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This week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report features host Andre’ Savoie with two late-summer reports stretching from Shell Beach to Grand Isle. The episode starts with Capt. Jimmy Corley of Waterfowl Specialist Guide Service, who reports an unusually strong August speckled trout bite in the deeper water outside Shell Beach.
Andre’ then heads south to Grand Isle with Captain T Wagoner of Geaux Fishing Charters. With Louisiana’s recreational red snapper season closed, Captain T breaks down the transition to mangrove snapper, cobia, triggerfish and the upcoming amberjack season, along with the increasingly popular spearfishing opportunities around Grand Isle.
The common theme this week is adapting to extreme late-summer heat. Around Shell Beach, that means leaving the hot interior marsh and finding cooler, deeper water. Around Grand Isle, calm seas and clear offshore water are creating opportunities for cobia, mangrove snapper and experienced spearfishermen.
Conditions Recap
August heat continues to dominate coastal Louisiana, and both reports show how much water temperature is influencing where anglers should fish.
Around Shell Beach, Jimmy reports water temperatures in the interior marsh reaching around 90 degrees. Speckled trout have responded by moving farther outside and settling into deeper water around islands, shelves and offshore structure. Cleaner, saltier water and abundant bait have helped keep the trout feeding even during a time of year when the bite would normally begin slowing down.
The lack of major tropical weather has also helped stabilize the outside waters. Jimmy said salinity has remained high in the areas he is fishing, and bait such as pogies and other small forage is abundant.
At Grand Isle, Captain T is seeing exceptionally clear water as calm late-summer conditions continue. That clarity can make mangrove snapper more difficult to catch on hook and line, but it creates excellent visibility for spearfishing. Cobia have also been extremely plentiful around offshore structure.
Shell Beach Fishing Report: Capt. Jimmy Corley
Capt. Jimmy Corley of Waterfowl Specialist Guide Service fishes out of Shell Beach in St. Bernard Parish, and his recent trips have required long runs toward the outside islands.
Jimmy has been fishing areas around Gosier, Curlew and Freemason islands, where larger speckled trout have moved into deeper water.
Instead of staying close to the marsh, Jimmy is concentrating on depth changes and shelves. Some of his best fish have been holding where the bottom transitions into roughly 10 to 15 feet of water, with other productive areas reaching 18 to 20 feet.
The reward for making the run has been quality. Recent catches have included trout averaging approximately 18 to 20 inches, which Jimmy described as an unusually strong average for August.
Although June and July normally produce some of his biggest trout of the summer, this year the fish have continued feeding well into August. Rather than disappearing during the hottest part of summer, they appear to have simply moved deeper.
Croakers for Late-Summer Speckled Trout
Live croakers have been one of Jimmy’s most productive options for targeting the larger trout.
His primary presentation is a Carolina rig worked around the deeper shelves. The amount of weight depends on the strength of the tide. On days with relatively little current, Jimmy will lighten the rig considerably and allow the croaker to slowly work its way down through the water column.
The goal is enough tidal movement to keep bait and water moving without creating so much current that fishing becomes difficult.
Jimmy prefers a moderate tide rather than an extremely strong range. A tide around 1.4 to 1.5 feet can provide enough movement to activate the fish while still allowing anglers to effectively work the deeper areas.
Closer to the beaches and islands, artificials can also produce. When fish move into roughly four to five feet of water, Jimmy changes his presentation and begins casting rather than relying entirely on Carolina-rigged croakers.
Anglers fishing live croakers should also be prepared for sharks. Jimmy said sharks have been particularly aggressive around the outside islands and are not only eating croakers but attacking hooked trout before anglers can get them to the boat.
Why the Trout Have Stayed Outside
The combination of water temperature, salinity and forage appears to be keeping the trout outside.
Jimmy said extremely warm water inside the marsh has pushed fish toward cooler water, while the outside areas continue to hold plenty of bait. Trout have been spitting up small forage during recent trips, another indication that food is readily available.
Higher salinity has also helped.
For anglers planning to make the same run, weather and sea conditions are critical. Jimmy is leaving the dock around 4:30 a.m. to reach the fishing grounds early, and some destinations can take an hour or more to reach from Shell Beach.
Much of that run takes place before daylight.
Jimmy strongly recommends having radar and the proper navigation equipment when making long runs in darkness. Anglers unfamiliar with the route should not treat it like a casual pre-dawn run through familiar marsh water.
Shell Beach Redfish
Redfish inside the marsh have been less consistent than the trout bite.
Jimmy recommends looking for deeper water and concentrating on areas with moving current. Oak River has produced some fish, particularly around drains during a falling tide.
The key is mobility.
Rather than staying in one location for an extended period, anglers should continue searching for moving water and deeper areas where redfish can escape the hottest water.
Some redfish are also available around offshore rigs. Jimmy has encountered bull reds along with occasional slot-size fish while fishing outside, and smaller black drum have also mixed into catches.
For anglers primarily targeting trout, these fish can provide additional action during the long run back toward Shell Beach.
Grand Isle Fishing Report: Captain T Wagoner
Captain T Wagoner of Geaux Fishing Charters is coming off a productive summer red snapper season out of Grand Isle.
