Story by Erik Holmes

For Hokie Gajan, there is nothing closer to paradise-on-Earth than The Sportsman’s Lodge, operated by Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Hokie, an ex-running back for the New Orleans Saints before becoming the team’s radio color man, says, “I’m a South Louisiana native, and basically what that means is that you hunt, you fish, and you love football. I promise you that there is nowhere in America that can match the hunting and fishing at The Sportsman’s Lodge.”

The 5,000-square-foot Sportsman’s Lodge is not your typical sporting retreat. “It’s actually a barge with a lodge on it,” Hokie explains in his relaxed Southern drawl. “They have these things they call spuds that are like legs, that they can crank up or down. Whether you’re in 20 feet of water or 6 feet of water, they drop those spuds down to the bottom and lift the barge just a little. When the wind picks up and the waves are rocking, you don’t even notice.”

The Lodge also moves to different locations throughout the year, chasing the fish or game in season. “During the summertime, they park that thing out at the Chandeleur Islands, where the fishing is excellent,” Hokie says. “Then in the fall, they move it into the mouth of the river down at Venice, Louisiana for duck hunting. If you get your limit of ducks in the morning, you can jump in one of their skiffs and go down to the Mississippi River Delta, where the salinity is just right so you can catch fresh and saltwater fish in the same spot. I tell you, it’s incredible.”

The hunting and fishing are so rich in this part of the country that Hokie has a hard time picking his favorite activity. “I love it all,” he says. “To ask me which one I prefer is like asking me which one of my kids is my favorite. When you’re at the Lodge, you can fish for everything: bass, bluegill, catfish, marlin, tarpon, speckled trout, redfish, flounder, sailfish, mahi-mahi—you name it. There are also a bunch of different ducks for the choosing.”