UTERBlackfin tuna fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, blackfin tuna peak October–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Blackfin on the rigs and the shrimp boats.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blackfin tuna in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakClear-water reds in the ponds; trout in the deep bayous. Sight-cast reds with a spinnerbait on calm days; slow plastics in the canals and at the trestles.
- FebruaryPeakBlackfin on the rigs and the shrimp boats.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeakTrout to the trestles and Big Lake; reds to the ponds. Pontchartrain trestles and the Calcasieu wade flats; reds in the clear ponds.
Where to fish blackfin tuna near Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie
Millions of acres of marsh, ponds and bayous — Calcasieu, Barataria, Terrebonne, Lake Pontchartrain, Breton and Chandeleur sounds — fringed by barrier islands at Grand Isle, Elmer's and the Chandeleurs, the Mississippi River passes at Venice, and thousands of oil and gas platforms from the beach to blue water.
Fish Scouter charts 1,239 wreck, 438 artificial reef spots in the The Louisiana Marsh map area — the kinds blackfin tuna hold on.
What to use for blackfin tuna
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–86°F water, best at 74–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blackfin tuna in Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is October–April. Blackfin tuna are here year-round. February: Blackfin on the rigs and the shrimp boats.
Where do blackfin tuna hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on wreck, artificial reef — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for blackfin tuna in Louisiana Coast?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), goggle-eyes. Pilchards (whitebait): Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for blackfin tuna in Louisiana Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and change — read the current rule at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-fishing-licenses-and-permits.
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All about blackfin tuna · The Louisiana Marsh, the whole year