Louisiana fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall is one of the best times of year to fish the Louisiana coast. As the water cools, the speckled trout move from the outside waters into the marsh, the redfish get aggressive, and the drum gather at the passes. October is when the fishing really starts to turn on.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, black drum and bull redfish are feeding at the passes and around the barrier islands. Speckled trout are starting to move from the outside waters into the marsh, and they are feeding on shrimp moving out of the marsh on the falling tide. Slot redfish are everywhere in the marsh. Sheepshead are on the rigs and structure, and flounder are starting to move toward the passes.
Where to Find Them
For black drum and bull reds, fish the passes and barrier islands around Grand Isle, Port Fourchon, and the Chandeleur area. For speckled trout, fish the marsh edges and the bayous where the shrimp are moving. Look for birds diving on shrimp. For slot reds, the marsh ponds and the edges of the grass in Venice, Delacroix, and Lafitte. For sheepshead, the nearshore rigs and the structure around the passes.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are small along the Louisiana coast, and the last quarter moon this weekend softens them. The wind is often a bigger factor than the tide. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. River flow from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya affects water clarity and salinity, so check conditions before heading out. Watch the tropics through mid-October.
Tackle & Tactics
For black drum, a piece of blue crab or a shrimp on a Carolina rig or a jig. For bull reds, a fish-finder rig with a chunk of cut bait or a half crab. For speckled trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp or a soft plastic on a 1/4-ounce jig head. For slot reds in the marsh, a gold spoon or a spinnerbait. Medium spinning gear handles most of it.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Grand Isle area public ramps, the Bayou Bienvenue area for Delacroix and the eastern marshes, and the Venice Marina area. Shore anglers have good access at the Grand Isle State Park fishing pier and the Grand Isle beaches. Fish are concentrated at the passes for drum and bull reds and in the marsh for trout and slot reds. Check current Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regulations and seasons before keeping fish, since speckled trout and redfish rules have changed in recent years.
This Week’s Tip
When the shrimp start moving out of the marsh on the falling tide, the speckled trout will be waiting at the mouths of the bayous and drains. Look for birds diving on shrimp and set up at the drain mouths. A popping cork with a live shrimp is deadly in this situation.
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