Fall Fishing in Louisiana — Redfish, Flounder & the Duck Season Overlap

September through November is the best stretch of the Louisiana fishing calendar. Bull reds stack on the coast. Flounder gigging season opens. Speckled trout come back shallow as water temperatures drop. And if you know where to look, you can be on redfish at dawn and duck hunting that same evening within a quarter mile — something only Louisiana can offer.

Why Fall Changes Everything in Louisiana Waters

Louisiana fall is not a slow transition — it's a flip. Water temps drop from the brutal 85°F+ of August into the 60s and 70s by November. Fish that were lethargic and pushed into deep water in summer reverse course and flood back into the marshes, the bayous, and the coastal flats. The first cool front — even a weak one — triggers one of the most reliable feeding frenzies of the year.

September through early October is the bull redfish run along Louisiana's coast. Fish that spent the summer offshore making babies stage at the jetties, passes, and nearshore structure before moving into the bays. October brings the first true cold front and sends speckled trout back to the shallows in big numbers. November is flounder gigging season — the water is cool enough for night work and flounder are stacked in the bays and coastal flats.

The window is wide: September, October, and November. But every week matters — each cold front reshapes where the fish are, and the spots that fire in late September are often done by November while other spots are just getting started.

Bull Redfish Run — September Along the Coast

The bull redfish run is Louisiana's premier fall event. Oversized redfish — fish over the 27-inch slot limit — congregate on coastal structure as water temperatures start to drop. These are 30–60 lb fish that aren't interested in small baits. They want live menhaden (pogies), large mullet, or big artificial baits.

Best times: Early fall (mid-September through mid-October); outgoing tide stages, dawn and dusk
Best spots: Calcasieu Pass jetties, Grand Isle jetties, Barataria Pass, Southwest Pass near Venice, the Caminada Pass area
Tactics: Heavy conventional or baitcasting gear — 7-foot medium-heavy rod, 50–80 lb braid, 60 lb fluoro leader, 7/0 circle hook. Chum with live pogies at the passes. Keep the bait on the bottom in the channel. These fish eat on the tide, not on the slack.

LDWF regulation: Bull reds (over 27 inches) must be released. Slot reds 16–27 inches: 5 per day.

Speckled Trout — Back in the Shallows

Fall is speckled trout season in Louisiana. As water temps break below 75°F, trout flood back into the shallow bays and marsh edges where they fed in spring. The difference: fall trout are generally bigger, more aggressive, and willing to chase artificials after a summer of mostly live bait fishing.

Best times: First light to mid-morning; late afternoon through dusk. Fall trout bite all day in better conditions than summer trout.
Best spots: Lake Borgne and the Rigolets, Delacroix marsh, Calcasieu Lake (east side shell pads), Barataria Bay, Lake Pontchartrain seawall
Tactics: After a cold front: a 1/4 oz jig with a Cocahoe Minnow in chartreuse or pumpkinseed. Work it slow on the bottom or just under a popping cork. Before a front (barometric pressure dropping): topwater plugs fire and you can catch trout on the surface — MirrOlure She Dogs, Rapala Skitter Pops, and similar walking baits work well in the early morning.

LDWF limit: 25 speckled trout per day, 12-inch minimum. Verify zone-specific rules at wlf.louisiana.gov.

Flounder Gigging Season — October and November

Flounder gigging is one of the most uniquely Louisiana fishing experiences — and fall is the season. Cool nights drop water temps enough to make night gigging practical and productive. A shallow-draft boat, a bright LED light, and a flounder gig is all the gear you need for some of the best eating in the Gulf.

Best times: After dark (10pm–2am peak), especially on calm nights with a rising tide
Best spots: Grand Isle flats, Grand Terre Island shallows, Port Sulphur back bays, Venice area marsh, the shallow flats near Leeville
Tactics: Pole quietly in 6–18 inches of water. Scan with a bright LED or propane light. Flounder hold flat against sandy or muddy bottom — you see eyes and a slight outline before the fish bolts. A 1/4-inch gig tip does the rest cleanly. Move slowly; noise and vibration spook flounder in shallow water.

LDWF limit: 10 flounder per day, 12-inch minimum. Recreational gigging permitted with valid license.

Sheepshead — Fall Bite at the Bridges and Docks

Sheepshead fishing in Louisiana peaks in fall when the fish move to bridge pilings, dock structures, and rocky breakwaters to feed on barnacles and fiddler crabs. They're not flashy, but they're reliable, they're good eating, and they show up when other species are hit or miss.

