UTERYellowfin tuna fishing in Louisiana Coast
In Louisiana Coast, yellowfin tuna peak October–May and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Venice yellowfin on the shrimp boats and the floaters — the best tuna in the Gulf.
Birds over trout; bulls on the islands. Follow the gulls in the bays; flounder harvest closes for the fall run — check LDWF.
Yellowfin tuna in Louisiana Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeakVenice yellowfin on the shrimp boats and the floaters — the best tuna in the Gulf.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeakBirds over trout; bulls on the islands. Follow the gulls in the bays; flounder harvest closes for the fall run — check LDWF.
- NovemberPeakFall yellowfin on the rigs.
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish yellowfin 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 spots in the The Louisiana Marsh map area — the kinds yellowfin tuna hold on.
What to use for yellowfin tuna
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Opelu (mackerel scad)Bridled live and slow-trolled or drifted down for ahi, ono and marlin; cut for bottom fishing.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 72–84°F water, best at 74–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch yellowfin tuna in Louisiana Coast?
Peak season is October–May. Yellowfin tuna are here year-round. April: Venice yellowfin on the shrimp boats and the floaters — the best tuna in the Gulf.
Where do yellowfin tuna hold in Louisiana Coast?
Look on wreck — around Lake Charles, Cameron, Cocodrie, Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, Lafitte.
What is the best bait for yellowfin tuna in Louisiana Coast?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), menhaden (pogies), threadfin herring (greenbacks), opelu (mackerel scad). Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for yellowfin 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 yellowfin tuna · The Louisiana Marsh, the whole year