Low River, Big Redfish: Fall Fishing Starts Early
Welcome to this week’s Louisiana Delta Fishing Report, covering New Orleans, Venice, Hopedale/Delacroix, Grand Isle, Houma, and everywhere in between. Host Andre’ Savoie talks with Capt. Louis “Rok” Rossignol of Venice Guide Service about an early fall fishing pattern developing around Venice and Capt. Chris Faler of Southern Outdoor Bowfishing about extremely low water, redfish, and late-summer bowfishing around Hopedale and Shell Beach.
Capt. Louis explains how an unusually low Mississippi River has cleared the water around Venice and brought redfish and speckled trout much closer to the river earlier than normal. He covers targeting redfish along flats, grass beds, canals, and areas with moving water using live shrimp under popping corks, while trout are already showing up in areas that normally produce later in the fall. Louis believes the low river has accelerated the seasonal transition and could set up an early fall bite heading into September. He also remembers longtime Hell Divers Spearfishing Club member and mentor Terry “Papa Smurf” Megard, sharing stories from more than four decades of diving together and Megard’s legendary 407-pound sand tiger shark.
Capt. Chris breaks down how weeks of persistent west winds have pushed water out of the Hopedale and Shell Beach marshes, leaving ponds and shallow areas extremely low and forcing anglers to adjust where they look for fish. He recommends concentrating on deeper shorelines, canal mouths, drains, rocks, and other areas that continue to hold enough water for redfish and sheepshead. Chris also explains why low water can create excellent bowfishing opportunities, how groups of redfish are concentrating in certain areas, and how moon phases can change fish behavior after dark. With sunset coming earlier and seasonal winds expected to eventually shift, he expects bowfishing conditions and fish locations to continue changing as South Louisiana moves into fall.
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