Louisiana is firing on every cylinder this week. The Tarpon Triangle is in early peak, the offshore boats are tearing up tuna and the first marlin of the year, and the inshore marsh is at its spring high.
Tarpon Triangle — Firing Up
The legendary Venice tarpon run is in early peak this week. Boats running the Triangle (out of Venice/Port Eads) are getting shots at fish at the river mouths and along the beaches. Live mullet and crabs are the standard. Numbers will build through June. This is one of the best big-tarpon fisheries in the country and the next four weeks are prime.
Offshore — Tuna and Marlin
The Venice offshore fleet is having one of the best springs in years. Yellowfin tuna are stacked at the floaters in 1,500-plus feet, and the first blue marlin of the year have come over the rail. Drift the rigs at night with chunks for yellowfin and run-and-gun the floaters during the day. Wahoo are mixed in on the high-speed troll.
Inshore — Spring Peak
The marsh from Hopedale through Delacroix is at its spring peak. Slot redfish are crushing topwaters at first light, and limits of speckled trout are coming on soft plastics under a popping cork through the rest of the day. Bull redfish are stacked at the river passes — cut mullet or pogy on the bottom is the easy approach.
Vermilion Bay and Western Coast
Vermilion Bay is producing limits of trout daily — live shrimp under a popping cork or LSU-colored Z-Man on a jighead. Cocodrie is producing reds and trout in equal measure.
Specific Spots This Week
For Venice tarpon, work the river mouths at Pass a Loutre, South Pass, and Southwest Pass on the outgoing tide — fish are rolling on the surface at first light. The Wagon Wheel area inside the Tarpon Triangle is also holding fish. Offshore, the floaters (Bullwinkle, Lena, Marlin, Ram-Powell) are producing yellowfin tuna nightly on chunks. Marlin trolling has been best at the deep water rigs in 1,800-plus feet with rigged ballyhoo and Ilanders. Inshore from Hopedale through Delacroix, the duck ponds and back lakes are loaded with redfish and trout — gold spoons and topwater plugs at first light. Vermilion Bay is fishing for trout at peak — work the spoil banks and the Last Island shoreline with live shrimp.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 74–77°F. New moon Saturday — strong dawn bite for tarpon and reds. Light south winds Wednesday/Thursday, light easterly Friday/Saturday. Excellent conditions through the weekend.
Local Intel This Week
Venice’s Tarpon Triangle is just heating up — boats running out of Bridge Side Marina are getting shots at fish at the river mouths on outgoing. Inside the marsh, Delacroix and Hopedale produce limit trout and reds before 9 AM most mornings. The deep-water rigs 100+ miles southeast hold yellowfin and the first blue marlin of the year. Louisiana saltwater license required ($10 residents), redfish slot 16-27 inches and 5 per angler. Tight lines.