Louisiana’s recreational red snapper season has now closed, shifting his attention toward mangrove snapper, cobia, triggerfish and other offshore species. Amberjack season is also approaching in September.
Captain T described the summer red snapper fishery as extremely strong. On many trips, his crew was able to catch its snapper limit within the first hour, leaving plenty of time to target additional species.
Although the season ended earlier than initially anticipated, he saw large numbers of snapper throughout the summer.
Now that the recreational season is over, Grand Isle anglers still have plenty of offshore options.
Grand Isle Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove snapper remain one of the primary targets around Grand Isle, but extremely clear water is creating an interesting challenge.
Mangroves have excellent eyesight and can become extremely leader shy when visibility improves.
Captain T said anglers may need to drop as light as 20- to 25-pound leader to consistently fool them in clear water.
That creates a tradeoff.
Lighter leader generates more bites, but once a large mangrove is hooked near an offshore rig, anglers have less power to stop the fish from reaching structure.
In dirtier water, heavier tackle can be used without spooking as many fish. During these clear-water periods, anglers have to balance stealth with enough strength to land a quality mangrove.
Cobia Are Plentiful Around Grand Isle
One of the biggest stories from Grand Isle right now is the number of cobia.
Captain T said cobia have been so common that it can be difficult not to encounter them during offshore trips. Some days are producing multiple fish well beyond what anglers can legally retain.
Many of these fish are being found around structure in approximately 50 feet of water and can be spotted near the surface.
Cobia can be caught by sight casting, but they are also taking free-lined baits and dead pogies fished beneath a weight.
With so many fish around, Captain T has become selective about which cobia his crew keeps. Smaller legal fish can often be netted, unhooked and released while the crew waits for a larger fish.
Very large cobia present a more difficult release situation because they may be too large to safely net and handle without harming the fish.
For anglers looking beyond red snapper, cobia are currently providing one of the strongest offshore opportunities around Grand Isle.
Spearfishing Grand Isle
Clear water is also creating excellent conditions for spearfishing.
Geaux Fishing Charters has been running an increasing number of dedicated spearfishing trips, including both tank divers and experienced free divers.
Captain T said visibility can reach approximately 50 feet in some areas only seven to nine miles from shore.
He generally prefers areas west of Grand Isle toward South Timbalier, where current can be more manageable than areas influenced more heavily by the Mississippi River.
Current is particularly important for free divers.
Without scuba equipment, free divers need to conserve energy and oxygen while descending, hunting and returning to the surface. Fighting a strong current can dramatically increase the amount of energy required during a dive.
Tank divers have more flexibility because they can descend to the structure, hold onto the rig when necessary and spend considerably more time underwater.
The clear water that can make mangrove snapper difficult to catch with conventional tackle becomes an advantage underwater because divers can see fish and structure from much greater distances.
Spearfishing Safety and Experience
Captain T emphasized that his operation is not designed to teach first-time spearfishermen.
Divers need prior experience and should understand their equipment, personal limits and the physical demands of offshore diving before booking a dedicated spearfishing trip.
His role is primarily to provide the boat, locate productive structure and put experienced divers around fish.
Reloading a speargun, managing current, handling fish and controlling breathing all require considerably more effort underwater than they may appear to require from the boat.
Captain T also brings a deckhand who has spearfishing experience. On some trips, the crew can have another loaded speargun ready when a diver returns to the boat, allowing the diver to exchange equipment while the deckhand removes fish and reloads the previous gun.
Divers also regularly encounter sharks around offshore structure.
Captain T stressed the importance of conditioning and knowing when to stop. Even highly experienced divers can get into trouble when they push beyond their limits, particularly during deep free dives.
Looking Ahead
Around Shell Beach, the immediate pattern should continue to revolve around water temperature and tide.
As long as the interior marsh remains extremely hot, anglers looking for quality speckled trout should expect to make longer runs toward deeper, cleaner water. Islands, shelves and other areas where depth changes quickly should remain important, particularly when there is enough tidal movement to keep bait active.
Live croakers should continue to be a strong option for larger trout, while artificials can produce when fish push into shallower water near island edges and beaches.
Redfish inside the marsh may remain more scattered until temperatures begin falling. Anglers targeting them should focus on deeper drains and areas with moving water rather than spending too much time in stagnant ponds.
Around Grand Isle, the end of recreational red snapper season does not mean the end of offshore fishing.
Mangrove snapper, cobia and triggerfish provide immediate alternatives, with amberjack adding another option as September approaches. Extremely clear water may require lighter tackle for mangroves, while that same visibility should continue creating favorable spearfishing conditions when seas and current cooperate.
Captain T is also seeing enough cobia that they could remain one of the most dependable offshore targets during the transition from late summer into early fall.
Jimmy also noted that Louisiana alligator season begins August 26, and Waterfowl Specialist Guide Service offers guided alligator hunts in addition to fishing. He also previewed the Fishing for Faith Rodeo scheduled for October 10 at Hopedale, with proceeds supporting the church youth program.
Captain T highlighted another upcoming Grand Isle tradition, the ladies fishing rodeo scheduled for October 9–10, which raises money in support of breast cancer causes.
