On any weekend right now there is alot more 'weekend fishermen' out there than guides and everyone is catching right now!
The fish are doing what they do and you get a couple days of fast limits then you'll get a 'slow' day that you have to fish all the way to 11:00 to limit (that shows how spoiled we are down here)! Right now live croakers are doing the best and catching bigger fish but, still on some days they want only plastic? So you don't have to but, it's a good idea to have some croakers with you.
Ain't many secrets out there the fish are at all the normal spots for this time of year and you'll see plenty boats everywhere!

Get out there and get you some!!

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

Thanks for your answer Capt. Elton. I was just woundering if there were plenty fisherman down there or they are just not posting that much. With all the fish being caught there in DuLarge I can imagine the boats, like it is around here in the Larose and Golden Meadow area when the specks are biting.

I think what ranger is getting at is, in our area the guides will always find some fish because of there time on the water, but fishing is spotty in our area and it isnt everyone who will catch. more people will go home empty handed than with any fish, not to say there are no fish, but we have fished the fourchon area our whole lives and do hit some fish but no where near what you guides in dularge post. Just the facts. but one of these weekends i want to try launching out there and give it a shot.

I have a camp on Bayou DeCade and I'm about ready to hire one of these guides!
I've fished down there for over 10 years and I haven't 'loaded my Yeti' like they seem to do every trip.
May be a good investment.

I just moved to Baton Rouge and have fished Dularge and Cocodrie about 4 or 5 times now. I'm just your average weekend warrior and have caught fish on every trip. I haven't limited out every time, and they are not always big trout, but I've never struck out either. All on topwaters and plastics. Love it down there!

I dont fish dularge but I assume if the guides are catching them then you probably are gonna be able to squeeze a couple out on your trips.All you need is know what the patterns are for this time of the year and Im pretty sure you'll catch a few. Here out of myrtle grove just gotta fish the northern borders of barataria bay and you'll get into them. Live bait helps, if not a pearl gulp will also do the trick.

A guide ain't no different than you are, except for maybe spending more time out there than you, he just loves to fish!
You know where you caught last time, start there and MOVE if they ain't biting. And keep moving. We have all had days that were a scatch and then find them at 1 pm and limit by 2 ?? Just cause they are not biting at your first 10 stops don't mean they are not biting anywhere. And that 11th stop might just be back at #1??

Capt E
catchdat.com

Fishing every day and learning the water is the key to success. The guides have the edge over us sports and they know the fish patterns like we know the inside of our offices at work. I know many of the guides personally and you better believe its hard work to stay up with the fish patterns and such. All great guides have this trait in common. Maybe the sports aren't posting what they are catching for whatever reason but I guarantee you that they are out there in the Cocodrie & Dularge waters in full force. Coon Island alone will have 3o plus boats on any given weekend. I've personally seen 100 trucks at Jugs on a Saturday and not counting the other 100 at Falgoust Canal. And BTW guys the best method to find specks in the gulf is run & gun until you find what you're looking for. It may take 3,5 or 10 stops to find fish but if you a guide and it takes 10 stops you probably not doing your homework or in the wrong profession. I do have one question and has anyone heard of Taylors reef near Hellhole Bayou? I know its near the gulf maybe close to Oak Bayou but can't find it on any of the maps.

Taylors Bayou, Hellhole Bayou, Hellhole lake are south of Fidler and west of Junip.

I dont doubt the guides are catching the fish, just woundering what the average is of the local weekenders in that area that fish it.

The average fisherman can easily catch fish in Cocodrie and Dularge. You still need to know how to read the signs. If you will take some time to look at the wind, moon, and tide reports and think about how that affects your water quality you will be ahead of the game. If you are not familiar with this then the best way to learn is to spend a little money and go out with a guide once to see how they do it. Ask them questions about technique not just what their favorite spots are. Learn a little from them and it will go a long way. I have personally fished on several trips with captain Marty, Travis, and Rob and would recommend them all. I have a camp that I rent in Cocodrie and with the rental I always share some spots but it is those who plan ahead according to the forecast who do the best.

