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Welcome to this week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report, the weekly local fishing report for New Orleans, Venice, Lafitte, Hopedale, Grand Isle, and everywhere in between. Host Andre’ Savoie checks in with three local captains to break down what late-winter conditions are doing to the bite and how anglers can stay on fish right now: Capt. Rich McCloskey of Blue Line Charter Service (Venice), Capt. Christian with Bayou Obsession Charters (Lafitte), and Capt. Jonathan Allen with Louisiana Fishing Guide Service (Hopedale).
Conditions Recap
Late-winter weather has kept things interesting across the Louisiana coast, with low water, temperature swings, and fog all shaping daily decisions. In multiple areas, redfish are still willing to get shallow when conditions allow, especially where the sun can warm skinny water quickly. Sheephead are a major player this time of year, stacking on rocks, rigs, and ledges and providing steady action when other bites slow down. Fog remains a real factor in the mornings and can roll in unexpectedly, so safe travel plans and navigation tools matter as much as finding the fish.
Venice Report: Capt. Rich McCloskey, Blue Line Charter Service
Venice is producing serious “meat haul” trips right now, with consistent limits of redfish early and fast action on sheepshead after. Rich is finding reds surprisingly shallow, even under two feet of water, and says the pattern is already feeling like spring on the right warming trend. When the bite is right, crews can knock out a three-man redfish limit quickly and then slide to a deeper edge for sheephead that are stacked and willing.
Sheepshead are holding on a 10-foot ledge where the program is simple: position the boat and jig straight down as fast as you can keep up. Rich notes the river is low and relatively clean, and he expects spring to ramp up as the river starts rising. He also stresses that Venice fog can be dangerous and radar is a must if you are running the river on your own.
Gear and bait notes from Venice: live bait (including live shrimp) for redfish when available, then switching to dead bait for sheepshead as needed. The sheepshead bite is a vertical jig-and-drop deal in deeper water, while reds are coming from shallow flats and edges.
Book a trip with Blue Line Charter Service in Venice: https://www.bluelinecharterservice.com/
Lafitte Report: Capt. Christian, Bayou Obsession Charters
Out of Lafitte, the winter pattern is a true day-to-day roller coaster. Capt. Christian says cold fronts can make the fishing tougher, but the day after a front often rebounds, and the crew stays on redfish by leaning on Lafitte’s protected water. With ponds, pockets, canals, and marsh options nearby, they can adjust based on wind and conditions instead of being forced into wide-open water.
Christian also notes that the marsh has changed significantly since Hurricane Ida, with some areas shallower than they used to be and new water opening up in places that were once different. Even with the changes, the program remains focused on putting clients on redfish, with sheepshead in the mix and occasional trout showing when the weather lines up.
Trip notes from Lafitte: Bayou Obsession Charters offers lodging and package options, along with a full-service setup so visiting anglers can show up and fish without worrying about the details.
Plan a trip with Bayou Obsession Charters in Lafitte: https://bayouobsession.com/
Hopedale Report: Capt. Jonathan Allen, Louisiana Fishing Guide Service
Hopedale has been dealing with some of the lowest water Jonathan has seen, to the point that certain runs can get sketchy if you do not know the route. He’s had to adjust travel plans and timing, and he recommends extra caution during low-water stretches and foggy mornings.
On the fishing side, Jonathan finds that redfish often like super shallow water when it’s low and cold because it warms faster. He targets oyster bars, shell shorelines, and shallow structure that can heat up through the day. When conditions allow, he also likes running out to rocks and rigs in Breton Sound for steady sheepshead action, with bull reds and big black drum mixed in to keep things interesting.
Gear and bait notes from Hopedale: dead bait is the mainstay this time of year, including dead shrimp fished on the bottom around rocks and rigs. For redfish, he’ll also fish corks with dead shrimp depending on what the clients want to target. On warming trends, he mentions working artificials like jerkbaits and jigging along rock structure for trout when that option starts to open up.
Book a trip with Louisiana Fishing Guide Service in Hopedale (Capt. Jonathan Allen): https://louisianafishingguideservice.com/jonathan-allen/
