Port guide / Louisiana / Louisiana

Venice fishing guide

Venice sits on the Mississippi River delta, where a maze of passes, canals and bays runs out to the Gulf. Inshore, locals work the bays and beaches at the ends of South Pass, Pass a Loutre and Southwest Pass for bull reds and big speckled trout. Offshore, the rigs, the Midnight Lump and deep blue water hold yellowfin and blackfin tuna, wahoo, snapper and billfish, which is why people call it Tuna Town.

Conditions now
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

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.

NOAA tides, Pilottown, LA (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Pilots Station East, S.W. Pass, LA (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Boothville, LA to Southwest Pass out 20 nm (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Venice. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Venice. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
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
Yellowfin tuna	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Blackfin tuna	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Wahoo	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak
Red snapper	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Mahi mahi	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good
Tarpon	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good
Cobia	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Sheepshead	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good

Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Bull reds are here all year; fish the green water at the pass ends and the bays east of South Pass, and look for the big bulls to push inshore in October.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Speckled trout
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Big trout stack in the bays and beaches at the pass ends in May and west of Southwest Pass by June; cocahoes or plastics about 18 inches under a popping cork is the local rig.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Yellowfin tuna
Peak: May, June, July, August, September, October
Fish the deep rigs in summer, the shrimp boats in October, and the lumps from late fall into winter, chunking and live baiting up current.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Blackfin tuna
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Caught around the deep rigs in summer and near the shrimp boats in October along with yellowfin.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Wahoo
Peak: January, February, November, December
Winter is wahoo time around the Midnight Lump when the weather lets you get out there.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Caught on the offshore rigs; you can only keep them during the Louisiana season, so check LDWF before you run.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mahi mahi
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
An offshore summer fish that starts showing up in numbers around July.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
Tarpon show up in summer close to the Venice marinas, with fish to 200 pounds possible.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Inshore and nearshore guides target cobia along with tripletail around the nearshore rigs.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Bite inshore through the summer along with black drum.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

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.
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)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

South of the Louisiana saltwater line you need a Saltwater License on top of the Basic Fishing License.
A Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) is required to possess offshore species such as snappers, groupers, amberjacks, tunas, cobia, wahoo and dolphinfish. Anglers under 18 and paying charter passengers are exempt; charter captains need a Charter ROLP.
Red drum harvest is prohibited in federal waters, and charter and headboat retention of red drum is prohibited.
Charter captains and crew may not keep speckled trout, red snapper, greater amberjack or groupers.
Federal waters rules differ from state rules; LDWF points anglers to the Gulf Council for federal seasons.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Pass
South Pass and Pass a Loutre pass ends
In May the bays and beaches at the ends of the passes are the best bet for big trout and reds; cuts draining the interior bays on a falling tide stack up trout.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pass
West of Southwest Pass
By June the water west of Southwest Pass fishes much better than in May.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Blind Bay, Redfish Bay and Garden Island Bay
Big bays east of South Pass that hold big spawning trout; go in with a plan.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Breton Sound islands (Belle Island, Iron Banks, Stone Island)
Good early in the morning in summer, but crowded on weekends.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Jetty
Empire Rock Jetties
Rock jetties that hold trout and reds, though hardhead catfish can be a nuisance.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Block 69 rigs
Rigs past the river passes known for big trout; watch for snags that hang lures.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Midnight Lump (Sackett Bank)
A salt dome rising to about 200 feet that draws tuna and wahoo from fall into winter.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Venice
Name	Type	Fee	Where
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
Joshua's Marina (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	309 Buras Boat Harbor Rd., Buras, LA 70041

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Venice
Shop	Where	Phone
Venice Marina (opens in a new tab)	237 Sports Marina Rd., Venice, LA 70091	(504) 534-9357
B&B Tackle Shop (opens in a new tab)	7614 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, LA	504-347-4012

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Venice
Charter	Fishing
Tuna Town Fishing (Intensity Offshore Outfitters) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Voodoo Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Venice Outdoors (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Southeast Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Venice Charters Unlimited (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic (opens in a new tab)
spring, based at Cypress Cove Marina with boats also leaving Grand Isle
2026: May 4 to 6 (tournament days on the official scoring site)
Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic (opens in a new tab)
late May at Cypress Cove Marina
2026: May 26 to 31
Faux Pas Lodge Invitational (opens in a new tab)
usually the last weekend in July at Venice Marina
Empire South Pass Tarpon Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
usually August, hosted by Empire Boat Harbor
New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament (opens in a new tab)
summer at Cypress Cove Marina, a leg of the Louisiana Champions Cup
2026: August 20 to 23

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Venice, asked and answered

When is the best time to fish Venice for speckled trout?

Trout fish well from March through October. In May the bays and beaches at the ends of South Pass and Pass a Loutre are the place to start, and by June the water west of Southwest Pass gets much better.

When can I keep red snapper out of Venice in 2026?

The Louisiana private recreational and state charter season opened May 1, 2026, closed August 9, and reopened August 27 to 30 and September 4 to 7 before closing until further notice. Check LDWF for any later changes.

When is tuna season out of Venice?

Yellowfin are caught most of the year. Summer around the deep rigs, October near the shrimp boats, and late fall into winter around the Midnight Lump are the classic patterns.

Where can I launch a boat in Venice?

Venice Marina on Sports Marina Road and Cypress Cove Marina both have ramps, and Joshua's Marina in Buras has one too. Call ahead about fees.

Do I need anything extra to keep snapper or tuna?

Yes. On top of your Basic and Saltwater licenses you need a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit to possess offshore species like snapper, grouper, amberjack and tuna, unless you are under 18 or a paying charter passenger.

90 ft, the kit