Best spots: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway pilings, Chef Menteur Pass bridge, Bayou Lafourche bridges near the mouth, the Twin Spans between Slidell and Lake Pontchartrain north shore
Tactics: Fiddler crabs on a 1/0 hook fished tight to the piling or riprap. No bobber — let it sit. Sheepshead are nibblers; set the hook on any weight change. 15 lb mono, medium spinning tackle.

5 Fall Fishing Spots Worth the Drive

1. Delacroix / Hopedale (St. Bernard Parish)

The Delacroix marsh complex fires in fall in a different way than spring. The bull reds show up later (October) than the slot reds, and the trout move back to the channel edges as nights get cool. Push-pole into the marsh at first light for slot reds before the sun hits the water. See our spring redfish guide for full access details — same water, different timing.

2. Grand Isle (Jefferson Parish)

Grand Isle delivers across the full fall spectrum: bull reds on the jetties in September, flounder gigging on the flats October through November, sheepshead on the beach rocks, and speckled trout in the passes as water temps drop. Our coastal spots guide covers access and gear requirements. Grand Isle State Park is free to access — no boat needed for surf fishing and the flounder flats are wadeable.

3. Lake Pontchartrain Seawall (Lakeshore Drive)

The seawall from the New Orleans marina north toward the Causeway is one of the most consistent fall bank-fishing spots in the state. Falling water temps in September and October push trout and redfish to the wall structure in large numbers. The best bite is early morning on a falling tide. Bring a popping cork, a live shrimp (or artificial imitation), and dress warm — October nights on the lake can be raw.

4. Calcasieu Lake — East Side (Cameron Parish)

Calcasieu runs different from the east side of the state. The bull reds stack on the Calcasieu Pass jetties in September, the shell pad edges hold trout through October, and the east-side marsh grass flats produce slot reds into November. If you're coming from Lake Charles or Lafayette, this is the most productive stretch in the region. Charter boats book fast in October — reserve early.

5. Venice / Southwest Pass (Plaquemines Parish)

Venice is the complete fall experience: bull reds at the jetties in September and October, speckled trout in the coastal bays as temps drop, flounder in the back bays, and offshore fishing (tuna, wahoo, snapper) a 45-minute run into the Gulf. It's a commitment — 90 minutes from New Orleans — but October Venice is as good as Louisiana gets.

The Duck Season Overlap — Louisiana's Secret

Here's what makes Louisiana fall fishing uniquely American: duck season opens in the same marshes where you caught redfish that morning.

The state's best fishing marshes are also its best duck hunting grounds. The same Delacroix system, the same Venice back bays, the same Calcasieu Lake marshes — these places are waterfowl habitat first and fishing destinations second. Opening day of duck season (typically the first Saturday in November) is a social event in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Cameron parishes.

For the angler-duck hunter, the calendar matters. October fishing is peak before duck season opens; November fishing shifts to early-morning sessions that don't conflict with hunting. December and January are the heart of the duck season but the fishing slows as water temps drop and fish move deeper.

The overlap spots:

• Delacroix / Hopedale marsh: Redfish and speckled trout fishing, plus one of the most productive duck hunting areas in the state. Waterfowl hunters launch from the same marinas anglers use.
• Venice back bays: Both redfish habitat and prime gadwall and mallard water. Same boat, same morning — fish until 8am, set decoys by 10am.
• Calcasieu Lake marshes: Salt marsh duck hunting (primarily teal, gadwall, pintail) overlaps with excellent fall redfish fishing on the east side.
• Grand Isle / Elmer's Island: Duck hunting on the beach side while fishing the Gulf side. Blue-winged teal early season, then puddle ducks in the marshes behind the beach.
• Lake Verret / Atchafalaya Basin: For the angler willing to go inland — excellent freshwater fall fishing (bass, crappie) plus some of the best mallard and gadwall hunting in the state once waterfowl season opens.

Planning tip: book October fishing trips first (pre-duck season peak), then shift to early-morning fishing once duck season opens in November. The fishing doesn't stop — it just starts earlier.

Fall LDWF Regulations — What to Know

Louisiana's core fishing regulations remain consistent through fall, but key reminders for September–November:

• Redfish: 5 per day, 16–27 inch slot. Bull reds (over 27 inches) must be released immediately — no exceptions.
• Speckled Trout: 25 per day, 12-inch minimum. Fall is often the most consistent trout fishing of the year.
• Flounder: 10 per day, 12-inch minimum. Flounder gigging season peaks October–November.
• Sheepshead: No bag limit currently set — verify before your trip.
• License: Louisiana fishing license + saltwater endorsement required for all coastal spots. Basic freshwater license for inland spots (Atchafalaya, Lake Verret).

Always verify current LDWF regulations at wlf.louisiana.gov before your trip — zone-specific rules apply and regulations can change.