Best Redfish Fishing Spots in Louisiana (A Complete Guide)
Louisiana has some of the best saltwater fishing in the United States. Various species of fish are readily available in the Louisiana waters to include the focal point of this article, the prized redfish.
Best Spots in Louisiana for Redfish Angling
- Lake Charles
- Grand Isle
- Venice
- Lake Pontchartrain
- Cocodrie
- Vermilion Bay
- Hopedale
- Lafitte
- Lake Maurepas
Louisiana is home to fertile waters rich in redfish, in both fresh and saltwater. They can be found in marshes, rivers, creeks, ponds, reservoirs, and oyster bars. They have become very popular for their aggressive nature and fighting power.
Smaller redfish frequently move in small schools or packs whereas bull redfish are often solitary in deeper water. Redfish are closely related to the black drums and both species sometimes interbreed.
Redfish grow to about eight pounds at three years of age and can eventually reach a maximum weight of about 90 pounds. For contextual reference, the Lousiana state record redfish caught on rod & reel is 61 pounds.
Redfish are dark red or silvery gray at the back and white on the belly. They have a unique black spot on the upper part of the tail base. The mature ones reproduce along the shorelines between August and October after which they move into the deep waters.
Water temperature is a critical factor in your success catching redfish. Check out this complete guide to the best water temperatures to catch redfish I wrote.
Best Locations in Louisiana for Redfish
1. Lake Charles
Located about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in Southwestern Louisiana, Lake Charles gives access to the Calcasieu River, Lake Charles, and Prien Lake along with some of the best inshore saltwater fishing on the Gulf Coast.
Lake Charles is your go-to area for freshwater and saltwater fishing. You’re sure to find a wide spectrum of fish of your taste including the redfish.
Location: 2 hours east of Houston, TX & 1 hour from Port Arthur, LA
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters (Lake Charles): High Tide Charters & Fishing Tom Guide Service. Both are fantastic options for redfish and a variety of other inshore species in the Lake Charles area. You will catch plenty of fish to include nice redfish. Click on the links above to read real reviews from happy anglers.
2. Grand Isle
Grand Isle is a town situated on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. It has such a distinctive topography and is the angler’s favorite with its saltwater marshes and coastal dunes. Big redfish can be caught here year-round and it has a reputation as one of the best redfish fisheries on the Gulf Coast.
Location: 2 hours from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters (Grand Isle): Big Dog Fishing Charters & Pelican State Fishing Charters
3. Venice
Venice is said to be one of the best redfish fisheries in all of Louisiana. This is the location where freshwater from the mighty Mississippi River meets warm saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico producing amazing conditions for redfish to congregate. Fishing in Venice will leave the angler both gratified and longing to return for more fishing.
Location: 1.5 hours from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters (Venice): Louisiana Lagniappe Charters & Southern Access Charters. There are countless charters and guide services operating in these waters but the two recommended above are among the best in reputation and customer satisfaction.
4. Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is well known for having the longest continuous causeway in the entire world. This is a sight worth beholding while in search of redfish. The saltwater estuary houses giant red drums which keep anglers flocking year after year to these waters.
Location: 30 minutes from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters (Lake Pontchartrain): Get’n Hooked Inshore Adventures & Victory Bay Charters
5. Cocodrie
Fishing in the Cocodrie village promises to be enjoyable. Lake Caillou, Lake Barre, and Lake Pelto are all accessible from here. The Cocodrie bays, marshlands, and islands all contribute to the exciting fishing experience. This area can be redfishing paradise.
Location: 1.5 hours from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guide/Charter (Cocodrie): Chasen’ Limits Fishing Charters
6. Vermilion Bay
This is another top-notch redfish destination close to New Orleans. Inshore, nearshore, offshore, and freshwater, you can find your redfish angling opportunity no matter your preferences.
Location: 2.5 hours from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guide/Charter (Vermilion Bay): Platinum Fishing Charters
7. Hopedale
Hopedale is just the ideal fishing spot in Louisiana. Visiting anglers will always have a memorable experience fishing at the spoil canal, Biloxi marsh, MRGO rocks, and Breton sound. You can find epic redfish fishing at all these locations year-round.
Location: 1 hour from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guide/Charter (Hopedale): Cajun South Guide Service
8. Lafitte
Lafitte is stocked with some of the best fishing spots there are in Louisiana waters. Its bays and lakes are always ready to receive eager anglers. The Turtle Bay, Old Cheinie, “Brusle” Lake, and Long Bay all guarantee a fruitful harvest of redfish.
Location: 40 minutes from New Orleans
Recommended Fishing Guide/Charter (Lafitte): Bayou Obsession Charters
9. Lake Maurepas
Also located in Southeastern Louisiana, Lake Maurepas is a large shallow estuarine system receiving freshwater input from about five rivers: Blind River, Tickfaw River, Natalbany River, and Amite River.
This region provides anglers with a swell experience because of its bountiful aquatic life. The lake, creeks, and marshes are full of natural aquatic life including awesome redfish numbers.
Location: 1.5 hours from New Orleans
Seasonal Breakdown for Louisiana Redfish
Redfish are in-season all year round in Louisiana waters. This makes redfish fishing possible anytime in the year. Seasonal variations and intricacies do exist.
Understanding these variations makes you plan for a better fishing experience. So, you want to know what time of the year is best for fishing? This should help.
Spring
In the spring, the redfish fish are usually very active and in large numbers. The slightly warm weather is beneficial for redfish feeding.
