UTERFlounder fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, flounder peak May and October–November and are around March–December, spawning in November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. October: Fish move to the passes and outer islands; Louisiana closes harvest during the fall run — check LDWF.
Fish move to the passes and outer islands; Louisiana closes harvest during the fall run — check LDWF.
Flounder in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArriving
- AprilArrivingFlounder on the marsh drains and bayou mouths.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberArrivingBull reds spawn at the passes and the Chandeleurs. Cracked crab or cut mullet for bulls; trout move back into the bays.
- OctoberPeakFish move to the passes and outer islands; Louisiana closes harvest during the fall run — check LDWF.
- NovemberSpawningStacked at the passes and the beaches on the way out to spawn.
- DecemberLeaving
Where to fish flounder 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.
What to use for flounder
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader20–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–2/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 54–82°F water, best at 60–75°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch flounder in Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is May and October–November, with fish spawning in November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Flounder are in Louisiana Coast March–December. October: Fish move to the passes and outer islands; Louisiana closes harvest during the fall run — check LDWF.
Where do flounder hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on channel edge, dock / pilings, pass / inlet, beach / surf — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for flounder in Louisiana Coast?
Live bait: mud minnows (killifish), finger mullet, live shrimp, pinfish. Mud minnows (killifish): Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait. Tackle: leader 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–2/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for flounder 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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