Winter
Offshore
yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, wahoo
Nearshore
bull redfish, sheepshead, speckled trout
LouisianaOffshore Fishing: Ports, Rules and Seasons
Louisiana offshore fishing rests on three things: a river that pushes bait-rich water onto the shelf, thousands of platforms that hold fish, and deep water that comes closer to shore off the Mississippi River delta than anywhere else on this coast. Louisiana is one of the Gulf states we map (see all U.S. regions). This page runs west to east through the ports, the seasons, and the line where state rules end and federal rules begin.
By Breakpoint Team
4Offshore ports
4Stretches of coast
3 NMState waters
The coast
How Louisiana Offshore Fishing Works, West to East
The western end of the coast sits near the Texas line, around Cameron and Intracoastal City. The shelf there is broad and shallow, the run to deep water is long, and fewer platforms stand than farther east.
The central coast looks different. Off Terrebonne and Lafourche, dense fields of oil and gas platforms stand on the shelf. Each platform is structure that holds bait, and bait holds fish, so oil rig fishing is the backbone of this stretch. Farther out, floaters (floating production platforms moored in deep water) do the same job over much deeper water.
The eastern end belongs to the Mississippi River delta. The river pushes a plume of muddy green water toward the deep, and where it meets blue water you get a color edge and often a temperature edge. The Midnight Lump is a named delta ground that anglers fish for that reason. On the east side of the river, Hopedale/Shell Beach is another launch point for the same waters.
The Loop Current, its eddies and seasonal shelf patterns move these deep-water edges around the whole Gulf. Our Gulf fishing guide covers how those larger features work.
Satellite SST misses water under cloud and under the river’s thin surface layer, and a forecast is only a forecast. Before any run, read the NWS marine forecast for wind, wave height and period.
Ports
4 ports, 4 stretches of coast
The ports below run west to east along the coast, grouped by stretch. Tap a number on the map, or a stretch below, to zoom in on its ports.
Pick a stretch of coast
2
1 port
Lafourche and Bayou Lafourche
Bayou Lafourche runs to the Gulf at Port Fourchon, an energy-industry port in the middle of dense rig fields.
3
1 port
Barataria
The barrier islands of Barataria Bay face the shelf west of the river.
4
1 port
Plaquemines and the Mississippi River Delta
The delta reaches toward deep water, and the river plume meets blue water offshore.
Seasons
What runs through the year
What tends to be around each season. Open seasons are covered under Regulations.
Spring
Offshore
yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, red snapper (when open)
Nearshore
cobia, sheepshead, speckled trout
Summer
Offshore
yellowfin tuna, blue marlin, mahi-mahi, red snapper (when open)
Nearshore
tripletail, king mackerel, speckled trout
Fall
Offshore
yellowfin tuna, wahoo, amberjack (when open), grouper (when open)
Nearshore
bull redfish, speckled trout, cobia
The table lists what anglers target by season. Conditions and regulations decide any given day.
Seasons marked "when open" follow state and federal declarations. See Regulations below.
Before you pick a port, check where the temperature edge and chlorophyll break sit on OBS SST and Chlorophyll. Chart Contours shows where the shelf drops. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Seasons tell you which fish are around, and daily water conditions show where to find them
Temperature breaks and color edges shift with wind and current. In Breakpoint, these three layers show those edges and the bottom structure near them.
Clouds block satellite SST passes, so some days show gaps. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Charters and tournaments
Louisiana Charters and Tournaments
The captain’s Charter ROLP covers paying charter clients. Before you book, ask whether the boat holds the federal reef fish permit, because a charter without it cannot fish reef fish in federal waters.
Three tournaments are tied to the ports above:
- International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo at Grand Isle.
- Louisiana Billfish Classic at Grand Isle.
- Cajun Canyons Fall Invitational at Venice, Cypress Cove Marina.
Dates and rules come from each organizer, so check with them directly.
Tournaments in Louisiana
Show 21 more tournaments
Regulations
State rules apply out to 3 nautical miles, with federal rules beyond
Seasons close on quota, so check LDWF before every trip. For limits by species, see the full Louisiana rules by species.
3 NMState waters. Federal rules apply beyond the line.
Louisiana regulations page
Rules at a glance
The rules divide by distance from shore:
- The 3-mile line. Louisiana state waters generally extend 3 nautical miles from the nearest land.
- The 9-mile reef fish line. For reef fish management, Louisiana waters extend to 9 nautical miles. On the water, platforms in state waters carry a state lease number placard, and platforms in federal waters carry an OCS number.
- Federal waters out to 200 nautical miles. The Gulf of America Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries manage these waters.
Permits depend on who you are and what you keep:
- Anglers 18 and older need both a Basic and a Saltwater license.
- A free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is required to possess tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, hinds, snappers, cobia, wahoo, gray triggerfish or dolphinfish.
- Anglers under 18 and paying charter clients are exempt from the ROLP. The captain’s Charter ROLP covers clients.
- Tunas also require the federal Atlantic HMS Angling Permit.
- Charter captains without the federal reef fish charter permit cannot fish reef fish in federal waters.
Red snapper follows the state and federal split. The season is set each year and runs until LA Creel landings approach Louisiana’s allocation, at which point LDWF closes it by declaration. A red snapper caught 12 miles off Fourchon comes from federal waters, yet private anglers fish it under Louisiana’s season and limits. Federally permitted charters follow the separate for-hire season under federal red snapper management.
LA Creel is LDWF’s landings survey, and participation is voluntary. So is reporting red snapper electronically through the ROLP site. Keep your license contact details current so LDWF can reach you.
Regulations
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the rules for Louisiana state waters, which run out to 3 nautical miles, or 9 nautical miles for reef fish. Reef fish seasons follow the federal season for the same species, and federal waters run to 200 nautical miles.
The species-by-species size, bag and season rules are on the Louisiana fishing regulations page. Official source: LDWF boundaries and regulations.
FAQ
Louisiana offshore, answered
Official answers come from the state wildlife agency and NOAA Fisheries. Check them before you go.
Do I need a ROLP on a charter?
No. The captain’s Charter ROLP covers paying clients. You still need a saltwater license unless you are under 18. LDWF issues both the license and the permit.
Where do state waters end for red snapper?
At 9 nautical miles for reef fish. Elsewhere, state waters end at 3 nautical miles. Private anglers fish red snapper under Louisiana’s season in state and federal waters. See the Louisiana rules by species for limits.
What is the best port for yellowfin?
Venice sits closest to deep water and the floaters. Port Fourchon and Grand Isle reach the rig fields. Pick the port that matches the run you want, then check the edges on OBS SST the night before.
Do I need a federal permit for tuna?
Yes. You need the Atlantic HMS Angling Permit plus a ROLP. NOAA Fisheries issues the federal permit and LDWF issues the ROLP.
Is LA Creel required?
No. LDWF’s LA Creel surveys are voluntary, as is reporting red snapper electronically through the ROLP site. Your landings still count toward Louisiana’s allocation.
Can a charter take me for reef fish beyond 9 miles?
Only if the boat holds the federal Gulf reef fish charter/headboat permit. Without it, the charter fishes reef fish only in state waters.
Know Where the Fish Are Before You Leave the Dock.
Ranked hotspots, live ocean layers and offline maps.
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