Louisiana · Southeast Louisiana
REDFISH FISHING
IN VENICE
Venice is an outstanding destination for redfish fishing, with peak season in January, February, March and good catches in June, July, August. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in Venice
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 — Venice
Month-by-month availability for redfish in Venice, LA.
How to Catch Redfish in Venice
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 Venice
Top spots where local captains target redfish and other inshore species.
Mississippi River Delta Marsh
The vast marsh system surrounding Venice at the mouth of the Mississippi River is one of the most productive estuarine fisheries in the world. Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and black drum patrol miles of marsh ponds, bayous, and grass-lined shorelines. The nutrient-rich river outflow supports an extraordinary food chain that keeps fish populations thriving year-round.
Baptiste Collette Bayou
Baptiste Collette Bayou is a major distributary of the Mississippi River, creating a vast wetland system east of Venice teeming with redfish and speckled trout. The bayou's network of channels, ponds, and marsh islands provides seemingly endless inshore fishing opportunities. Bull redfish exceeding 30 pounds are common in the bayou's deeper passes during fall.
Venice Marina Canal System
The canal system around Venice Marina connects to the surrounding marsh and river passes, holding redfish, sheepshead, drum, and flounder within minutes of the dock. These easily accessible canals produce consistent inshore catches for anglers staying at Venice lodges. The canals are particularly productive during winter when fish concentrate in the deeper, warmer water.
South Pass
South Pass is one of the main outlets of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico, creating powerful currents that attract redfish, tarpon, jack crevalle, and cobia. The pass's rock jetties and channel edges hold massive bull redfish year-round, with fish routinely exceeding 40 pounds. Fishing the eddies and current seams along the pass produces explosive topwater action.
Other Species in Venice
More fish you can target while visiting Venice.
Redfish Fishing in Venice — FAQ
The peak months for Redfish fishing in Venice are January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December. During these months, Redfish are most active and abundant in the Venice area.
Redfish fishing charters in Venice 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 Venice, 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 Venice, you may also catch Speckled Trout, Yellowfin Tuna, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Vermilion Snapper. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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