Yeah I know the guides will always catch the fish, it's their job and they know the area. Just seemed to me that there was way more fish in the Dularge area with all the easy limits being caught every day down there by Guides. Being on the water every day like they are compaired to a weekend sport fisherman is completely different. We have to take what we can get, being tidal movements, winds blowing 20 kts, rain and lightning. With all the reports of easy limits being caught and the numbers of specks hitting the cleaning table, 'Yeti Coolers' being filled in no time, I thought the fish where so thick that everybody going to DuLare were coming home with easy limits. The Dularge area seems to be the HOT SPOT now a days. Just hope for you guys down there it doesn't get over fished like here in the Larose Sulfur Mine and Cat Fish Bay area. Years ago you could fish here an catch easy limits like Dularge year round, now it's different. Good Luck

I've been watching this thread for a few days and couldn't help but comment. Dularge is a really great place to fish and sure we do have a lot of fish. A lot of thruth has been mentioned above...it's all about patterns and homework! You don't have to be a 'guide' to catch fish or limit out. You have to know when to fish certain areas at certain months of the year. Once learning this in the area you fish, you should be able to target fish better than the average Joe or even recognize when to say 'I'm staying home today' because the winds are up, etc. Trust me when I say this...EVERY charter guide has their 'not so good' days. Some just choose not to mention them or choose to portray a great day no matter what! Some guides in our area don't even post fishing reports. ANY day on the water is a good day in my opinion. One thing I've learned in being a guide...limits are great and a full box of fish is what we hope for, but the customers complete experience on the trip is what it really is all about! Just because a customer limits out on fish, doesn't mean it was the best day or trip of their life. To some it may be watching their child or grandchild catch their first fish! I've fished some customers who could care less if they catch 1 or 100 fish! Some just enjoy what we have in South Louisiana versus other areas. To each his own, but as guides we do strive to catch fish despite tough days or conditions we face the morning of the trip.
There's definitely no shortage of recreational fisherman out there fishing. Just as you mentioned, I would love to see more recreational fishing reports on this site. This would also drown or level out guide's post (like myself) and possibly make more recreational anglers feel comfortable posting their catch on this site too. Just my opinion...

If you want in on some fish, want to learn the area, or simply just want to get out and enjoy what Louisiana has to offer...give me a call and come 'Catch a Good Time'



Capt. Travis Lovell
www.reelingoodcharters.com
985.856.8167

Cajun Coon you are not as old as I am but I remember fishing years ago with my dad and you with your dad in Catfish Bay. We would never cross the bay, man was that a far trip! Also back then the hot bait was a yellow and white shad rig. Hi tech bait back then. The limit was 50 specks per person and no size limit. No problem to come home with 100 specks for a morning of fishing. Now we run 20 to 30 mile trips and have $5.00 top water baits, the latest and greatest in fishing baits and are happy when we catch a few fish to eat. The guys in Dularge are having it good right now, just hope for them it doesn't get there like it is now here.

your right ranger, i miss those days, and gas was under a dollar lol. yea we dont even stop in catfish lake now we just blaze through it with our big bay boats.

15-day-Limit- I rember going out to cat fish Lake, all the fish you could catch. The guy next to you new you and you new them.I going to say it with all the boat out ther the trout or geting harder and harder to find every year.We need LWF to but a 15 a day limit. Sure some will say you don't no how to catch fish. But we or running 30-40-miles to catch them, i gest you could say we or fishing the 4 coners.Let not let it happen like some of our frind in the state next to us check out ther trout limit.Let not wait for the day when our kid kids ask DAD what is a SPECKLE TROUT?

maybe the weekender likes it just the way it is. no reports no fish and nobody else shows up... nah! thats not it. those captains get paid to know where, when and how. seasonal changes, weather, tide,etc.all go in to a good day fishing.
i hope they remember all that when i come down this fall for a trip or two.. oxygen bottles and all.

15 a day limit-Any body, before it's to LATE.

We fish out of Dularge during the week and have no problem putting specks in the boat!! If the Weather is descent, you should have no problem catching fish. I have noticed that during the weekends, the trout are pressured,making it difficult to catch fish.

Hey -brianchicola- were do fish -name of Bay -Lake-ponds around what. Never ben out ther, wood like to give it try,Not that we don't catch fish here, just like to fish a new area.

Hey, speckle_searcher, every trip we make we run over a 100 miles, and one thing I learned is that the trout are where the people are not. Keep your options open, bring plastics, bring live bait. When the weather is descent, we have no problem putting limits in the boat.

Man don't start that dung on this site,we don't 'THINK' we need it, we will listen to the WLF on that subject. Go fish big lake.

