Louisiana · Cajun Coast
REDFISH FISHING
IN PORT FOURCHON
Port Fourchon is an outstanding destination for redfish fishing, with peak season in March, April, May and good catches in January, February, June. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in Port Fourchon
Also known as Red Drum, one of the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Gulf. Known for powerful runs and the distinctive spot on the tail.
Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Seasonal Calendar — Port Fourchon
Month-by-month availability for redfish in Port Fourchon, LA.
How to Catch Redfish in Port Fourchon
Techniques & Bait
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
Recommended Tackle
Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Port Fourchon
Top spots where local captains target redfish and other inshore species.
Bayou Lafourche
Bayou Lafourche runs through the heart of Lafourche Parish from Donaldsonville to the Gulf, with the lower reaches near Port Fourchon offering productive inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The bayou's dock pilings, bridge abutments, and marsh grass banks provide abundant structure where gamefish ambush shrimp and mullet on tidal changes. It is the historic waterway that gives Lafourche Parish its name and has sustained generations of Louisiana fishermen.
Caminada Bay
Caminada Bay sits between Port Fourchon and Grand Isle, creating a productive inshore fishery with grass flats, oyster reefs, and tidal channels holding redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The bay's connection to both the Gulf and Barataria Basin ensures consistent tidal flow and baitfish supply throughout the fishing season. Caminada Bay is a favorite destination for wade-fishing anglers who access the shallow flats by boat from Port Fourchon launches.
Barataria Pass
Barataria Pass connects the Barataria Basin to the Gulf of Mexico at the western end of Grand Isle, funneling massive tidal currents through a narrow channel. Bull redfish, speckled trout, tarpon, jack crevalle, and flounder stack up in the pass during tidal changes, creating some of the most exciting inshore fishing in coastal Louisiana. The pass's rock jetties and channel edges provide defined structure that concentrates fish in predictable, targetable locations.
Little Lake
Little Lake is a large interior water body in the Barataria Basin north of Port Fourchon, connected to the surrounding marsh by numerous bayous and canals. Redfish and speckled trout patrol the lake's shoreline points and interior islands, feeding on the abundant shrimp populations that thrive in the brackish water. The lake's expansive size allows anglers to drift large flats while searching for schools of feeding trout and tailing redfish.
Other Species in Port Fourchon
More fish you can target while visiting Port Fourchon.
Redfish Fishing in Port Fourchon — FAQ
The peak months for Redfish fishing in Port Fourchon are March, April, May, September, October. During these months, Redfish are most active and abundant in the Port Fourchon area.
Redfish fishing charters in Port Fourchon are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
No — when you book a charter in Port Fourchon, your captain provides all required Louisiana fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Redfish 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 Redfish in Port Fourchon, you may also catch Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Vermilion Snapper, Red Snapper. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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