The Louisiana marsh is in its early-summer groove this week. Redfish are stacked in the marsh and around the bars, speckled trout have moved to the outside shorelines and barrier islands, and tarpon are beginning to build along the coast. Here is the Sportsman’s Paradise rundown.
What’s Biting
Redfish are the bread and butter, schooled in the marsh ponds, around the bayou points, and along the bars throughout the delta and the lakes. Speckled trout have pushed to the outside — the barrier islands, the surf, and the rigs near the passes are holding good numbers and quality fish. Tarpon are starting to show along the coast and off the river mouths, and the offshore rigs and reefs are giving up mangrove snapper, with the federal red snapper season a draw for the offshore crowd.
Where to Find Them
Work the marsh ponds, bayou drains, and grass edges for reds on the moving tide. Trout are on the outside shorelines, the barrier islands (the Chandeleurs when weather allows), and around the nearshore rigs and the passes. Tarpon are off the river mouths and along the beaches. The offshore rigs and reefs hold the snapper.
Tides & Conditions
A moving tide is everything in the marsh — the reds and trout feed hard on the falling and early incoming water. Calm mornings open up the outside shorelines and the run to the islands. Watch the daily afternoon storms and the wind for the longer runs.
Tackle & Tactics
For marsh reds, a gold spoon, a soft-plastic on a jighead, or cut bait along the bars produces. Work a popping cork with a soft-plastic or live shrimp on the outside for trout. Live bait on circle hooks for the staging tarpon. Drop cut bait on the rigs and reefs for snapper, and confirm the current federal snapper regulations.
This Week’s Tip
When the trout move outside in summer, the barrier islands and nearshore rigs hold the best fish — but they’re weather-dependent. Keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to jump on the first calm window; those outside trips produce the biggest boxes of the season.