The Louisiana marsh is fishing the way it should in June, with redfish stacked in the ponds and along the bars, speckled trout moving to the outside beaches and barrier islands, and the first tarpon showing along the coast. Mangrove snapper and the offshore bite round it out. Get out early before the heat and the afternoon storms.
What’s Hitting
Redfish are stacked in the marsh ponds, bayous, and along the bars. Speckled trout have moved to the outside — the barrier islands, beaches, and nearshore rigs. Mangrove snapper are on the nearshore structure and rigs, and the first tarpon are showing along the coast and at the river mouth. Offshore, the tuna and the rig bite are producing for those making the run.
Where to Find Them
Work the marsh ponds, bayous, and shorelines of the Biloxi Marsh, Delacroix, and Hopedale for reds. Speckled trout are on the outside beaches, the barrier islands like the Chandeleurs, and around the nearshore rigs and platforms. Mangrove snapper are on the rigs and wrecks. Tarpon are showing at the river mouths and along the beaches. Offshore rigs hold tuna.
Tides & Conditions
Marsh redfish fishing is tide-driven, with moving water positioning fish along the bars and pond edges. Speckled trout bite the outside on moving tides and around the rigs. Water is warm and the marsh can get hot and still by midday. Afternoon thunderstorms build daily, so fish the morning. Watch the wind — it dictates whether the outside trout bite is fishable. The wind dictates everything on the outside this week, so have an inside marsh plan ready for the days the barrier-island trout bite blows out.
Tackle & Tactics
Reds in the marsh eat gold spoons, soft plastics, and cut or live bait along the bars and pond edges. Speckled trout on the outside want soft plastics, popping corks, and live shrimp around the islands and rigs. Mangrove snapper take light fluoro and live or cut bait on the structure. For the early tarpon, live mullet and crabs on heavy spinning gear.
This Week’s Tip
When the marsh reds go quiet in the midday heat, follow the trout to the outside. The barrier islands and nearshore rigs stay cooler and hold trout through the heat of the day, especially with a little moving water and current around the structure. A livewell of shrimp or a bag of soft plastics fished around the islands keeps you bent when the inside slows.