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Port guide / Louisiana / Louisiana
Buras fishing guide
Buras sits on Highway 23 on the west bank of the Mississippi River, a short drive above Venice. The marsh around it has washed into big open bays like Bay Jacques, Bastian Bay and Adams Bay, where trout school under the gulls over old oyster reefs and reds work the eroding grass shorelines. Shallow rigs, the Empire jetties and the beaches at Shell Island Bay are within easy reach, and the offshore fleet runs out of Venice just down the road.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Buras. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Bay Pomme D'or, LA (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Pilots Station East, S.W. Pass, LA (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Boothville, LA to Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River out 20 nm (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Buras. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Great Days Outdoors Louisiana Delta Fishing Report (opens in a new tab) Louisiana Sportsman (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Buras. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Southern flounder | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Black drum | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Largemouth bass | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Tripletail | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Fish wave-lapped grassy points and old oyster reefs on a high, falling tide with a shrimp-tipped beetle under a popping cork; local guides count on limits of reds all summer and fall.
Speckled trout
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Spring and early summer bring limits of specks; follow the black-headed gulls over Bastian Bay and Adams Bay and throw tandem jigs or beetles under a cork.
Southern flounder
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Best in late summer and early fall along reef edges and grass lines, but harvest is closed statewide from October 15 through November 30.
Black drum
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Puppy drum share the same grassy shorelines as the reds, and drum also bite on the shallow Sandy Point rigs.
Sheepshead
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Caught off the grassy points with reds and drum, and around the shallow Sandy Point rigs.
Largemouth bass
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
The fresher delta marsh holds bass, and Buras guides list them right alongside reds, trout and flounder.
Tripletail
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A nearshore summer target for the guides running out of Venice just south of Buras.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, Louisiana private recreational and state charter
The 2026 Louisiana season opened May 1, 2026, in state waters and federal waters off Louisiana. Season dates and bag limits can change during the year.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Louisiana private recreational and state charter
Closed August 9, 2026, reopened August 27 to 30 and September 4 to 7, 2026, then closed until further notice. Does not cover federally permitted charter boats.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (federally permitted charter boats)
Open 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Louisiana state waters
Open 12:01 a.m. September 1 to 11:59 p.m. September 30, 2026.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal Gulf waters
Open 12:01 a.m. September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 1, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal Gulf waters
Open September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 14, 2026, a 43 day season; closed after that until September 1, 2027.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Southern flounder, Louisiana state waters
Closed to recreational and commercial harvest October 15 through November 30 every year.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Louisiana state waters
LDWF lists gray triggerfish as closed January 1 through the end of February and June 1 through July 31. The same LDWF table also lists the fall opening as September 1, so check LDWF before keeping one in August.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Bay
Bastian Bay and Grand Bayou
Follow black-headed gulls working shrimp for school trout, then hit the eroding grass shorelines for reds, puppy drum and flounder on a high, falling tide.
- Bay
Adams Bay
Current lines in the bay concentrate trout.
- Bay
Bay Jacques, Bayou Coquette and Chicaras area
Open bays off Dry Cypress Bayou with old channels and oyster reefs; stay inside the oyster poles and fish the high tides to save your prop.
- Reef
Sandy Point rigs
Shallow rigs out the mouth of Dry Cypress Bayou for sheepshead, drum and Spanish mackerel when the marsh is buggy or calm.
- Bay
Hospital Bay and Yellow Cotton Bay
The area most people head to after launching around Buras.
- Jetty
Empire Rock Jetties
Live bait on the rocks at the end of the Empire Canal catches trout and reds, plus plenty of hardheads.
- Beach
Shell Island Bay beaches
Late summer topwaters and plastics in the gullies behind the beach; cuts draining the bays on a falling tide stack up trout.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua's Marina (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 309 Buras Boat Harbor Rd, Buras, LA 70041 |
| Delta Marina (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 317 Rose Marie Dr, Buras, LA 70041 |
| Venice Marina (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 237 Sports Marina Rd, Venice, LA 70091 |
| Cypress Cove Marina (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 235 Cypress Cove Rd, Venice, LA 70091 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (4)
- Marina
Joshua's Marina
309 Buras Boat Harbor Rd, Buras, LA 70041
Marina with a boat ramp on Bay Pomme d'Or.
- Marina
Delta Marina
317 Rose Marie Dr, Buras, LA 70041
- Marina
Venice Marina
237 Sports Marina Rd, Venice, LA 70091
Bait, fuel and ice 24/7 plus tackle and marine supplies.
- Marina
Cypress Cove Marina
235 Cypress Cove Rd, Venice, LA 70091
Venice marina with back-down ramps, tackle, fuel, snacks and lodging.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Cajun Fishing Adventures (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Dixie Riverside Charters (Dixie Outfitters) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Paradise Plus Guide Service (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Reel Slippery Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Empire South Pass Tarpon Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
every August in Empire, hosted by Empire Boat Harbor
Faux Pas Lodge Invitational (opens in a new tab)
last weekend in July at Venice Marina
New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
each summer at Cypress Cove Marina in Venice
Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic (opens in a new tab)
end of May, hosted by Cypress Cove Marina with boats also leaving Grand Isle
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Buras, asked and answered
When is the best time to fish Buras for speckled trout?
Trout fish well from March through October, and local guides say spring and early summer are the time for limits. Watch for black-headed gulls working over Bastian Bay and Adams Bay.
How do locals catch redfish around Buras?
Pick a grassy shoreline on the windward side of a cove on a high, falling tide and fish a shrimp-tipped beetle under a popping cork. Reds, puppy drum, sheepshead and flounder all come off the same spots.
Where can I launch a boat near Buras?
Joshua's Marina on Buras Boat Harbor Road has a ramp on Bay Pomme d'Or, and Delta Marina is nearby on Rose Marie Drive. Venice Marina and Cypress Cove Marina in Venice both have back-down ramps.
Can I keep flounder this time of year?
Not from October 15 through November 30. Louisiana closes southern flounder harvest for everyone during that window every year.
Do I need anything extra to keep snapper or other offshore fish?
Yes. Along with Basic and Saltwater licenses you need a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit, unless you are under 18 or a paying charter passenger.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Buras
Sources for this guide (20), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/locations/louisiana/boothville-venice/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/louisiana/buras (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/louisiana/buras/seasonality?sport=1 (opens in a new tab)
- dixieriversidecharters.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- venicemarina.com/services (opens in a new tab)
- wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/saltwater-seasons-limits (opens in a new tab)
- wlf.louisiana.gov/news/2026-state-gag-grouper-season-to-open-september-1-and-close-october (opens in a new tab)
- cajunfishingadventures.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- explorelouisiana.com/articles/fishing/fishing-offshore-charter-adventure-venice (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- howsyourriver.com/access_sites/marina-21 (opens in a new tab)
- louisianasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/bastian-bay-blast-best-bets-for-port-sulphu (opens in a new tab)
- louisianasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/bays-bayous-buras/ (opens in a new tab)
- plaqueminesparishtourism.com/business-directory (opens in a new tab)
- plaqueminesparishtourism.com/fishing-rodeos (opens in a new tab)
- wlf.louisiana.gov/news/flounder-season-set-to-close-october-15-to-november-30-for-commerci (opens in a new tab)
- wlf.louisiana.gov/news/rec-red-snapper-season-reopens-for-two-fourday-periods (opens in a new tab)
- wlf.louisiana.gov/page/red-snapper (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Buras
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.