These days, I have so many commitments and appearances that are geared towards marine education and research, that fishing sometimes gets pushed to the back burner. Not to mention, I also spend a lot of my time painting. After all these years, I still love painting and getting new art out to the public.

Yet, there are times when the planets line up and I’m able to catch two fish with one hook, so to speak. Meaning, I get to fish and promote marine issues all in the same trip. Such is the case in early June when I visit Southern Louisiana. Believe it or not, I have never fished the waters of the famous (and infamous) state of Louisiana, although I’ve always wanted to. Of course, I’ve heard the incredible stories of monster redfish and trout inshore and big tuna and billfish offshore, but this will be my first chance to hook up on some Cajun fishing. I guess one advantage of being well known is that I’m being guided by some guys who claim to know their local waters as well as they know how to cook blackened redfish. And that is saying a lot!

After a couple of days of fishing the delta, we’ll be traveling up to New Orleans for a very special night—a Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation fundraiser. It’s the first of its kind in Louisiana, and it’s shaping up to be an incredible event. On the evening of Saturday, June 11, we’ll be gathering at Galatoire’s, one of New Orleans’s most prominent restaurants, founded in 1905. Amazingly, its location on Bourbon Street has actually been a restaurant since 1830! After 186 years, they must have figured out the secret to success.

In addition to what will certainly be some fine cuisine, we’re also going to get serious about raising money. As I’ve always said, it takes cash to care. So we will be auctioning various fishing-related items, including some of my original artwork. I’m told that we may even have some local celebrity athletes and actors at the event, but we’ll have to wait and see. I do feel compelled to mention something I’m very proud of—that 90 percent of all monies raised by the GHOF goes to education and research. No salaries are paid by our charity, and only 10 percent go to administrative cost. Making sure a vast majority of the money we raise goes to the right source is something I’ve always been extremely adamant about.

While I’m excited about the fishing (and eating), as an artist, I can hardly wait to experience the Louisiana cultural scene. Some of the world’s most creative artwork originates in that region and I’m always inspired by seeing other artist’s talent and dedication to their craft.

Oh, in case you’re wondering why I’m so focused on Louisiana and why all of this fishing and eating and fundraising is happening, you just need to review the table of contents in this issue of Guy Harvey Magazine. Our excellent editors, writers and photographers have tossed in all of their chips to cover Louisiana’s extraordinary fishing and prolific fishery from one end of the state to the other. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, the state has had to battle back. I’m pleased to say that, from what I’m hearing (and soon will be witnessing), they’ve done an admirable job.

GUY HARVEY, PhD

is an internationally-acclaimed artist, fisherman, scientist, and world traveler, who devotes much of his time and money toward ocean conservation.