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This week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report features host Andre’ Savoie with a summer trout report from Cocodrie, Grand Isle, Fourchon, Leeville, and the surrounding bays, beaches, rigs, reefs, and Gulf structure. The episode starts with Capt. Aaron Benfield of AB Charters, who fishes out of Cocodrie and has been on a strong speckled trout bite south of Houma. Aaron breaks down how late-June and early-July trout fishing has been shaping up, why the fish have been moving between rigs, wellheads, reefs, beaches, and deeper summer water, and why he is carrying live croakers, minnows, and artificial baits to stay ready for whatever the trout want that day.
Andre’ then checks in with Capt. Joey Lemoine of Cast on the Other Side Charters, who fishes primarily out of Grand Isle, with additional trips out of Fourchon and Leeville when conditions or events call for it. Joey reports a strong Grand Isle trout bite, including quality fish in the surf, on the beaches, in the bays, and as far west as Bay Long. He also talks through summer heat, clean water, tide movement, bait movement, and why anglers need to get an early start as July conditions settle in.
The main theme this week is that speckled trout are biting well across coastal Louisiana, but the best trips are coming from anglers who adjust quickly. In Cocodrie, that means checking rigs, wellheads, and reefs from six feet to 30 feet of water and rotating between double rigs, plastics, minnows, and croakers. In Grand Isle, that means watching wind, water clarity, tide movement, and bait, then choosing between the beach, the surf, the bay, or nearby marsh and offshore options depending on the day.
Conditions Recap
Across the Louisiana Delta, summer heat is now a major part of the fishing pattern. Both reports point toward early starts, with Capt. Joey Lemoine saying he has been leaving around 5:00 to 5:15 in the morning to beat the worst of the heat. The hotter weather is shortening the day for many trips, especially for customers who are not used to spending long hours in July conditions.
In Cocodrie, Capt. Aaron Benfield says the late-June and early-July trout bite has been especially strong this year. He believes part of that may be tied to the windy weather in May and early June, which kept some areas from seeing as much pressure. A large influx of shrimp has also pushed through the area, with shrimp jumping along the beach and helping fire up the fish. That shrimp movement has helped create good trout action, though it has also brought ladyfish and other bait-stealing fish into some areas.
Clean water, moving water, and bait remain the key pieces of the puzzle. Aaron has been fishing deeper summer structure, including rigs, wellheads, and reefs, while Joey is looking at wind direction, the smoothest water, good current, cleaner water, and signs of bait movement around Grand Isle. When those pieces line up, both Cocodrie and Grand Isle are producing quality speckled trout.
The heat is also pushing anglers toward quick limits and flexible plans. Cocodrie trout are starting to spread out more as July arrives, and Aaron says that can make the fishery stronger because he does not always have to run all the way into the Gulf every day. Around Grand Isle, Joey says the beaches and surf have been productive when conditions are clean and calm enough, while the bay and Bay Long remain part of the trout rotation.
Cocodrie Fishing Report
Capt. Aaron Benfield of AB Charters fishes out of Cocodrie, Louisiana, about 30 minutes south of Houma. He says the trout fishing has been excellent lately, with much of his effort focused south of the marina and out toward Gulf structure. While Cocodrie produces trout year-round, this late-June and early-July window has been especially good.
Aaron has been fishing mostly rigs, wellheads, and reefs, with trout holding in water from roughly six feet down to 30 feet. With the warm summer weather, he is often fishing close to the bottom to target nicer trout. The deeper water has been important, but the bite has not been the same every day, which is why he has been carrying multiple bait options.
Some days, the trout have wanted artificial baits. Aaron says he recently caught fish on plastics and double rigs across multiple trips, with artificial baits outproducing live bait when the trout were feeding fast on shrimp. On those days, a moving artificial presentation seemed to trigger bites better than live bait sitting still.
On other days, the trout have been more selective. Aaron had one trip where the fish would not touch plastics or croakers, but they would eat minnows well enough to finish a limit. On another trip, the opposite happened, with croakers producing most of the bites while minnows were ignored. Because of that day-to-day change, he has been bringing minnows, croakers, and plastics so he can adjust on the water.
Live shrimp can be effective when trout are feeding on shrimp, but Aaron does not like relying on shrimp during the heat of summer because of catfish, ladyfish, and the difficulty of keeping shrimp alive on hot days. When the fish are feeding aggressively, especially around shrimp activity, plastics can sometimes be the better choice because they keep moving and stay in front of the right fish longer.
Cocodrie Bonus Species
Along with speckled trout, Aaron says anglers are seeing a mix of bonus fish out of Cocodrie. Pompano have shown up occasionally while trout fishing, and Aaron says they are excellent eating fish. He prefers them grilled, blackened, or prepared in ways that suit their dense, oily meat rather than deep fried.
