Redfish
Sciaenops ocellatus
Thermal window
—
In peak season for this water. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.
Louisiana: 4/day, 18–27 in slot. None over 27. No harvest in federal waters. Charter captain/crew bag is zero. Verify LDWF.
Louisiana · Venice / Birdfoot
Redfish should be the day — flood the west-bank ponds, then the south passes if the bulls are in.
The Mississippi birdfoot. Passes, ponds, and river-marsh. Bull reds in the passes, school reds and trout in the ponds. Tarpon in mid-summer on the beach and the south passes. NOAA 8760721 Pilottown is the clock. Wind and river stage move more water than the printed tide.
- ⚠ This brief is for 2026-11-18, not this morning. Wind is a forecast. Observed water versus the table is a today-only instrument.
- ⚠ Louisiana flounder is typically closed Oct 15–Nov 30. Verify LDWF before you keep one.
Forecast
low confidence
Forecast brief for Wednesday, November 18. Back to this morning
Morning line
Venice 8.8 on Wednesday, November 18. 5 mph NW. Clear. YOLO day is Wednesday, August 26. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.
incoming · 0.40 ftModeled M2 · not a gauge
Wind
OPEN-METEO
From NW · gust 8
Sky
OPEN-METEO
Clear
Clear
A 20% shower chance is not a cancel. A soaker is.
Moon
64% lit
Waxing gibbous
neap range · 64%
Water
No gauge
Water
—
Today’s range 1.1 ft
incoming
0.40 ft modeled
River
USGS 07374525
220,000 cfs
Mississippi River at Belle Chasse, LA
Discharge into this bay. High water stains the flat.
Wind vs table
No live gauge
—
No live gauge this hour — the printed tide is the forecast.
Clock
NOAA 8760721
- LowWed 3:00 AM · -0.55
- HighWed 10:00 AM · 0.54
- LowWed 4:00 PM · -0.54
- HighWed 10:00 PM · 0.54
- LowThu 4:00 AM · -0.53
Bahamas tides are modeled from lunar M2. Use them for windows, not a bar crossing.
Monthly YOLO day
Wednesday, August 26 · 8.3
Best remaining dry day this month with a real wind forecast. waxing gibbous · spring · tide range ~0.7 ft · wind to 5 mph · Thunderstorms · 44%
Next two weeks
Pulling the 14-day strip…
Where
- 8.1
South Pass
pass jetty · public structure · deep
Named river mouth. Bulls and summer tarpon. River stage and wind decide more than the table.
- — pass jetty on a incoming tide is a classic match.
- — In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
skiffspinfly - 7.7
Venice west-bank marsh
marsh drain · public structure · mid
Delta ponds inside the passes. School reds and trout. Your Gulf Atlas pin lives here.
- — marsh drain on a incoming tide is a workable match.
- — In-play: Redfish, Speckled trout.
skiffkayakflyspin - 7.4
Southwest Pass
pass jetty · public structure · deep
The other throat of the birdfoot. Current, ships, and the Gulf. Not a pond.
- — pass jetty on a incoming tide is a classic match.
- — In-play: Redfish.
skiffspin
When
Incoming water
10.0Wed 8:00 AM → Wed 11:00 AM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Outgoing water
8.7Wed 11:00 AM → Wed 5:00 PM
Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.
Incoming water
9.7Wed 5:00 PM → Thu 12:00 AM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Outgoing water
8.7Wed 11:00 PM → Thu 6:00 AM
Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.
Incoming water
10.0Thu 5:00 AM → Thu 12:00 PM
Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.
Launch and beach access
Cited to LDWF ramp lists and Louisiana State Parks. Parish rules shift after a blow.
Venice public launches
Plaquemines Parish / LDWF ramp directory
Birdfoot door. South and Southwest Pass are the run. Confirm which ramps are open after a blow.
Official source
Legal water
No-take and closed water cited to the agency that owns it. Only the Keys box is FKNMS.
No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.
Why — and who
- — Tide is incoming (modeled — the NOAA gauge did not answer).
- — Clear. Sky is workable.
- — Wind 5 mph NW. Castable. Sight-fishing is on if the sun is out.
- — Waxing gibbous moon — neap tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.
8.4
Speckled trout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Thermal window
—
In peak season for this water. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.
Louisiana: 15/day, 13–20 in slot, no more than two over 20. Charter captain/crew bag is zero. Verify LDWF.
Black drum
Pogonias cromis
Thermal window
—
Present, not peak. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.
Louisiana: check LDWF coastal finfish before you keep a drum.
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Thermal window
—
Off-season here. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.
Louisiana: treat as catch-and-release.
Jack crevalle
Caranx hippos
Thermal window
—
Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. Off-season here. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.
Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.
Regs citedLDWF recreational saltwater · current LDWF coastal finfish · rolls in 8 days. Louisiana flounder is typically closed Oct 15–Nov 30. Verify LDWF the week you keep one.