbia fishing shirt , struggling with a big redfish....drop that net over the railing for me, will ya?  I'll share my gatorade with you if you do.

Update:  For those who have asked me about the Cameron Jetty RV Park facilities, please visit :  Cameron Parish Police Jury.

Don't miss Fishing at the Cameron Jetty

~Froggy~

Part time Louisiana Food critic and beach bum in training