THANK's Good to here a true SPORTMAN, It's the same here, Only have to run 30-40 miles.I gest i fish here were i no were the fish or.

WLF?? Anyways it looks like is gonna be a rainy week down in Dularge.

OK--olreprobait-But win your grandkids kids ask dad what's a SPECKLE TROUT - Don't say i did't tell you. Good Fishing to you?-O by the way i will be out of here by that time.

my 22ft kenner with a bad to the bone 250 v-max

my 22ft kenner with a bad to the bone 250 v-max

I am gonna just post facts about me. I have always been a weekend fisherman, and i find that in the golden meadow fourchon area, i am having to run further and further to find some fish. Not everone can run far like we do, I woulk like to see a 15 fish limit in our area for sure. 15 fish for one person is plenty. and for the person that wants to stack the freezer, make more trips and enjoy the outdoors. the guides will be home earlier and will have customers rebooking to come and catch more for the freezer. and we will be helping the trout population. all these fat trout getting slaughtered is awsome for us but thats alot of eggs for our future fishing. this comment is strictly my opinion on my experiences fishing now from when i was a kid. I think alot of people would agree with me but are to afraid to post cause they dont wand to get jumped.

Mr. cajun coon: I too have been following this post, and it is time to comment.

I think your idea is GREAT!!! I think that if you LIVE IN THE AREA YOU FISH, it is great. But I don't, and I don't fish freshwater. And apparently you don't think of others or repercussions, before you make a comment. I am from Houma, and my family is from Lafourche Parish. I live in Baton Rouge. I don't have a boat, and have limited friends with boats. So far this year, out of being able to fish every day, I have gotten to go 1 time. If you think I or others will go down from other places to spend all kinds of money to catch 15 specks, you need to rethink your thoughts. If you do that, you will basically eliminate the fishermen, sporting goods, bait shops, restaurants, fuel sales, motels & cabins, and also the Guides. Imagine paying a guide, what they charge, to go for 15 specks. Everyone is out of business. BUT THE LOCAL FISHERMEN, CAN GO EVERY DAY. WE CAN'T!!! If I get to go 4 times a year, that's a lot. 60 specks a year. Do you really think that is enough for your family? Do you really think you would have a boat note, boat insurance, boat maintenance and upkeep, fuel & oil, etc., to be able to do that?

I am not trying to be ugly, but I really disagree with you.

A Vietnam Vet
Dagoreferee.

Wow! How did a simple question about posting become a PEEING CONTEST about speck limits. So I will put in my 2 cents. Im 54 years old and been fishing since my dad took me on the side of the road in Leeville and caught my first red. I think I was 4 or 5 then. When we got a boat my Dad and I would fish every weekend he was off from work. When I was able I bought my own boat and fished every weekend. I would plan my next trip even before I was done fishing for that day. Fishing has changed a whole lot down here in these past dacades. No limits on red, 50 on specks, no size limits. Go where you wanted to go, no posted signs telling you to keep out. No gates blocking canals to your favorite spot. The Golden Meadow, Larose Sulphur Mine was 'THE SPOT' back then. Easy limits and full Igloo's, no Yeti's back then. Now a days count yourself lucky or blessed in you limit out on specks and reds. We were spoiled by the great fishing these places had to offer. Dularge is the blessed spot right now. Seacher and coon are just telling it how it is. Look at the other coastal state Florida, Alabama and Texas and see there speck and red limits. Not to pretty there guys. We saw first hand what happened here, just pray it does,t happen in Dularge. Sorry for the long post.

rangerz:

I am not trying to make a simple comment into a PEEING CONTEST. I am on site almost every day. Just so I can see fish that other people catch, because I don't have a boat to go. I am 67 years old, and have fished from Grand Isle to Bayou Dularge all my life. I have not had a boat since Hurricane Katrina. Let me re-phrase that. I have not had a boat since it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and haven't had money to repair or replace it. Even before limits, we never depleted the fish. What depleted the fish were the large commercial redfish fishing boats and the gill net fishermen, (Here we go again another argument!) and a couple of freeze's. I know where the fish are, and so do the few people I get to fish with. However, since we are not guides, and don't get to go every day, it is sometimes hit and miss.

