The Louisiana inshore fishery is in classic late-spring form this week. Redfish are stacked in the marsh, speckled trout are on the outside grass beds and oyster reefs, and the offshore tuna bite at the Lump and Mid Shore has been productive. Light south winds dominated the week with one cool front mid-week.
Marsh — Redfish Stack
The Louisiana marsh redfish fishery is at its productive late-spring window. Schools of slot fish are working the marsh edges, the coves, and the shoreline drains throughout the Delacroix, Hopedale, and Venice areas. Sight casting from poling skiffs to schools in the shallow water at first light is the productive technique.
Standard rigs — gold weedless spoons (1/4 oz Johnson Sprite), DOA C.A.L. soft plastics on 1/8 oz weedless jigheads, Z-Man Trout Tricks in glow chartreuse. Cut bait or live shrimp on a Carolina rig produces consistent action for the live-bait anglers.
The deeper marsh ponds and the canal systems are also holding fish — particularly in the heat of the afternoon when the shallow flats get too warm. Live shrimp or live cocahoes on a 1/4 oz jighead worked along the bank structure produces.
Outside — Trout, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper
Speckled trout are stacked on the outside grass beds, oyster reefs, and the rigs in 8-15 feet of water. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the standard. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway pilings have been the consistent producer for big trout (4-6 lb fish are realistic).
Sheepshead numbers are excellent on the inshore rigs, the bridge pilings, and the marsh shoreline structure. Live fiddler crabs or fresh shrimp on small hooks with light leader.
Mangrove snapper limits are coming on the bridge pilings and the inshore rigs. Live shrimp on light fluoro leader.
A few flounder are starting to push in for the summer pattern. Live shrimp or finger mullet on a 1/4 oz jighead worked along the bottom in the bay channels produces.
Offshore — Tuna at the Rigs, Mahi Building
The yellowfin tuna bite at the Lump, the Mid Shore, and the deeper rigs has been productive. Trolled cedar plugs and ballyhoo are producing fish in the 30-80 lb class. Chunking at anchor with butterfish and pogies in the late afternoon has produced the better numbers and bigger fish.
A few blackfin tuna and skipjack are mixed in on the trolling spreads. Light tackle fun.
The Mississippi Canyon area continues to produce yellowfin and the occasional bigeye for boats running the long water. The Spur and the deepwater rigs are reliable.
Mahi-mahi are building. Boats running the rigs are finding scattered schools. Trolled ballyhoo on light fluoro is the standard.
Federal red snapper opens June 1 in the Gulf (verify NOAA dates). Limits (2 per angler currently, verify NOAA at trip time) will be reached quickly at productive structure.
What’s Ahead
Federal red snapper opens June 1. Gag and red grouper also open. The summer offshore pattern is settling in with the rigs producing the consistent action. Water temperatures climbing through the 80s in the marsh.
For this weekend: dawn redfish on the marsh, trout on the outside through the day, dawn offshore runs to the rigs.
Tight lines.