The redfish can also be found in shallow water at this time of the year. Also, a wide range of baitfish and crustaceans are readily available. These conditions make for a rewarding fishing experience in spring.
Hot Tip: Mimic shrimp for excellent redfish action in the state’s shallow waters. Redfish will be foraging heavily on shrimp this time of year so live/dead shrimp and shrimp flies work well.
Summer
The increasing temperature remains an unchanging favorable element that makes fishing worthwhile. A vast array of fish species is usually in season. The redfish in particular are easily accessible as they begin to come up the waters to feed.
The falling and rising tides also determine their location. The redfish may be found along the banks when the tides are high and the creeks when the tides are low.
Hot Tip: Summer offers the most varied fishing conditions for redfish. I recommend using crab, shrimp, or baitfish imitations. If you can get your hands on the real thing, even better.
Fall
The fall is always offering a great time for an exciting fishing experience. The redfish come out of hiding to eat and store up energy in preparation for the coming winter.
Large redfish are relatively abundant during the fall. So, if you intend to catch a large fish, the odds are in your favor. Also, this is the season when the redfish begin spawning.
Hot Tip: Fall is when you’ll have the best chance at a monster redfish. Back off the shallows and hit up deeper wrecks or channels that are near shallow water. Live bait is your best option for these late-season brawler redfish.
Winter
Depending on where you’re situated, winter comes with its challenges to catching fish. However, it presents the best experiences if you can choose the right location and fishing gear. Weather can be a major obstacle in these months but it is worth taking up the challenge for a fulfilling catch.
Hot Tip: Let conditions dictate where you fish. If the weather is cooperating, head near shore for wreck action or hit up nearshore rigs. If the waves are choppy, the redfish action can still be really good inshore. Live bait is the best option for more selective winter redfish.
Five Louisiana-Focused Redfish Tips
1. Choosing the right location
By far, the most important factor in fishing is location. You can be using the greatest gear and baits, but if you are fishing in a poor location, you won’t catch anything. Likewise, you can catch a ton of fish with mediocre gear and bait if you’re in the perfect location.
This is especially true with redfish in Louisiana waters. The coastal waters are rich in life but some waterways will hold almost no redfish. Following my guide above, you’ll at least know which regions and specific bayous or creek mouths produce great redfish action.
Tip: Understand how redfish behave with the tides on a daily basis. Learn to fish the tide channels as a receding tide starts funneling water out of the shallow bays. Big redfish will set up along these channels and grab any food that gets drawn by.
2. Appropriate fishing equipment
Selecting the appropriate gear is another important factor in a successful redfish outing. The better your gear, the more productive you are. Choosing the right gear may be a problem especially if it’s your first time. You may want to get help from someone with some experience.
Fishing rods should be selected based on the quality of material, length, and speed. Also important is the credibility of the brands.
Recommended Tackle: 5000 or 6000-series reels, medium power 7-7’6 rod for baitfishing. Same size rod but go with medium-light action for jigging. Circle hooks with 25-50 pound test braid or fluorocarbon. I recommend a fluorocarbon leader as it will provide some shock absorbtion and a very hard to see line for redfish to connect the mainline to the hook.
3. Bait selection
Choosing the right bait is a vital part of the fishing experience. While trying to catch the redfish, both artificial and natural baits can be put into use. Redfish feed on prey relying on their sense of smell and sight. Natural baits work with both sight and smell while artificial bait work mainly with sight.
Artificial baits should be designed just like their natural prey to lure redfish. Some of the baits commonly used include crabs, shrimps, and small fish.
You should select your bait based on the size of fish you’re expecting to catch. For instance, fishing for bull reds would may require using baits like crabs or fish. Artificial baits that look like the crab could also work.
4. Timing is Key
Fishing for Gulf Coast redfish requires getting your timing right. You can absolutely catch redfish at night or during the heat of the day, but you’ll be much better off focusing on early morning or late afternoons, especially in conjunction with strong tidal changes.
During these cooler times, redfish will push up shallow to feed on the newly exposed shallow water teaming with life.
5. Play the Tides Right
The tides greatly influence the feeding activity of redfish in saltwater bays and estuaries. Redfish readily move towards the shorelines to feed in a rising tide. They return to deep waters in falling tides to escape the rapidly lowering water. As water flows out of bays at lowering tide, big redfish will set up along deep channels and position so any food passing by carried by the outgoing tide can cross their face.
Tides are one of the most important factor for inshore and nearshore anglers in saltwater. This is especially true of redfish anglers along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. The redfish in these coastal waters are used to pushing up far into the shallows to feed. You need to be in these shallow inlets when the time is right.
Saltwater Vs Freshwater Redfish: Louisiana
Redfish can generally be found both in saltwater and freshwater. They are one of the few fish species that can live in fresh and saltwater. However, they only reproduce in saltwater with high ocean currents. They do not spawn in freshwater and freshwater fisheries are sustained by aggressive redfish stocking programs.
At about three years of age, the bull reds migrate from the deep waters to creeks and rivers where they are within the anglers’ reach.
The red drums spawn in the Gulf usually during the spring or early fall. After spawning, the ocean tides move the fry into the bay where they live and grow for the first few years of their lives. Here, they feed on smaller sea creatures like the crustaceans. The crabs and shrimps which are abundant in the bays serve as their major food source.
In Louisiana (and Texas) waters, you can find awesome fishing for big redfish in freshwater lakes and creeks, brackish water lagoons, and saltwater coastal waters.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Mobile, Alabama, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish New Orleans, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Empire-Venice, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Louisiana, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish for redfish in Louisiana, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
