Spring Redfish in Louisiana — Where to Fish This Week

May is arguably the best month of the year to target redfish in Louisiana. Water temperatures sit right in the 68–75°F sweet spot, fish are staging for the spawn, and they're feeding aggressively in the shallow marsh grass. If you've been waiting for the right week to go, this is it.

Why Spring Is Prime Redfish Season

Redfish — channel bass, red drum, whatever you call them — are year-round residents in Louisiana's coastal marshes. But spring fishing is different. Here's why:

• Water temperature: Redfish feed most aggressively between 65–80°F. Spring hits that window perfectly before summer heat pushes fish deeper or into shaded cuts.
• Pre-spawn staging: As water temps climb toward 75°F, redfish begin staging in predictable patterns near the mouths of passes, shell banks, and grassy points — exactly the spots that are accessible by boat or even wade fishing.
• Bait presence: Pogies (menhaden), shrimp, and mullet are moving with the warming water. Where the bait goes, the redfish follow. Spring concentrates bait in the marsh, which concentrates reds in fishable water.
• Visibility: Clear spring skies and lower runoff mean better water clarity than fall or winter. You can actually spot tailing and cruising fish in the shallows.

Bottom line: spring redfish are shallow, aggressive, and predictable. You don't need to be an expert — you need to be in the right spot.

Top 5 Spots for Louisiana Redfish Right Now

1. Delacroix Marsh (St. Bernard Parish)

Delacroix is the go-to for southeast Louisiana redfish. The marsh system between Lake Lery and Lake Borgne holds massive numbers of fish in spring. Focus on the grass flats on the north side of Bayou Dupre and the shell ridges along the MRGO. At first light, you'll find reds tailing in water so shallow the dorsal fin is out. This is wade-friendly if you have the right tidal timing — fish an incoming tide for the best shots at shallow fish.

Best areas: Lake Lery flats, Bayou Bienvenue cuts, shell pads near Hopedale Marina

Access: Delacroix Marina, Hopedale Marina

2. Venice / Pass à Loutre (Plaquemines Parish)

Venice is the redfish capital of the Gulf Coast, and spring is when it earns that title. The lower delta marsh holds schools of redfish that haven't seen heavy pressure all winter. Target the back lakes behind Head of Passes — Redfish Bay, Lake Washington, and the cuts behind Ostrica Lock. Schools of 20–50 fish working grass edges are common in May. Run light (20 lb braid) and plan for early morning starts to beat the wind.

Best areas: Redfish Bay, the Jump, Tiger Pass

Access: Venice Marina

3. Houma / Terrebonne Marsh

If you want numbers over size, the Terrebonne marsh between Cocodrie and Dularge delivers. Spring floods the back ponds with bait and concentrates reds in the connecting bayous and canal mouths. This is a great area for anglers who don't want a 2-hour boat ride — the fish are close to launch ramps and the marsh is accessible even for 16-foot boats. Focus on the canals draining into Terrebonne Bay and Lake Barre at low tide.

Best areas: Lake Barre cuts, Bayou DuLarge, Cocodrie area flats

Access: Cocodrie Marina, Dularge boat launches

4. Calcasieu Lake (Southwest Louisiana)

Calcasieu Lake — "Big Lake" to locals — is one of the most productive estuary systems in North America. In spring, redfish move from the Gulf into the lake through Calcasieu Pass and spread across the shallow grass flats. The east side of the lake near Big Lake and the shell pads south of I-10 hold fish consistently. This is also one of the few places in Louisiana where wade fishing and kayak fishing are genuinely productive for reds — the flats are firm enough to walk.

Best areas: East Cove Road flats, north end near Prien Lake, Calcasieu Pass mouth

Access: Lake Charles area ramps, Hackberry Rod & Gun

5. Grand Isle / Barataria Pass

Grand Isle sits at the intersection of the open Gulf and Louisiana's barrier island system. In spring, redfish stack in the passes between the islands — Barataria Pass, Caminada Pass — feeding on the bait being pushed by tide changes. The south side of Grand Isle has jetties and shell pads that hold resident fish year-round, but spring tides concentrate them. The Barataria Bay marsh system behind Grand Isle is also loaded with spring reds in the marsh grass.

Best areas: Barataria Pass north bank, Caminada Pass jetties, Grand Isle State Park flats

Access: Grand Isle Marina, Fourchon boat launches

Tackle Setup for Spring Redfish

Spring reds in shallow water don't require complicated gear. Three setups cover 95% of situations:

Popping Cork + Live Shrimp (The Standard)

A popping cork rigged 18–24 inches above a size 1/0 kahle hook with a live shrimp is the most consistent redfish rig in Louisiana. Pop it twice, pause 3–4 seconds, repeat. Fish hear the surface commotion and come investigate. Use a 1/4 oz slip cork for calm days and a heavier rattling cork in wind or chop.

Gold Johnson Spoon (The Search Bait)

When you're covering water looking for fish, a gold 3/4 oz Johnson Silver Minnow spoon is unbeatable. It's weedless, it casts forever on light tackle, and it triggers reaction strikes from fish that aren't actively feeding. Slow-roll it just above the grass tips. This is the "redfish in the marsh" bait that's been working for 50 years for a reason.

Soft Plastics on a 1/4 oz Jig Head

When fish are pressured or in clear water, downsize to a 3-inch paddle tail on a 1/4 oz jig head. White, chartreuse, or root beer. Swim it slow with a slight lift-and-drop. This is the finesse option when reds won't commit to the spoon.

Current Regulations (Check Before You Go)

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) regulations for redfish in inside waters:

• Size limit: 16–27 inch slot (total length)
• Daily bag limit: 5 fish per person
• License required: Basic fishing license + saltwater endorsement

Note: Regulations can change. Always verify current limits at wlf.louisiana.gov before you fish. Oversized redfish ("bull reds" over 27 inches) must be released.

One More Thing

These spots are only useful if you know what the fish are doing right now. Tide stage, wind direction, water clarity, and pressure changes affect everything. A spot that was on fire Monday can be dead Wednesday if the conditions shifted.

That's exactly what the BayouCast AI Advisor is for — real-time conditions, location-specific reports, and tactical recommendations based on what's actually happening in the water today.