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Inshore migration calendar

Louisiana Coast migration calendar.

Gulf CoastLouisiana7 species tracked

Louisiana's marsh holds the highest density of redfish in North America — and one of the most productive speckled trout fisheries to match. Year-round inshore action with strong seasonal patterns: bull reds in fall on the beaches, big trout in deep marsh ponds in winter.

Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year over year with water temperature, weather, and bait movement. Cross-reference with NOAA marine forecast and a local source before planning a trip.

What's running now — May

7 active species

Auto-updated based on the current month. The planning section that matters for trips this week.

Louisiana Coast hotspots

Productive locations
  • Lake Pontchartrain bridges
  • Barataria Pass
  • Grand Isle
  • Vermilion Bay
Active this month
  • TarponPeak
  • Red DrumGood
  • Speckled TroutGood
  • Southern FlounderGood
  • Spanish MackerelGood
  • Jack CrevalleGood

All species — sorted by current month

  • TarponMegalops atlanticus
    Peak
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering fish in southernmost waters. Typical water temp: 58–66°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 60–68°FMar — Fair Earliest northbound fish. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Good Spring run building. Typical water temp: 72–78°FMay — Peak Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJun — Peak Same — biggest fish of the year often hooked. Typical water temp: 82–86°FJul — Good Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 84–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 84–88°FSep — Good Fall migration south building. Typical water temp: 80–84°FOct — Fair Fish departing south. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Possible Last stragglers. Typical water temp: 64–70°FDec — Absent Departed. Typical water temp: 58–64°F
    Best months: May · June

    Peak Gulf tarpon migration — Boca Grande, Homosassa, Panhandle beaches.

    Top lures: Live threadfin herring, Live mullet, Crab patterns (palolo hatch)
    Full Tarpon calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round Gulf resident — winter schools in deep marsh ponds. Typical water temp: 52–62°FFeb — Good Same. Typical water temp: 54–64°FMar — Good Fish spreading back onto flats. Typical water temp: 60–70°FApr — Good Spring fishing strong on flats. Typical water temp: 66–74°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Summer flats and marsh pattern. Typical water temp: 80–86°FJul — Good Hot water — fish on cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–88°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Peak Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall fishing — bull schools on beaches. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Bull schools dispersing. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Winter resident pattern. Typical water temp: 56–64°F
    Best months: September · October

    Same.

    Top lures: Live mullet under popping cork, Cut mullet on bottom, Gold spoons
    Full Red Drum calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Speckled TroutCynoscion nebulosus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Year-round resident. Trophy trout in deep ponds and channels in winter. Typical water temp: 50–60°FFeb — Good Same — slow but quality fishing. Typical water temp: 54–62°FMar — Good Spring movement back to flats. Typical water temp: 60–68°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 64–72°FMay — Good Summer pattern beginning. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Same. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Good Topwater dawn/dusk. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Hot water — early/late. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Cool nights reactivate flats. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Excellent fall fishing. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Same. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Summer pattern beginning.

    Top lures: Soft plastic paddletails on jigheads, MirrOlure suspending plugs, Live shrimp under popping cork
    Full Speckled Trout calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Southern FlounderParalichthys lethostigma
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore. Typical water temp: 52–60°FFeb — Fair Spring movement begins. Typical water temp: 58–64°FMar — Good Spring inshore. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Strong spring fishing. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Same. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Good Summer pattern. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–88°FSep — Good Fall fishing strong. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Fall flounder run — fish staging at passes. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Run continuing — closure likely in TX (verify). Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Possible Most fish offshore. Typical water temp: 54–62°F
    Best months: October

    Same.

    Top lures: Live finger mullet, Live mud minnows, Gulp! shrimp on jighead
    Full Southern Flounder calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Spanish MackerelScomberomorus maculatus
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering offshore — some inshore in warm spells. Typical water temp: 60–68°FFeb — Fair Spring run beginning. Typical water temp: 62–68°FMar — Good Spring run reaching FL Panhandle. Typical water temp: 66–72°FApr — Good Strong spring fishery. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Good Spanish moving west along coast. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Fair Resident summer fish. Typical water temp: 78–84°FJul — Fair Hot water pushes fish to cooler edges. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall return fishery. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Peak Peak fall blitzes on bait. Typical water temp: 72–78°FNov — Good Fish moving south. Typical water temp: 66–72°FDec — Fair Last of fall run. Typical water temp: 60–68°F
    Best months: October

    Spanish moving west along coast.

    Top lures: Clark spoon trolled, Gotcha plugs, Small metal jigs
    Full Spanish Mackerel calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Jack CrevalleCaranx hippos
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Possible Wintering on warm structure. Typical water temp: 56–64°FFeb — Possible Same. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Fair Spring fish arriving. Typical water temp: 64–72°FApr — Good Schools chasing bait. Typical water temp: 70–76°FMay — Good Strong inshore. Typical water temp: 74–80°FJun — Good Summer pattern on flats and beaches. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Good Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall mullet runs trigger blitzes. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Fair Fish moving south. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Possible Wintering pattern. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: No peak month identified

    Strong inshore.

    Top lures: Topwater plugs, Big metal spoons, Live mullet
    Full Jack Crevalle calendar for Louisiana Coast
  • Black DrumPogonias cromis
    Good
    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Good Pre-spawn concentrations forming. Typical water temp: 54–62°FFeb — Peak Spring black drum spawn — fish in passes. Typical water temp: 58–66°FMar — Peak Peak Gulf spawn. Typical water temp: 62–70°FApr — Good Spawn winding down. Typical water temp: 68–76°FMay — Good Resident pattern. Typical water temp: 72–80°FJun — Fair Summer fish on structure. Typical water temp: 80–84°FJul — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FAug — Fair Same. Typical water temp: 82–86°FSep — Good Fall feeding. Typical water temp: 78–84°FOct — Good Same. Typical water temp: 70–78°FNov — Good Pre-spawn movement. Typical water temp: 62–70°FDec — Good Pre-spawn concentration. Typical water temp: 56–62°F
    Best months: February · March

    Resident pattern.

    Top lures: Whole blue crab on bottom, Live shrimp, Cut clam
    Full Black Drum calendar for Louisiana Coast

Month-by-month — top 5 species

Quick reference for trip planning across the year. Each cell shows the typical migration status for that month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Red Drum
Speckled Trout
Black Drum
Southern Flounder
Tarpon
PeakGoodFairPossibleAbsent

Regional notes — top species

Tarpon in Louisiana Coast

Spring Gulf tarpon migration pushes north from the Keys through the Big Bend May–July. Boca Grande, Homosassa, and the Panhandle beaches are flagship locations. Fall departure south September–October.

Red Drum in Louisiana Coast

Year-round resident. Highest density of redfish in North America in Louisiana marsh. Fall bull red run on Gulf beaches September–November.

Speckled Trout in Louisiana Coast

Year-round resident with the trophy population concentrated in Louisiana, Texas Lower Coast, and the Florida Big Bend. Winter trout in deep ponds; summer on flats.

Marine forecast

NOAA Zone GMZ570

Wind, swell, and tide-stage forecasts that drive whether fish are feeding inshore or holding offshore.

State agencies

Bag limits, slot rules, and seasonal closures live with the agencies — verify before keeping fish.

Real-time migration alerts for Louisiana Coast.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data, water temperature readings, and your saved species list together — and alerts you when arrivals reach your home water.

Download Bield: Fish
Nearby regions
Florida Panhandle →Florida Nature Coast & Big Bend →Tampa Bay & Charlotte Harbor →Southwest Florida & Everglades →Alabama & Mississippi Coast →All regions →