UTERTarpon fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, tarpon peak July–September and are around June–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Tarpon rolling off Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and the Mississippi River mouths; the Tarpon Rodeo month.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tarpon in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArrivingFirst fish off Grand Isle and the Barataria passes.
- JulyPeakTarpon rolling off Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and the Mississippi River mouths; the Tarpon Rodeo month.
- AugustPeakPeak off the barrier beaches and the river passes; live mullet or pogies.
- SeptemberPeakFish move south and west ahead of the fronts.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is July–September. Tarpon are in Louisiana Coast June–October. July: Tarpon rolling off Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and the Mississippi River mouths; the Tarpon Rodeo month.
Where do tarpon hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for tarpon in Louisiana Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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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