Where boats run for red snapper out of Port Fourchon
Red snapper trips out of Port Fourchon start about 80 miles offshore and work back toward shore, according to Down The Bayou Charters. If you trailer or keep a boat at Port Fourchon, plan the day around that distance first. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Gulf of Mexico guide.
Our red snapper guide covers the species’ general biology and habits. Timing here depends on the open window set by state management and quota, so read the regulations section below before picking a day. This page covers the run pattern, the grounds, how locals fish them, and who fishes them.
The run pattern
Boats here start at the far end and fish back. Down The Bayou Charters runs out about 80 miles and works natural bottom on the way toward shore. The bottom is found with a sounder rather than from published marks.
Fuel and time
Starting at the far end is a fuel and time decision. The long leg comes first, and each stop after it shortens the ride home. Before leaving the dock, check wind, wave height and wave period on the official NWS marine forecast and plan the run around those numbers.
| Leg | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| First leg | Longest run, taken at the start of the day |
| Fishing back | Each stop is closer to the dock than the last |
| Final leg | Shortest run, at the end of the day |
Grounds and structure
Out of Fourchon, snapper are fished on three kinds of ground:
- A named CCA reef, Jacob Meek Reef II
- Unnamed natural hard bottom
- Unnamed offshore oil rigs
Jacob Meek Reef II (South Timbalier 165)
Offshore grounds are located by lease block, and this reef is found by its block designation, South Timbalier 165. It is a CCA reef dedicated at Port Fourchon, about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay, in 91 ft of water.
CCA later expanded the site, and it was renamed Jacob Meek Reef II. Search a chart or plotter under either name.
Natural hard bottom
Unnamed natural hard bottom is fished from Fourchon and located with electronics. Run your own sounder across likely depth breaks. The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint can help you choose depth breaks to scan, though chart layers are not for navigation.
Offshore rigs
According to the captain, unnamed offshore oil rigs stand in the Fourchon area. Use your own electronics to see what each one holds when you arrive.
How red snapper are fished from Fourchon
Locally, red snapper are a bottom-fishing target worked over natural bottom, and they are usually one stop on a longer trip.
Bottom fishing natural bottom
The local method is bottom fishing over natural bottom. Find hard bottom on the sounder and fish it from the boat.
Snapper as part of the trip
Capt. Joey Maciasz says he does not build a whole trip around snapper. It is one stop on a longer bottom trip. Our reef fish guides cover the rest of that trip.
Who fishes red snapper out of Fourchon
Two groups work these grounds:
- Private boats that run their own electronics and make the long run on their own schedule.
- Charters, including Down The Bayou Charters, run by Capt. Joey Maciasz out of Fourchon, La.
FAQ: red snapper fishing out of Port Fourchon
How far do boats run for red snapper from Port Fourchon?
Trips start about 80 miles out and work back toward shore, according to Down The Bayou Charters.
Where is Jacob Meek Reef II?
It is a CCA reef at South Timbalier 165, about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay.
How deep is Jacob Meek Reef II?
It sits in 91 ft of water.
Do Fourchon anglers fish offshore rigs?
Yes. Unnamed offshore rigs in the Fourchon area hold structure. Find them and read their depth with your own electronics.
Is red snapper the whole trip?
No. The local captain fits snapper into a broader bottom trip rather than building one around it.
Where are the rules?
Check the regulations section above and LDWF before fishing, because the run crosses state and federal waters.
