ANGLERS ENJOY WHAT MAY BE THE LAST OFFSHORE FISHING DAYS

Janie Roger
September 27, 2018
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Janie Roger
September 27, 2018
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The Gulf of Mexico was so smooth at times this past week that it looked like glass.


And Cole Adorns took full advantage, getting out on the water in search of some of the big fish that swim in the salty waters about 10-15 miles off the coast.

“We don’t have many more days left like this,” Adams said. “We have to take advantage now as best we can.”

While Hurricane Florence soaked the Carolines and a few other tropical disturbances affected the Caribbean, Louisiana remained dry as a jet stream dip brought dear skies for most of the past week— one last burst of summer before the calendar flipped to fall over the weekend.


It was hot no doubt. Adams was dripping with sweat last Wednesday as he navigated his boat onto his trailer.

But the fish were there, too. He and his fleet loaded up with tuna — enough fish to fill the storage on the vessel.

“When it gets to October, we will get those cold fronts, you knew?” Adams said. “Wheal that happens, the seas rise and it becomes too rough to get offshore. Actually, sometimes, we start to Bee that happen a little bit in September. But this year, it looks like summer is going to hang around a little bit, so we’re going to enjoy it while we can. We know the weather will turn back in the other direction sooner, rather than later.”


The Adams’ took their boat well offshore, but one didn’t have to do all that to find ways to catch fish.

Closer to shore in both Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, speckled trout are starting to change their schooling patterns with autumn coming. The fish have senses which tell them that the seasons are changing, so they swim along the interior; which brings them literally into the lap of area fishermen.

Houma native Joe Ross said lately, it’s been too warm for that pattern to truly develop. But in the coming weeks, the fish will school closer to shore and will be able to he caught in abundance along the roadside off La. Highway 1 on the way to Grand Isle or in the passes.


Ross said his son kayaks and has also caught some massive redfish in recent weeks.

“The trout are waiting for the first cold front,” Ross said. “We haven’t had it yet, but we all know it’s coming. When it does, we will be able to rack up. Until then, we’re seeing a lot of reds and a lot of big, beautiful fish. You have to work to get them. They’ll fight you and it’s hot out there, so if s sometimes a struggle. But the fish are out there and they are big.”

In southern Terrebonne Parish, the pattern is the same as Southern Lafourche with angle just waiting for their first snap of cool weather to pounce on the specks.


In the fresh water reaches of the area, fish are biting, but one had to use strategy to be able to get them.

Houma native Bill Toups said that in Bayou Blade, there are several bass being caught and reports of sac-a-lait are also being made by flatter men.

But the reports are all consistent.


You have to catch these fish before noon — when temperatures are warm and moist but are not yet scolding.

If you wait, fish burrow in deeper, colder waters and they’ll never find your baits.

“You have to get them early. If not. just stay home and save yourself the heat stroke.’1 Taupe said with a laugh. “The fish just won’t stay near the surface when if s that hot They’re there. But they’re doing what we all are doing — trying to find a way to cool down.”


Inland toward Lafourche, anglers have used the dry weather to torch some freshwater perch— especially in the 40-arpent canal.

Just outside of the home of Managing Editor Casey Gisclair, one woman caught a dozen perch in less than an hour using worms and other live baits.

In Bayou Lafourche, anglers are also claiming that the bass are hitting, as well as freshwater cats.


Again, the key is to fish when ifs sensible —avoiding the hottest times of the day.

“We go at 6 a.m,” Galliano man Tom Guidry said. “We’re home before 9. It’s warm, but ifs not bad yet My son goes when he gets home from school at 4:30 or so and he stays out until the sun comes down. The cats are wry active at night, so if you can catch them before moonlight or just after moonlight, you’ll have a lot of luck. Anytime else, and if a too hot.”

Extended forecasts next week call for a typical summer pattern with warm weather, afternoon thunderstorms and humidity.


Fox-8 meteorologist David Bernard said on his nightly broadcast that there is no cold front yet on the horizon, which means this summertime pattern may dip into October.

ANGLERS ENJOY WHAT MAY BE THE LAST OFFSHORE FISHING DAYSANGLERS ENJOY WHAT MAY BE THE LAST OFFSHORE FISHING DAYS