Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Louisiana (Complete Guide)

Louisiana is one of the best fishing states on the Gulf Coast. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Louisiana can make a huge difference in your fishing success.

The best times to fish in Louisiana are from April through November for redfish, weakfish, largemouth bass, marlin, mahi-mahi, speckled trout, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and amberjack. Winter is typically the slowest fishing season for most species.

Season	Fish Species’ Best Season
Spring	Largemouth bass, mahi-mahi, marlin, sailfish, speckled trout, and swordfish.
Summer	Amberjack, marlin, and snapper.
Fall	Cobia, redfish, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.

Louisiana is surrounded by fisheries. There are many great saltwater and freshwater fishing spots that anglers can explore in the region. The destination provides anglers with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Here, anglers can fish in deep offshore waters. Anglers in Louisiana can also enjoy fishing in marshes, rivers, lakes, and channels.

Best Time to Fish Louisiana

As we have already said, fishing in Louisiana is good all year-long. So, anglers can visit the destination to enjoy fishing at any time of the year. 

Spring is a great time of the year to target such fish species as bass, mahi-mahi, marlin, sailfish, speckled trout, and swordfish. 

Amberjack, marlin, and snapper are the most active during the summer months. Cobia, redfish, yellowfin tuna, as well as wahoo, are the top targets in Louisiana in the fall.

Fishing in Louisiana is the most productive during the spring and fall months. That means that the best time to fish in Louisiana is between April through November.         

Recommended Fishing Charters in Louisiana

These Louisiana-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Big Dog Fishing Charters	Barataria, LA
Jean Lafitte Harbor Charters	Lafitte, LA
Victory Bay Charters	New Orleans, LA
Redfish Charter Company	Chauvin, LA
Right Side Charters	Slidell, LA
Screaming Reels Fishing Charters	Pointe A La Hache, LA
United Fishing Charters	St. Bernard, LA
Pelican State Fishing Charters	Barataria, LA
Louisiana Offshore Fishing Charters	Venice, LA
Louisiana Backwater Charters	Lake Charles, LA
Bayou Country Charters	Barataria, LA

Louisiana Species Breakdown: Best Times & Seasons

Black drum

Black drum bites well throughout the year. However, black drum fishing is the most productive between January and December. St. Bernard is one of the top Louisiana fishing destinations where anglers can target black drum.    

Cobia

Cobia fishing season in Louisiana starts in March and ends in December. The best months to target cobia in the area are May-August. A lot of cobia can be found near Grand Isle.    

Flounder

The season to catch flounder in Louisiana begins in the early spring and ends in the late fall. Flounder bites well in the early morning and late afternoon. Lafitte is a good place to fish for flounder in the region.  

Largemouth bass 

The season to fish for largemouth bass in Louisiana starts in April and ends in September. Largemouth bass are active during morning and evening hours. Barataria is the right place to catch largemouth bass in the area.   

Redfish

Redfish is active throughout the year. Anglers, who target redfish in the region, get the best results between January and December. Morning is the best time of day to target redfish in Louisiana. A lot of redfish can be found near Chauvin. 

Sheepshead

Sheepshead fishing in Louisiana is good year-round. New Orleans is a popular sheepshead fishing destination in the region.    

Speckled trout

Speckled trout fishing season in Louisiana starts in April and finishes in November. Speckled trout bites well during the morning hours or late at night. Chauvin is the ideal place to fish for speckled trout in Louisiana.    

Red snapper

Red snapper season in Louisiana begins in the early spring and finishes in the early fall. Anglers, who target red snapper in the region, get the best results between April and August. Grand Isle is the perfect place to target red snapper in the region. 

Yellowfin Tuna

It’s possible to target yellowfin tuna near Louisiana year-round. Anglers, who prefer to fish for yellowfin tuna during the fall and winter months, have a better chance to catch a trophy.

The best time of day to fish for yellowfin tuna is between dusk and dawn. St. Bernard is one of the top yellowfin tuna fishing destinations in Louisiana.  

Catfish

Fishing for catfish is the most productive during the summer months. Nighttime is the best time of day to fish for catfish in Louisiana.

When fishing for catfish, anglers usually get bites one hour before sunset and two hours after sunrise. It makes sense to fish in Toledo Bend Reservoir if you would like to catch catfish during your Louisiana angling adventures. 

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Louisiana Regions: Best Fishing Times

Venice

Fishing in Venice is best during the fall and winter months. The best months to go fishing in the region are between September and October and between January and March. 

Chauvin

Fishing in Chauvin is the most productive in the early summer. 

Grand Isle

Anglers choose to fish near Grand Isle during the winter months. 

Barataria

Fishing in Barataria is most successful in the fall.  

Best Time of Day to Fish Louisiana

The best time of day to fish in Louisiana depends on the season of the year and the fish species that you are targeting. So, anglers need to decide when they are going to visit Louisiana and what fish they will target during their trips.  

When planning fishing adventures in Louisiana, anglers need to study the bite times of their target fish species carefully. Go fishing when your target fish species are the most active.  

Go fishing during the morning hours when the weather is hot. Fishing in the afternoon is better when the weather is cold.  

Louisiana Fishing & Tidal Impacts

When planning Louisiana fishing adventures, anglers need to determine the best tide to fish and study tide times carefully ahead of time. Fishermen should know what time is high tide and low tide in the region. 

