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This week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report features host Andre’ Savoie with Capt. Rory Rorison of United Charters and avid Gulf Coast fisherman Ross Cantor. Capt. Rory breaks down the spring fishing pattern around Shell Beach, Hopedale, Lake Borgne, the MRGO rocks, and Breton Sound, where sheepshead, redfish, and improving trout action are giving anglers plenty to work with when the wind allows. Ross joins the second half of the episode for a practical conversation about taking kids fishing, creating good first experiences on the water, and helping young anglers build a real love for the outdoors.
Conditions Recap
Across the Louisiana Delta, spring fishing is moving in the right direction, but wind is still the biggest factor deciding where anglers can fish. Around Shell Beach, Capt. Rory said the bite has been good and “getting better and better every day,” but the steady spring wind has forced many trips to stay inside protected marshes, canals, bays, and shorelines instead of running straight into Breton Sound.
When boats have been able to get outside, the rigs in Breton Sound have been loaded with sheepshead and redfish, with trout starting to show up in the same general areas. Inside the marsh, redfish have remained a dependable option, especially for anglers who need to hide from rougher open-water conditions. The Lake Borgne shoreline, MRGO rock dam, Hopedale area, and nearby marshes are all part of the current playbook depending on wind direction and what anglers want to target.
Capt. Rory also expects the trout bite to continue improving as the weather settles into a more normal summer pattern. He believes the lower river conditions of the last couple years have helped trout numbers rebound after years when high Mississippi River water pushed fish farther out or disrupted key spawning areas.
Shell Beach Fishing Report: Capt. Rory Rorison of United Charters
Capt. Rory Rorison of United Charters fishes out of Shell Beach, Louisiana, and has been working that area for more than two decades. From Shell Beach, he can cover a wide stretch of water, including Hopedale, Delacroix, Pointe à la Hache, the east side of the river, Lake Borgne, the Biloxi Marsh, the MRGO, and Breton Sound.
The spring pattern has been productive, but it has required flexibility. Capt. Rory said wind has been the main issue, and that means decisions are being made day by day based on what customers want to catch and where he can find protected water. On tougher days, that may mean staying in the marsh for redfish. On better weather windows, it can mean pushing toward the rigs, rocks, and open-water structure for sheepshead, redfish, and trout.
One of the biggest current stories is the sheepshead bite. Earlier in the season, Capt. Rory was catching them around the long rocks, but many of those fish have now moved out to the rigs in Breton Sound. He said they are holding in 15 to 20 feet of water, ganged up and spawning, and the action has been so strong that it can be hard to get a bait past them. He described the bite as “silly,” with plenty of big fish mixed in.
For anglers who turn their nose up at sheepshead, Capt. Rory made it clear they are missing out. He called sheepshead one of the most underrated fish they catch and said they are excellent on the table. They are tougher to clean than speckled trout because of their thick skin and heavy rib cage, but the meat is worth the work.
Redfish have also been strong. Around the rocks, anglers may run into bull reds and some slot fish, though many of the larger reds in those areas will be oversized. For eating-size slot redfish, Capt. Rory has been finding them inside the marsh, sometimes close to the marina around Hopedale and sometimes farther south depending on the day’s conditions.
Trout are beginning to build into the report as well. Capt. Rory said trout are showing up around the rigs and that he expects the bite to ramp up as the wind eases and summer patterns settle in. He has already seen good-sized fish in recent catches and believes the area is set up for a strong trout season.
One important detail in the Shell Beach area is how the MRGO rock dam changed movement and fishing patterns. Capt. Rory said the dam changed tidal flow around Bayou La Loutre and Shell Beach, but it also created protected water and structure that can be useful on windy days. Anglers now have to work around the dam instead of running a straight shot down the old channel, but Capt. Rory said there are several routes available, and those alternate paths often reveal birds, bait, and fish along the way.
Capt. Rory also pointed to the south and eastern shorelines of Lake Borgne as areas that should not be overlooked. The rocks along the shoreline attract bait, and the breaks where natural bayous drain through the rocks can hold fish, especially with south and southeast winds.
To book a trip with Capt. Rory Rorison, visit United Charters.
Taking Kids Fishing: Ross Cantor on Building a Lifelong Love of the Water
The second half of the episode shifts from a traditional fishing report into a conversation with Ross Cantor about taking kids fishing. Ross fishes throughout the Gulf Coast and spends much of his local time around the North Lake Borgne complex, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Catherine, Venetian Isles, and the Rigolets area. He recently fished around Delacroix, Hopedale, Shell Beach, and nearby waters with kids on board, and that trip became the starting point for a larger discussion about how to make fishing fun for young anglers.
Ross and Andre’ both emphasized that when kids are involved, the goal should not always be a full box or a full-day grind. The goal is to create a positive experience that makes them want to go again. That means being flexible, keeping trips shorter when needed, bringing snacks, choosing safer and more comfortable weather windows, and letting kids enjoy everything about the water, not just the catching.
That might mean letting a child watch dolphins, play with shrimp in the livewell, look at crabs, fish from the dock, or simply enjoy being outside. As Andre’ pointed out, kids are not adults, and a three-hour trip with a few fish and a good memory can do far more for a young angler than a long, hot, uncomfortable day where everyone is trying to force a limit.
Ross also talked about the value of hiring the right guide when introducing kids to fishing. A good captain can provide safe gear, local knowledge, productive spots, and the right temperament for a family trip. Just as important, a patient guide can help kids learn why fish are in certain areas, what baits or techniques are being used, and how the marsh, tides, weather, and habitat all connect.
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is that kids often connect with the whole outdoor experience before they connect with the technical side of fishing. The boat ride, the bait, the birds, the marsh, the dock, the dolphins, the crab traps, and the first fish all matter. When that experience is handled well, it can turn into a lifelong love of fishing and a deeper appreciation for Louisiana’s coastal resources.
