Doctrine · not a honey-hole list

Seasonal fundamentals

When a coast, a type of water, and a fish actually line up. If you elected Texas on the list, this page opens on Texas — Seychelles stays off the board until you ask for it. Filter by region, method or habitat, and species. The year bar is peak versus present. Limits cite TPWD and FWC — verify before you keep one.

Louisiana

Louisiana — river, marsh, and the birdfoot

Wind and the Mississippi move more water than the printed tide.

Venice is the birdfoot — South and Southwest Pass, ponds on the west bank, bulls in the throats, school reds and trout inside, tarpon in the heat on the south passes. Grand Isle is a different desk: one inhabited barrier island, Caminada, Barataria, a state-park surf. Calcasieu is the Texas-border cousin under LDWF rules — same fish, different bag, not Sabine Lake. Reds are 4 a day, 18–27, none over 27. Trout are a slot. Flounder typically close Oct 15–Nov 30. Do not put a Texas tag on a Cameron fish.

April. Prime marsh. Reds in the ponds, trout on bait, the passes still honest. Book Venice now.

April · peak

What is actually on

Redfish

Speckled trout

Tarpon

Cobia

Florida pompano

Spanish mackerel

Greater amberjack

Peak Present Off

Closures

No coast-wide harvest closure on the board. Still verify before you keep a fish.

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Peak AprilLouisiana

Thermal window

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68–86°F · best 72–82°F

Gulf spring run. Texas and Florida beaches, then the wrecks. Not a trout. Not a permit.

Fly. 10–12 wt. A big baitfish on a crab-trap float or a ray. He will eat. Then he will go to the wreck.

Spin. Jigs and live bait around rays, traps, and the first wrecks. Spring migration along the beach.

Louisiana. Louisiana: verify LDWF cobia. Not a Texas number.

Official source

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