Please re-read my first post, and really read what it says. It says 'don't penalize the good, honest recreational fisherman, because others have destroyed it.' A limit of 15 a day, may be good for the guy that lives in Golden Meadow and fishes in Golden Meadow, or the guy that lives in Houma who can fish Monteguet, Point-au-Chien, Cocodrie, Dulac, or Bayou Dularge, or down toward Venice, etc. It is not conducive for people who have to drive 2 hours + to get somewhere to fish. It is not monetarily practical. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, 'Self, am I going to spend $40.00 + in gas for my vehicle, $40.00 + in gas for the boat, drive 4 + hours round trip to catch 15 specks.' And the mirror will will answer you back, 'Duh, No'

I don't criticize the guides who post their boats caught 300, 400, 500 + specks in one day. That is their livelihood. But I will criticize anyone, including LDWF's about lowering the limits. I would like to go and catch enough for my family, and not feel that I was better off buying frozen out of the supermarkets, and enjoy myself at the same time.

And how many times have I been where we were catching 11' to 11 7/8' specks and 15' to 15 1/2' reds. Could have loaded the boat with them, one after the other. Few keepers. Think about that.

dag i understand your point but i beleive 15 fish are worth coming for and then you can catch and release if you want or go after another species. you will def not want to come down here to fish when your limit of specks is 2 like our neighboring states. look i like to deer hunt but i can only get out to the north maybe once a year, but thats the breaks of choosing where we live. Id love to go comakazi one weekend in ms. on some deer to fill all my familys freezer but thats just the breaks.

POLL- 15-or 25 cast your vote.

The reason you are running that far right now is because the trout are offshore arount the islands and rigs. This winter they will be back in the marsh you know that.
How many people do you know that will pay a fishing guide $500 to $600 a day for fifteen fish, course you might be wanting to make the guide's suffer also.
This fifteen fish dung started at big lake where the people over there said we 'THINK' we need to change the limit to fifteen fish and they did it.
Every full moon during the summer them trout are laying egg's offshore, that is a lot of eggs that hatch and come to shore to grow.
The Atchafalaya River is dumping all kinda nutritious life giving things that help the fish just as the Mississippi River does at the mouth of the river, the area in between is getting stagnet.

Look not wanting to upset anyone just looking out for my kids future. what i am talking about when i say running far is you can no longer stay close to the costal launches like we used to we are running far east or west where not as many people fish. i wouldnt worry they gonna leave the 25 fish limit cause its not like we are persuing anything we are just talking amongst fellow fisherman.

Just heard from Terry on Catch Dat Too, he's not a guide fishes only on Sundays and sometimes Mondays. 75 trout by 0830 fishing the the same summer time area that we fished for 30+ years. Summer time we always ran to the islands and close in platforms.
Anyway, the point is he ain't fishing no secret spot or using any secret bait, conditions were right this morning for an easy limit.

Capt E
CATCHDAT.com

Like I said, if the weather conditions are right, you should have no problem putting limits in the boat.

yes thank goodness for dularge, but you have to understand our area is more of a tourist area and has waay more fishing pressure than the lost dularge. I am greatful that we have lots of tourist but it has def put a dent in the trout population. so areas like ours may have to compramise a little. its not rocket science figure it like this,i cook enough gumbo for 20 people but 30 show up? if we dont take a little less somebody wont get any.

I noticed captain marty who i would consider to be one of the best guides and would recomend anyone to fish with, did not report fat limits for 8am in the fourchon oilman. Im sure the weather was not great but it aint dularge either. I know they caught fish but not like in the more unfished du. just sayin. marty is a professional now so its tougher for the average jo.

I hear ya, I've never been fishing with Capt Marty, but I do see him launch during the week.

I am 63 the fish will be here for me. i hope you or not in your 20s or 30s, then win your 63 plus you may eat your words. That all i got to say about that.- Good Luck.

I think we could debate limits on speckled trout with no winner but there is no debate that Louisiana is loosing the battle with coastal erosion. If we keep an environment our fish thrive in then our fish population will be fine.

I fish this area a lot, the last 5 trips I have caught my limit on reds, the trout have been small under the birds. Like most on here say, somedays they jump in the boat others you have to run and gun to find a limit. I have days you can see them they will swat a bait and not take it at all. I do not bait fish so those could be the live bait days. But if you move around a lot, do not mind small confined waters you can catch a limit on most trips. You have to know there is a lot of water and 70% does not hold the fish so gas up and run and gun you will find them. Good bino's to watch where the guides fish does not hurt either. Sorry guys we independent fishermen like to catch too!

your just talking about so much area in dularge as compared to golden meadow/catfish lake.

