Louisiana · Cajun Coast
BLACK DRUM FISHING
IN COCODRIE
Cocodrie is an excellent destination for black drum fishing, with peak season in February, March, April and good catches in January, May, September. Book a charter and target black drum with local experts.
About Black Drum Fishing in Cocodrie
A powerful bottom-feeding species found in bays and passes. Juveniles are excellent table fare.
Black Drum are powerful bottom feeders found throughout Gulf and Atlantic estuaries. Juveniles display 4-5 dark vertical bars on a silver body and are often confused with sheepshead, but lack the prominent teeth. Adults lose the bars and turn uniformly dark gray to black, with large specimens developing a pronounced hump and thick, rubbery lips for crushing oysters and clams. They are the largest member of the drum family.
Scientific name: Pogonias cromis
Black Drum Seasonal Calendar — Cocodrie
Month-by-month availability for black drum in Cocodrie, LA.
How to Catch Black Drum in Cocodrie
Techniques & Bait
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 15-20 lb braid, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for bull drum. Medium-light tackle for juveniles. Circle hooks (4/0-6/0) are recommended for safe release of oversized fish.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Cocodrie
Top spots where local captains target black drum and other inshore species.
Lake Felicity
Lake Felicity lies just south of Cocodrie in the heart of the Terrebonne Parish marsh, offering outstanding sight-fishing for redfish tailing on shallow mud flats and grass shorelines. Speckled trout and flounder also populate the lake's deeper pockets and connecting bayou channels where tidal flow concentrates baitfish. The lake's proximity to Cocodrie's marinas makes it one of the quickest and most productive inshore destinations accessible from this end-of-the-road fishing village.
Bayou Grand Caillou
Bayou Grand Caillou is the main waterway running through Cocodrie and south into the lower Terrebonne Parish marsh, serving as the lifeline for both commercial and recreational fishermen. The bayou's deeper bends, dock pilings, and adjacent marsh ponds hold redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, and drum in reliable numbers year-round. Anglers idling down the bayou and casting to shoreline structure can expect consistent action within minutes of leaving the dock.
Four Point Bayou
Four Point Bayou branches off the main channel south of Cocodrie and winds through some of the most pristine marsh habitat in Terrebonne Parish. The bayou's isolated ponds and grass-lined drains hold trophy redfish that see minimal fishing pressure due to the area's difficult access and shallow water. Poling a skiff through Four Point Bayou on a calm morning offers world-class sight-fishing for tailing redfish in a true Louisiana marsh wilderness setting.
Lake Raccourci
Lake Raccourci is a shallow interior lake in the marsh south of Cocodrie, connected to the surrounding bayou system by narrow channels that fill and drain with the tides. Redfish congregate along the lake's oyster-studded shorelines and grass points, feeding on shrimp and small crabs pushed into the lake by incoming tides. The lake is a reliable inshore destination when southeast winds make the more exposed bays and open water unfishable.
Other Species in Cocodrie
More fish you can target while visiting Cocodrie.
Black Drum Fishing in Cocodrie — FAQ
The peak months for Black Drum fishing in Cocodrie are February, March, April. During these months, Black Drum are most active and abundant in the Cocodrie area.
Black Drum fishing charters in Cocodrie are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
No — when you book a charter in Cocodrie, your captain provides all required Louisiana fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Black Drum regulations in Louisiana include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Black Drum in Cocodrie, you may also catch Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, Red Snapper. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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