Restoring Tradition

Restoring Tradition

Keith Lusher

As the heat of summer sets in, the crabbing bite on the Northshore improves with every day that goes by. However, for Corey LaBostrie of Lacombe, it doesn’t really matter much if the crabs are biting or not. The reason for that being that LaBostrie's style of crabbing doesn’t require the assortment of tools that you may think would accompany those who typically crab from the side of the road. “There’s no lines, there’s no bait, no crab nets or traps,” he said.
LaBostrie executes a more primitive way of catching crabs which involves a simple dip net and a good pair of eyes.

LaBostrie paddles out to his prefered spot in the lake.

LaBostrie has lived in Lacombe since 1977. It was then that he was introduced to what the locals call “pushing for crabs.” The tradition is brilliantly simplistic. All thats needed is a dip net with preferably a flat tip in which the frame resembles a semi circle. The angler enters the water and walks along the shoreline in approximately 2-3 feet of water and pushes the net under any crabs that are on the sandy bottom. “This technique was taught to me by my elders here in Lacombe when I was growing up. I remember Mr. Herbert Batiste going all the way from Bayou Lacombe to Goose Point just scooping up crabs,” LaBostrie said.
On his latest trip, Corey launched his canoe at the end of Lake Road in Lacombe and shrugged through the shallows towing the boat behind him, armed with only his custom made push net.

Corey spots a crab in the grass near the mouth of Bayou Lacombe

LaBostrie caught 2 dozen crabs in a little over an hour by simply walking the shoreline and spotting crabs on the sandy bottom and in the grass. “Most of them are hiding from bigger fish so they’ll be in the patches of eel grass along the shoreline,” he said.
When it comes to crabs, ask any seafood lover and they’ll tell you that soft-shell crabs are among their favorite. LaBostrie says he comes across soft shells often and this method of crabbing allows the opportunity to scoop them up while they’re molted and are still soft. They’re known by the locals as “Doubles.” “Ohh I like those doubles! What's happening there is the soft-shell crab is on the bottom and the other crab is literally hugging it on top to protect it because it can't defentd itself,” he said. LaBostrie has had trips where he’s caught a dozen soft-shells or busters.

Labostrie holds a paper shell which is a crab just beyond the softshell stage.

While he didn't manage to catch any softshells on this trip he did catch a "papershell" which is a crab that has progressed past the softshell stage. "You can just pop the shell off these and fry them up just like you would with a softshell," he says.

While the task seems simple, there is some degree of experience needed to avoid something that could potentially turn into a painful situation. “You have to watch out for stingrays down there. If the waters murky, they’re hard to see and if you step on one you’re going to know it because they’ll whip that tail around and get you with the barb,” he said. Stingrays aren’t the only thing to beware of while walking along the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain. LaBostrie recalls a time when he had a close call while pushing for crabs one morning. “I literally had a bull shark swim right between my legs so you have to be careful when doing this!”

LaBostrie prepares the crabs for a boil. All these caught were caught without bait

While the productive results of pushing for crabs is a good enough reason to continue his method, LaBostrie says there’s a part of him that get’s nostalgic over the way things used to be and this is a small way to bring back the good ole’ days. “I can remember 12 cars all parked at the end of Lake Rd. and everybody was out there walking in the lake with nets. This was how eveyone crabed back in the day," LaBostrie said. "Not many people do it anymore so I’m just trying to keep the tradition alive and to pass it on to the next generation,”

NorthshoreFishingReport.com 6/8/20

Keith Lusher

I created NFR.com in the spring of 2012. Since then it has helped link Northshore fishermen to valuable information and has filled the void of absent information on the web about fishing on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Northshore Fishing Report has morphed into a brand name and can be found not only on the web, but on radio and newspaper. As NFR grows I will continue to work hard at keeping NFR local focusing on local anglers, reports, seminars, and fishing tournaments in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parish. I hope you enjoy the website and If you have any questions please email me at: Keith@NorthshoreFishingReport.com

Look for the Northshore Fishing Report publication every Thursday in The Slidell Independent Weekly Newspaper!

Joe Picone joins the NFR Studio by phone to discuss the new improvements to the East Pearl River Boat Launch.

The Marsh Martian Cory Labostrie joins the NFR Studio by phone to talk "Pushin' for Crabs" in Lake Pontchartrain.

Dustin Touchet of Magnolia Outdoors joins the NFR Studio by phone to discuss his latest trip to Bayou Cane.

Keith Lusher and Chris Basey review the past reports on NFR. Also introduce a new drawing for fishing reporters on the site.