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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.

All coastsTexasLouisianaFloridaBahamasMexicoPuerto RicoSeychelles
Any typeFlySpinSightWadeSkiffRocksMarshSkinnyOffshore
Any fishRedfishSpeckled troutSouthern flounderBlack drumSheepsheadSnookTarponBonefishPermitJack crevalleMahi-mahiSailfishTuna (blackfin / yellowfin)HogfishYellowtail snapperMangrove / gray snapperMutton snapperRed snapperLane snapperGag grouperRed grouperBlack grouperCobiaFlorida pompanoTripletailKing mackerelSpanish mackerelGreater amberjackWahooBlue marlinWhite marlinStriped marlinSwordfishGreat barracudaRoosterfishGiant trevally
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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.

May. Still excellent early. Heat starts. Trout slide deeper at midday. First-light ponds.

May · peak

What is actually on

    RedfishSpeckled troutTarponMangrove / gray snapperCobiaFlorida pompanoTripletailKing mackerelSpanish mackerelGreater amberjack
Peak Present Off

Closures

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

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

Present MayLouisiana

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Thermal window

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46°88°

50–84°F · best 58–74°F

Fall migration to the Gulf when water drops a few degrees. Males leave first. Spring return. Texas closed Nov 1–Dec 14. Louisiana typically closed Oct 15–Nov 30 — verify LDWF.

Fly. Clouser or shrimp on the bottom. Slow. The eat is a weight, not a tap.

Spin. Gulp or soft plastic hopped on sand drains and jetty guts. Fall nights at the passes are the run.

Leads the brief on Calcasieu.

Louisiana. Louisiana: typically 10/day. Recreational harvest usually closed Oct 15–Nov 30 — verify LDWF the week you keep one.

Official source

Want this week’s weather on top of the doctrine? Read the Saturday Letter.