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Welcome to this week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report, the weekly local fishing report for New Orleans, Venice, Grand Isle, and everywhere in between. Host Andre’ Savoie checks in on late-winter conditions, then talks with two local captains about how the historically low Mississippi River is setting up an early spring pattern in Venice and what it really takes to connect with a true trophy speckled trout. This week’s guests are Capt. Mike Gallo of Angling Adventures of Louisiana and Capt. Bobby Warren of Adventure Charters.
Conditions Recap
Late-winter weather is shifting fast, with warming trends pushing the system toward a spring feel earlier than normal. Down south, the Mississippi River has stayed extremely low for much of the winter, which has helped keep water cleaner and saltier in the marsh. That can be excellent for artificial presentations and early movement from redfish and trout, but it also makes running the Delta more hazardous as low water exposes pipelines, pilings, and other obstacles. Fog remains a factor on certain mornings, so plan travel windows carefully and prioritize safe navigation when making longer runs.
Venice Report: Capt. Bobby Warren, Adventure Charters
Capt. Bobby Warren says Venice is shaping up for a historically strong spring, and he’s already seeing “ahead of schedule” signs in February. With the river unusually low, he’s been finding clean water and strong redfish action on his scouting trips, plus a steady trout bite mixed in. Bobby notes that low-water periods pull fish out of ponds and shallow flats and concentrate them into deeper ditches and channels, where you can stay in the game even when cold fronts roll through.
His simple late-winter program is to work deeper water and keep presentations near the bottom. A jighead with a plastic bounced along the bottom has been producing consistent bites, and when anglers want to soak bait, a piece of dead shrimp fished down deep will keep rods bent when fish are stacked up. When the sun warms the day and water temps creep up, Bobby expects outside options and island patterns to start coming alive earlier than normal.
Bobby’s key reminder is safety: in Venice, low water changes everything. He recommends running proven routes, idling into unfamiliar areas, and being especially cautious because hazards that were once buried can be exposed when the water drops.
Book a trip with Capt. Bobby Warren of Adventure Charters: https://www.captainbobbywarren.com/
Northshore Report: Capt. Mike Gallo, Angling Adventures of Louisiana
On the Northshore, Capt. Mike Gallo breaks down a true trophy story: an 8+ pound speckled trout caught in mid-January and released after a quick photo and measurement. Mike says big trout fishing is different from “put fish in the box” trips, and it starts with quiet. Quiet water, minimal boat traffic, and quiet behavior on the boat matter because those fish didn’t get that big by making mistakes.
Mike was fishing near rock structure around the MRGO area when he noticed a wintertime clue you don’t always see much of in cold months: mullet. He matched that forage with a Berkley suspending hard bait, working it down and letting it pause and hang in the strike zone. He describes the bite as deceptively normal until the fish is close enough to confirm what you’ve hooked. He measured the trout at 27 inches without pinching the tail, then revived it and watched it swim away.
Mike also notes that several consecutive seasons without major hurricane disruption on the east side of the Mississippi River can help spawning success and overall fishery momentum. Combined with management changes and good year classes, he believes the speckled trout fishery has a strong chance to trend upward over the next couple of years.
Book a trip with Capt. Mike Gallo of Angling Adventures of Louisiana: https://aaofla.com/