Anglers should aim to fish Louisiana during rising tides. Incoming tides bring oxygen-rich waters to the area and the activity of fish increases. Many fish species get active in Louisiana during rising tides. That means that you’ll get excellent results if you choose to go fishing during incoming tides.     

Is Winter Fishing Bad in Louisiana? 

Anglers can fish in Louisiana at any time of the year. The weather is getting colder in Louisiana during the winter months. Nevertheless, fishing in the region is good. The competition is lower and anglers have a better chance to catch a trophy fish. 

Winter is the perfect time of the year to experience deep-sea fishing in the region. If the weather allows, anglers can get good results during their Louisiana offshore fishing trip.

December is the ideal time of the year to target bull redfish in Louisiana. Anglers can experience inshore fishing in Louisiana in January. It’s also possible to do offshore fishing this month.

Tuna is the main target during offshore fishing trips. Fishing in Louisiana is getting better in February. The late winter is a good time to target such fish species as trout and redfish.  

Top Fishing Spots in Louisiana

Venice

Venice is a town that has gained huge popularity among anglers who prefer to fish in Louisiana’s waters. The town provides anglers with easy access to many great fishing spots in the region. Here, the main target is tuna. 

Grand Isle

Grand Isle is located near the Mississippi Canyon. Here, anglers can reach numerous fishing spots. The destination allows anglers to experience inshore and offshore fishing. Trout, as well as redfish, are the top targeted species in Grand Isle. 

Calcasieu Lake

Calcasieu Lake is the ideal place for anglers who want to target speckled trout during their Louisiana fishing adventures. Here, fishermen have a chance to catch a big trout. Flounder, redfish, and sheepshead are other species that you can add to your list. 

Lake Pontchartrain

Lake Pontchartrain is another popular fishing destination in Louisiana. The lake impresses anglers with its beautiful nature and offers excellent fishing.

Among the fish species that anglers can target in the lake are redfish, speckled trout as well as largemouth bass, and sheepshead.

Toledo Bend Reservoir 

Toledo Bend Reservoir is a good place for anglers, who are interested in freshwater fishing. Bass is the main target here. In addition to bass, anglers can target such fish species as bream, catfish, and crappie. 

Atchafalaya River

Atchafalaya River is also worth visiting during Louisiana fishing adventures. The river is full of fish. Here, anglers can target such fish varieties as bass, bluegill, catfish, crappies, and other fish species.    

Ouachita River

Ouachita River is another good place for anglers, who are interested in targeting freshwater species during a Louisiana fishing trip. The river is home to such freshwater species as largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish.     

Caddo Lake

The lake is well-known as a popular largemouth bass fishing destination in Louisiana. Here, anglers often catch a trophy. Caddo Lake is also home to such fish species as crappie, gar, sunfish, and white bass.    

Booking Guides & Charters in Louisiana

-Best season to go 

It’s possible to enjoy fishing in the region throughout the year. As we have already mentioned, fishing in Louisiana is the most productive during the fall and winter months.  

On the other hand, a lot of anglers choose to visit Louisiana in the fall and winter. That’s the reason why fishing charters can be busy at this time of the year. Therefore, anglers who plan fishing adventures in Louisiana for a busy season need to book a charter in advance.

Spring and summer months are overlooked times of the year. The demand for charters is lower, but fishing is very good in the region during the spring and summer months.

But most importantly, fishing at this time of the year will help you avoid the busiest season. So, go fishing in Louisiana between the early spring and the late summer.  

-Morning vs. afternoon 

Anglers give a preference to morning fishing in Louisiana during warm months. Water cools down and fish begin to search for food actively in the area. Also, fishermen find it comfortable to fish during the morning hours. 

On the other hand, you have to get up early to enjoy morning fishing. That means that fishing in the morning is suitable for early risers only. Also, morning fishing is not very productive during colder months. 

It would be better to fish Louisiana in the afternoon during colder months. The water heats up in the afternoon and the activity of fish increases. It’s also important to note that you don’t have to wake up early to fish in the afternoon. 

However, days are short during colder months. So, anglers’ time will be limited if you go fishing in the afternoon.    

-1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters 

Half-day trips are a good choice for anglers who don’t have too much time to spend fishing in Louisiana. Half-day trips give anglers enough time to enjoy fishing and develop angling skills.

Such fishing trips are less productive and anglers have a lower chance to catch trophy fish. It’s also important to note that 1/2 day trips are a cheap option. So, you can book such a trip if your budget is limited. 

Full-day trips are a good option for anglers who want to spend a day on the water and enjoy fishing. Full-day fishing trips allow anglers to enjoy fishing in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Full-day fishing trips are more productive and anglers have a better chance to catch trophy fish. However, full-day trips are more expensive than half-day ones. 

However, some anglers need more than a full-day fishing trip. If you are an avid angler, then consider booking a multi-day charter. Such trips last several days and give anglers plenty of time. You’ll manage to explore more fishing spots, get a lot of bites, and have a better chance to catch a trophy fish during your trip to Louisiana.

Multi-day charters are a good choice for those anglers, who want to get the most out of fishing in Louisiana. However, multi-day charters are more expensive than full-day ones.     

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Venice, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in New Orleans, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Gulf of Mexico, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best redfish spots in Louisiana, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Grand Isle, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mississippi, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Lake Charles, 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. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Oklahoma, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Missouri, please check out this helpful article I wrote.