Blackfin tuna fishing out of Grand Isle is an offshore run from the barrier island to named lumps, platforms and reefs south of Barataria Pass and Caminada Pass. If you run your own boat, this page gives you the depths, bearings and platform IDs to mark, plus the buoy to read before you leave. Port details are on the Grand Isle port page, and the rest of our tuna coverage covers the wider picture.
When and where Grand Isle boats run for blackfin
Boats run offshore from the island, and no single ground owns the trip. Three reference points anchor everything below:
- Barataria Pass: the pass east of the island.
- Caminada Pass: the pass west of the island.
- The green No. 1 ATON: the aid to navigation the bearings in this guide are read from.
The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is usually held in July, which puts a lot of offshore traffic on the water that month. For general timing and behavior, read the blackfin tuna species guide. For the wider picture beyond this port, see blackfin across the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
Grounds and structure off Grand Isle
The structure runs from the passes out to deep water, and the table orders it from nearshore to deep. It lists only the depths, distances and bearings that are known.
| Ground | Type | Depth | Distance/bearing from the green No. 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caminada Pass jetties | Jetties | ||
| Freeport sulphur rig reef (FLRA-27, Grand Isle 9) | Reef | 30 ft | |
| Exxon-Mobil platforms SW of Barataria Pass | Platforms | About 11 miles at 202 degrees | |
| Sandy Point rigs (West Delta platforms) | Platforms | ||
| Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank) | Bank | Crest about 206 ft |
Chart Contours helps you mark this structure before the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Caminada Pass jetties
The jetties are the westernmost structure on the list. They sit at the pass itself, so they are the first place to look on the west side of the island.
Freeport sulphur rig reef (FLRA-27)
Also known as Grand Isle 9, this reef sits in 30 ft of water, the shallowest bottom on the list.
Exxon-Mobil platforms
Treat this group as a waypoint: about 11 miles at 202 degrees from the green No. 1 ATON, southwest of Barataria Pass. The platform IDs are L, BB, CC, 9M, 019, J, P, Q, R, S, T, U and W.
Sandy Point rigs (West Delta platforms)
The group is made up of four West Delta platforms: Green Monster, MX-WD 23-3, MX-WD 24-4 and MX-WD 23-FLARE No. 3.
Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank)
The crest sits at about 206 ft, the deepest structure named here.
How blackfin are fished from Grand Isle
Local methods and the boats that fish them are covered below.
Local methods
The methods used locally are listed in the offshore species list on the Grand Isle port page. Check that list before you rig.
Who fishes them
Most of the traffic is private owner-operator boats running offshore to the structure above. The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo field adds to it in July.
Reading conditions at GISL1
Bookmark NOAA NDBC station GISL1 (NOAA station 8761724), Grand Isle, LA, at 29.265 N, 89.958 W, and read it before every run. The numbers to read are:
- Wind speed and direction
- Wave height
- Wave period, where the station reports it
A buoy reading is an observation, not a forecast. Check the official NWS marine forecast before you leave the dock.
FAQ: blackfin tuna fishing out of Grand Isle
How far is the Exxon-Mobil platform group?
About 11 miles at 202 degrees from the green No. 1 ATON, southwest of Barataria Pass.
How deep is Midnight Lump?
Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank) has a crest at about 206 ft.
What is Grand Isle 9?
It is another name for the Freeport sulphur rig reef, FLRA-27, in 30 ft of water.
Which buoy should I check?
GISL1 (NOAA station 8761724) at 29.265 N, 89.958 W. Read wind, wave height and period, then check the official NWS marine forecast.
Is there a blackfin tournament out of Grand Isle?
The International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is usually held in July.
Where are the local methods listed?
On the Grand Isle port page’s offshore species list.
