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Port guide / Louisiana / Louisiana
Cameron fishing guide
Cameron sits at Calcasieu Pass, where the Calcasieu Ship Channel runs out of Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) into the Gulf between two rows of jetties about a mile long. Locals fish those rocks for redfish all year and for bull reds and big black drum in late summer and fall, work the lake reefs that drop into the ship channel and West Cove for speckled trout, and fish the beaches toward Holly Beach and the closer Gulf rigs when the wind lies down. Compared with Sabine Pass, the next guide west, this is Louisiana water with Louisiana licenses and seasons, the estuary is Calcasieu Lake rather than Sabine Lake, and live bait is hard to come by at the jetties, so most people bring fresh dead or frozen shrimp.
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 Cameron. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Calcasieu Pass, LA (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Cameron. 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: 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 Cameron. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speckled trout | Slow | Good | Slow | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Slow | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Southern flounder | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
Speckled trout
Peak: April, August, October
October is the best month on the lake reefs along the ship channel with live or plastic shrimp under a popping cork, West Cove is the April spot, and in August they hold along the jetties in the prettiest water.
Redfish
Peak: August, October, November
Reds are on the Cameron Jetties year round; bull reds over 20 pounds show up by the end of August and hang through November, and they eat crabs, mullet, croakers or pogies on the bottom.
Black drum
Giant black drum hold on the Calcasieu Pass jetties in fall and take whole or half crabs on the bottom.
Sheepshead
Fish any barnacle-covered structure, including the jetty rocks, with live or fresh shrimp, small crabs or fiddlers.
Southern flounder
In fall they gather at the mouths of marsh drains on a falling tide, but Louisiana closes flounder harvest October 15 through November 30.
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. Bag limit and dates 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 again September 7 until further notice. Does not cover federally permitted charter boats.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Louisiana state waters
Open September 1 to 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)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Jetty
Cameron Jetties
Two rows of rocks about a mile long line Calcasieu Pass; fish the clearest water, inside along the channel on a weak falling tide or outside toward the ends for bigger reds.
- Reef
Calcasieu Lake reefs along the ship channel
In fall, specks gather on reefs at the lake edge that drop off into the Calcasieu Ship Channel, best when the tide is moving.
- Bay
West Cove
On the west side of Calcasieu Lake, the go-to April spot for speckled trout.
- Beach
Beaches and rocks toward Holly Beach and Johnson Bayou
When the wind dies down, fish the beaches; shrimp get thick around the rocks toward Johnson Bayou and Holly Beach.
- Offshore
Closer Gulf rigs
On calm days the nearer rigs in the Gulf are another option for trout.
- Marsh
Marsh drains around the estuary
On a falling tide, reds and flounder stack at the mouths of small drains that empty the marsh ponds.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ferry Landing (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Calcasieu Ship Channel near Cameron (N 29.80461, W 93.34913) |
| Dugas Landing (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Calcasieu Ship Channel and Lake Calcasieu (N 29.966919, W 93.342184) |
| Hackberry Boat Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Calcasieu Ship Channel and Lake Calcasieu, Hackberry (N 29.987810, W 93.337843) |
| Grand Chenier Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Mermentau River, Grand Chenier (N 29.769171, W 92.975478) |
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 (2)
Showing all 2 shops
- MarinaLive bait
Hackberry Fishing Camp and Marina
Bait: live bait
260 Channel Dr., Hackberry, LA 70645
Marina with a live bait shop, boat stall rentals, fishing charters, lodges and non-ethanol fuel from a dockside pump.
- Store
Hackberry Rod and Gun Dock Shop
485 Lake Breeze Drive, Hackberry, LA 70645
Lodge dock shop selling fishing and hunting apparel; its photo gallery also shows lures, reels and coolers.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Hackberry Rod and Gun (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Big Lake Guide Service (Capts. Jeff, Mary and Nick Poe) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Fishing Tom Guide Service (Tom Adams) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Cameron, asked and answered
When is the best time to fish Cameron for speckled trout?
October is the best month, on the lake reefs along the ship channel with live or plastic shrimp under a popping cork. West Cove is the April spot, and in August trout hold along the jetties in the prettiest water.
When do bull reds show up at the Cameron Jetties?
Redfish are on the jetties all year, but bull reds over 20 pounds arrive by the end of August and hang around through November. Fish crabs, mullet, croakers or pogies on the bottom.
Can I get live bait near the Cameron Jetties?
Live bait is hard to come by at the jetties, so most people bring fresh dead or frozen shrimp. Hackberry Fishing Camp and Marina, up the lake in Hackberry, runs a live bait shop.
Can I keep flounder at Cameron in the fall?
Not from October 15 through November 30. Louisiana closes southern flounder harvest statewide for all anglers during that window every year.
Which NOAA station gives tides and water temperature for Cameron?
Use Calcasieu Pass, station 8768094. It has tide predictions and also reports water temperature and wind.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Cameron
Sources for this guide (14), last checked 2026-10-27
- assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/lakecharles/2014_Fish_Guide_up (opens in a new tab)
- hackberryrodandgun.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- hackberryrodandgun.com/info/dock-shop/ (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)
- biglakeguideservice.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- explorelouisiana.com/lodging/cabins-cottages/hackberry-fishing-camp-marina (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/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- louisianasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/cameron-jetties-are-a-magnet-for-fish/ (opens in a new tab)
- louisianasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/redfish-are-ripe-for-the-catching-at-the-ca (opens in a new tab)
- louisianasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/speckled-trout/load-the-boat-at-calcasieu-l (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 Cameron
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.