White trout have also been a useful fallback species. Aaron says white trout can salvage a slower day, and on one recent trip, they added 30 to 40 white trout after the speckled trout bite was less consistent. Spanish mackerel, redfish, and sharks have also been part of the recent mix.
Aaron says he keeps legal sharks when they come aboard because they are abundant, and he likes them as table fare when handled correctly. His advice is to bleed and gut the shark immediately after catching it, which produces firm, clean, white meat that can be grilled or cooked in sauce.
Grand Isle Fishing Report
Capt. Joey Lemoine of Cast on the Other Side Charters fishes primarily out of Grand Isle, Louisiana, and will also run out of Fourchon or Leeville when needed. His main focus right now is the inshore trout bite, and he says the fishing has been very good, with many of the trout averaging from 16 to 20 inches.
Joey says trout are being caught in the surf around Grand Isle, especially along the beach near the rocks when the water is clean and calm enough. For anglers wading the surf, he recommends using regular inshore tackle and carrying a dip net and basket. He also mentioned that stingrays can be common around the island, especially for anglers wading or gigging flounder, so anglers should be careful and shuffle their feet when wading.
For bait, Joey has been fishing mostly plastics. He specifically mentioned using Matrix Shad when targeting trout in the surf. He has also been bringing croakers and shrimp, but lately the shrimp have not been outproducing the plastics for him. Like Aaron, Joey is keeping several options available, but the artificial bite has been strong enough to stay in the rotation every day.
When he is not fishing the beach or surf, Joey is looking in the bay and nearby bay systems. He has been running as far as Bay Long to stay on the trout. His decision-making starts with the weather and water conditions. He looks for where the water will be smoothest, where the tide is moving, where the water is clean, and where bait is present.
Grand Isle Redfish, Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, and Cobia
Redfish are still available around Grand Isle, but Joey says anglers usually have to target them specifically. If redfish are the goal, he generally looks farther north, toward marsh areas to the east, or toward the Leeville area. On trout-focused trips, redfish are more of an occasional bonus than the main target.
Joey is also running some snapper, mangrove snapper, and cobia trips. He says Grand Isle anglers do not have to run extremely far for snapper, with some trips taking roughly a 20- to 25-mile run toward the Venice side while staying inside state waters. Most of his current trips are still centered on trout, but offshore and nearshore options remain available when customers want to mix in something different.
The summer pattern is simple but demanding: leave early, fish hard during the morning window, and get off the water before the heat becomes the main story. Joey says the heat can be hard on customers, even though captains who fish every day are more used to it. For July trips, that early start can make the difference between a comfortable, productive morning and a long, hot grind.
Fishing Tips from This Episode
In Cocodrie, do not lock into one bait too early. Aaron’s recent trips show that trout may want plastics one day, minnows the next, and croakers the day after that. Carrying multiple options gives anglers a better chance to stay with the bite when the fish change preferences.
When trout are feeding fast on shrimp, moving artificial baits can outproduce live bait that is sitting still. Double rigs and plastics are good tools for covering water and staying with feeding fish, especially when small trout, ladyfish, and other bait stealers are mixed in.
In Grand Isle, water clarity and bait movement are critical. Joey is not simply running to where fish were yesterday. He is checking wind, current, clean water, and bait before choosing the beach, surf, bay, Bay Long, or another area. For anglers fishing from the beach, the rocks can be productive when the surf is clean and manageable.
For both areas, the heat matters. Leave early, bring plenty of water, and expect many July trips to be shorter. When the fish cooperate, the goal is often to catch the limit and get back before the worst part of the afternoon.
Gear and Baits Mentioned in This Episode
Aaron’s Cocodrie trout report included live croakers, minnows, plastics, and double rigs. He also discussed live shrimp as a strong match when trout are feeding on shrimp, though he often avoids carrying shrimp during hot summer trips because of catfish, ladyfish, and bait-care issues.
Joey’s Grand Isle trout report included croakers, shrimp, and plastics, with Matrix Shad specifically mentioned for surf trout around Grand Isle. The key with the plastics has been matching the clean-water beach and bay bite while keeping the bait moving through productive areas.
Looking Ahead
July should continue to be a strong trout month out of Cocodrie and Grand Isle as long as anglers work around the heat and stay flexible with conditions. Aaron expects Cocodrie trout to become more widespread, which can create more options north of the Gulf and reduce the need for long runs every day.
Out of Grand Isle, Joey expects the early morning trout bite to remain the best window. The surf, beach rocks, bay systems, and Bay Long are all part of the current pattern, but clean water, moving tide, and visible bait will determine which area is worth the first stop.
For anglers planning a trip this week, the best advice is to leave early, bring several bait options, look for clean moving water, and be ready to adjust. Speckled trout are biting across the Louisiana Delta, but the captains finding the most consistent action are the ones changing with the fish each day.
