When Greater Amberjack Are Around Cocodrie
Greater amberjack fishing out of Cocodrie is a rig, reef and bank fishery, and which days are open depends on quota rather than the calendar. The passes, launches and run out of Terrebonne Bay are covered in our Cocodrie port guide. Spawning, growth and Gulf-wide timing are in the greater amberjack guide. The wider picture is in the greater amberjack fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico region guide.
Seasons change by quota and can open or close on short notice, so this page prints no season figure. See the Regulations section below.
The local pattern in brief:
- Summer is the period the Cocodrie species list ties to amberjack, along with red snapper, vermilion snapper and grouper.
- Quota decides whether the fish are open to you, regardless of whether they are there.
- Check the rules before you plan the run, since fuel is already spent by the time a closure turns up.
Where Boats Run From Cocodrie
Boats out of Cocodrie fish the rigs offshore of Cocodrie, Grand Isle and Port Fourchon. These form one shared field rather than three separate fisheries, and a trailered boat from Grand Isle or Port Fourchon works the same rigs.
The only sourced distance is Jacob Meek Reef II, about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay. No run distance from port is given for the rigs.
Read the official NWS marine forecast for wind, wave height and period before you run, and go by those numbers.
| Reference | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Rigs offshore of Cocodrie, Grand Isle and Port Fourchon | One shared production-platform field |
| Terrebonne Bay | Reference point for the Jacob Meek Reef II distance |
| Jacob Meek Reef II | About 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay |
Grounds and Structure That Hold Fish
The named structure runs from 13 ft platforms to a 185 ft natural bank.
| Name | Type | Depth (ft) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed production platforms | Rigs | 13 | not given |
| Shallow reef, bank of Bayou Terrebonne | Reef | 4 | not given |
| Jacob Meek Reef II (South Timbalier 165) | CCA artificial reef | 91 | about 45 mi S of Terrebonne Bay |
| Ewing Bank | Natural rock bank | 185 | not given |
You can check this structure against Chart Contours in the Breakpoint app. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Nearshore Platforms
These are unnamed production platforms fished on a Cocodrie-area trip, in 13 ft of water as reported. No distance from port is given.
Shallow Reef
This unnamed shallow reef sits on a bank of Bayou Terrebonne, at 4 ft as reported, and is fished on a Cocodrie-area trip.
Jacob Meek Reef II
Jacob Meek Reef is a CCA artificial reef at South Timbalier 165, in 91 ft of water, about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay. It was an expanded and renamed reef and is now called Jacob Meek Reef II.
At 91 ft it is far shallower than Ewing Bank’s 185 ft, so the two grounds call for different drops.
Ewing Bank
Ewing Bank is a natural rock bank at 185 ft. A captain calls the grounds "Wonderland." The bank also holds a limestone-capped feature, which that captain fished as his first drift.
How Amberjack Are Fished Here
Locals fish greater amberjack with bottom fishing and live bait. The same gear logic carries over to the snappers and groupers in our reef fish guides.
Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing is a local method on the rigs, on Jacob Meek Reef II and on Ewing Bank. Depths run from 13 ft to 91 ft to 185 ft, so your drop changes with the ground you pick.
Live Bait
Live bait is a local method around the same structure, paired with the bottom approach on the rigs and reef.
Trolling Offshore
Coco Charters lists bottom fishing, live bait and trolling for its offshore trips, per its Coco Charters offshore listing. Trolling here comes from an operator listing and is not a documented local amberjack method.
Who Fishes Them Here
These operators list greater amberjack. A scouting trip with one of them can shorten your own learning curve.
- Cocodrie Charters: Sportsman’s Paradise Marina, Chauvin. Seven full-time captains work from the marina.
- Coco Charters: CoCo Marina, Chauvin. A 37 to 42 ft fleet, described as exclusive to catamarans.
- Capt. Tommy Pellegrin: Docks his offshore boat at Cocodrie.
- Fish Heads LA: Capt. Todd Black.
FAQ: Greater Amberjack Fishing Out of Cocodrie
How far is Jacob Meek Reef II from Cocodrie?
It lies about 45 miles south of Terrebonne Bay, at South Timbalier 165, in 91 ft of water. That is the only sourced distance on this page.
How deep is Ewing Bank?
Ewing Bank is a natural rock bank at 185 ft. A captain calls the grounds "Wonderland."
What methods do locals use?
Bottom fishing and live bait. Coco Charters also lists trolling for its offshore trips.
Which charters list greater amberjack?
Cocodrie Charters at Sportsman’s Paradise Marina in Chauvin, Coco Charters at CoCo Marina in Chauvin, Capt. Tommy Pellegrin and Fish Heads LA with Capt. Todd Black.
Where are the season rules?
LDWF sets them, and seasons change by quota. Federal reef fish rules can apply on offshore grounds. Check both before fishing.
