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It’s hard to fish when it’s raining every, single day.
But this past week, the weather cleared up and anglers boasted that they had fruitful catches – both in inshore and offshore waters.
Local anglers said this week that fish are plentiful – the problem is that there haven’t been many good days to fish because of the consistent rains of the past few weeks.
The forecast for this week calls for hit or miss weather with precipitation often expected in the 50-60 percent range each day. Forecasts say the weather will be clearer during the morning, with conditions changing to overcast in the afternoon, thanks to daytime heating, which often sparks the rain.
That should mean fruitful early-day catches – especially near Leeville, Fourchon and Grand Isle – all spots where anglers have recently reported great days.
“There are more fish than there are fishermen,” said Tommy Collins, a Larose native who fishes around the area several times a week. “Our challenge right now is Mother Nature. We had a stretch where it rained almost all day long for four or five days in a row. Then, we had a couple days where the wind wanted to cut you in half. When the weather is right, it’s great. And they tell us that it’s about to be more steady, so we’re all looking forward to that.”
SOUTHERN LAFOURCHE/GRAND ISLE
The redfish are really biting in southern Lafourche Parish around Leeville, according to those asked.
Marina workers and anglers in the area said frequent catches have been reported throughout the past several weeks – a typical sighting for this time of the year.
Golden Meadow angler Jimmy Williams said he’s been catching redfish and speckled trout in the marches – even on days with some rain.
He said the fish are feeding on shrimp and other live baits, which can be had at any marina.
“Beautiful, beautiful fish,” Williams said just hours after a successful day on the water. “We don’t have much time to be out there some days, but that’s OK, because if you go at the right time, you don’t need much time to get what you need and get out of the boat.”
A few miles further south on Grand Isle, the wind has been a tease to anglers who are dying to get offshore.
Grand Isle angler Ross Bradberry said the past week was mostly clear, but he couldn’t get out until the weekend because of the conditions.
“It’s too rough,” Bradberry said. “It’s not enjoyable. You’re exhausted by the time you get to do anything. But we’re used to the pattern. We know that once we get a little closer to July, we get fewer fronts and the weather begins to settle down. We look forward to that.”
When able to get out on the water, anglers said they’re catching lots of red snapper – an always popular summer catch.
TERREBONNE PARISH
The same types of fish are available in abundance in Terrebonne.
A group of fishermen at Captain Allen’s Bait and Tackle shop last week said that specks were biting in the southern portion of the parish. Also biting are redfish – some of impressive size.
The hotspots, anglers said, have been in Montegut, where Jimmy Theriot said he had two-straight impressive days last week.
“I went early in the morning and then again around 3 p.m. in the afternoon,” Theriot said. “They were biting. My grandson has been catching in his kayak, as well. He gets into some tight spots in that thing and finds ways to fish them out.”
In the bayous, Theriot said he’s heard reports of anglers catching catfish and even a few bass.
Over toward the northern and western reaches of Terrebonne, waters levels are much higher than normal – a byproduct of rain, which has helped to swell the Atchafalaya River significantly in recent weeks.
High water levels are sometimes a death knell for fishermen, but Mark Gros said it hasn’t been a huge issue lately.
“We’re catching whatever we want,” Gros said. “It’s not been a factor at all.” •
Tommy Badeaux shows off this nice snapper he caught recently. The snapper are biting, according to anglers who said the only thing stopping plentiful catches right now is the weather.
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