White marlin fishing out of Venice, Louisiana comes down to four questions: when, where, how far, and who else is on the water. This guide stays at the port level and gives structure names, distances in miles, and depths in feet for running your own boat. For the general picture on the species, start there, then come back here for the run sheet.
When white marlin show up off Venice
White marlin are a possible catch around the lumps during winter lump season, which is the window this port is known for and the one to plan around. Possible is not reliable, so build the trip around the lumps and the rest of the day’s fishing and treat a white marlin as a bonus.
The late-spring-through-summer window belongs to a different destination: the floating rigs, called floaters, along the Mississippi Canyon. They are covered below only as a run destination. For wider timing context, see the Gulf-wide timing (see also the wider Gulf of Mexico guide) page.
Three things shape the calendar here:
- Winter lump season: the window the lumps are tied to, and the one linked to white marlin as a possible catch.
- Late spring through summer: the floaters along the Mississippi Canyon are fished.
- May and August: the two billfish tournaments usually run in these months.
Where boats run and how far
Deep water starts close to the river mouth. The Mississippi Canyon edge sits about 12 miles out, Cognac is about 40 miles southeast, and the floaters run 40 to 65 miles out. The run sheet:
| Structure | Distance/location | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Canyon | About 12 miles from the river mouth | 1,000+ ft |
| De Soto Canyon | About 12 miles east, per Capt. Morgan | n/a |
| Cognac platform | About 40 miles southeast of Venice | More than 1,000 ft |
| Floating rigs (floaters) | About 40 to 65 miles out, along the Mississippi Canyon | n/a |
| Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank) | n/a | Crest about 190 ft to 250 ft |
| East Lump (Horseshoe Lump) | n/a | n/a |
| Green Canyon | n/a | n/a |
Plot the lumps and the canyon edge against the Chart Contours layer before you run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
The lumps
Two lumps anchor the winter program: Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank) and East Lump (Horseshoe Lump). Midnight Lump’s crest sits about 190 ft to 250 ft down, and some reports put it within 200 ft of the surface. No figures are published here for East Lump. These are the grounds where white marlin are a possible catch in winter lump season.
Mississippi Canyon edge
The edge holds 1,000+ ft of water about 12 miles from the river mouth, the shortest run to deep water on the sheet.
Cognac and the floaters
The Cognac platform sits in more than 1,000 ft of water, about 40 miles southeast of Venice. The floaters run along the Mississippi Canyon, about 40 to 65 miles out, and are fished late spring through summer. Treat them as a run destination rather than a white marlin spot.
Green and De Soto canyons
De Soto Canyon sits about 12 miles east, per Capt. Morgan. Green Canyon is part of the deepwater range off Venice. Both can be plotted as canyon grounds, but neither is a published white marlin spot.
How white marlin are fished out of Venice
The local approach centers on working structure: the lumps, the platforms, the floaters, and the canyon edges. Pick a named piece of structure and work it instead of running open water. For tackle and method detail, use the species guide.
Working the lumps
A lump is a known crest over deep water. At Midnight Lump the crest sits about 190 ft to 250 ft down, and boats work around that depth contour.
Rigs and canyon edges
Cognac sits in 1,000+ ft of water, the floaters line up along the Mississippi Canyon, and the canyon edge itself is about 12 miles out. The fleet works all three, each at a different distance from the dock.
Who fishes for white marlin here
Charters and tournaments both put boats on this structure, so expect to share the water.
Mexican Gulf Fishing Co.
Mexican Gulf Fishing Co. charters list white marlin as a Venice species. The company runs Freeman Boatworks catamarans, including the 42 ft Wild Bill.
Tournaments
Two billfish tournaments run out of Venice:
- Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic: usually May.
- New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament: usually August.
Expect more boats on the structure in those months. For broader billfish context, see the billfish guides.
FAQ: white marlin fishing out of Venice
When are white marlin around out of Venice?
They are a possible catch around the lumps in winter lump season, though not a reliable one.
How deep is the Midnight Lump?
The crest sits about 190 ft to 250 ft down, and some reports put it within 200 ft of the surface.
How far is Mississippi Canyon from Venice?
Mississippi Canyon’s 1,000+ ft water sits about 12 miles from the river mouth.
Which Venice charters list white marlin?
Mexican Gulf Fishing Co. lists white marlin as a Venice species and runs Freeman Boatworks catamarans, including the 42 ft Wild Bill.
What billfish tournaments run out of Venice?
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, usually in May, and the New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament, usually in August.