Also you don't have to run as far to get on the outside and thats where they are at this time of year. Additionally there are ways to get to the outside and not be on wide open lakes if you know the area. I think this helps get more people out. You would be shocked to see some of the boats people take out to the islands. I'd be afraid to cross sister lake in these boats and they go all the way!!!

So Nightforce 1, you are telling me you follow guides? I have a lot of good friends that are guides down in Dularge, and they don't appreciate people who follow them around. Go find your own spots!!

Don't need to follow the guides, but what I do is make a mental note of where people are fishing each trip. Especially if there are a couple of boats fishing a particular area. I don't go invading there space but the next time out, I make sure I go exploring there.

quote: speckle searcher:
The good old days

15-day-Limit- I rember going out to cat fish Lake, all the fish you could catch. The guy next to you new you and you new them.I going to say it with all the boat out ther the trout or geting harder and harder to find every year.We need LWF to but a 15 a day limit. Sure some will say you don't no how to catch fish. But we or running 30-40-miles to catch them, i gest you could say we or fishing the 4 coners.Let not let it happen like some of our frind in the state next to us check out ther trout limit.Let not wait for the day when our kid kids ask DAD what is a SPECKLE TROUT?




This dude is on crack, the current limits support the fishery. I would also like the school he went to that taught him that horrible spelling and grammar, they should be fired.

cajunhopperv2:

Please give me a call. 225-364-2182.

cajunhopperv2

Please give me a call at 225-364-2182.

'This dude is on crack, the current limits support the fishery. I would also like the school he went to that taught him that horrible spelling and grammar, they should be fired.'

Oh the beautiful irony.

I must've read wrong, but it seemed to me that a man up there in his 60s says that the limit should stay at 25, and those who think otherwise don't care about anyone but themselves (or 'repercussions'). More irony.


The above two statements do not reflect my beliefs on this subject. The article below, however, does.

http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2012/05/plentiful_speckled_trout_lead.html

sure about what? your inability to catch fish?

maybe the local guys don't want to give away their spotsl

Hopper, no need to be ugly. That just keeps people from expressing their opinion. Gaspard is a good guy and doesn't deserve that kind of disrespect. I think Capt Travis hit it on the head for the Larose to Golden Meadow area. It's coastal erosion. The area around the Sulfur Mine and Catfish Lake is not the same that it was 30 years ago. It was on fire then. I'd catch 100 reds easy. I even caught them on cheetos. Yep- ran out of shrimp and used my lunch. Now the whole area is wide open. The habitat is very different now. As far as Dularge, I think the guides just like to post a lot of pics. I have a lot of friends that are guides in Lafourche parish and they never post on here. They have ads in the paper version of LA Sportsman, but thats it. I wont speck-u-late why. Please everyone use some control when commenting.

cajunhopper speckle searcher is my father and you should know that he had no education he was to busy trying to help his father put food on the table. poor people that strugled and did not have the leisures we have. those days were not that long ago and you should be so lucky. my father was born and raised on a campboat out on the marsh trawling hunting fishing and trapping. he does have a hard time with his spelling but knows what he wants to say. he is new to computers. you were not even thought of when he was on the water, and has a lot of knowledge about the fisheries. have some respect plaese.

Grasshopper or cajunhopper what ever is your name. No need to be ugly to Gaspard for expressing himself. If you fished these spot 30 years ago compaired to now, you would see what we are talking about. Whiteboots has it right, the Sulfur Mine was the hot spots for reds and specks. I counted one Mardi Gras years back over 130 boats in that area and everbody was catching fish. Now the fishing is completely different. Only a few spots hold fish and not year round like it was. We are having a great discussion about the different areas of Dularge and Larose/Golden Meadow. You come on here and call Gaspard a 'CRACKHEAD' I have known him for over 35 years and the man has never drank a beer in his life let alone smoke dope. So don't worry about our special spots because you would never find them. Oh and one more thing as long as I've known Gaspard he has NEVER WORN A DRESS. Go catch your fish grasshopper.

You and a few others on this site, and most know who, are the reason so many of us rarely or never post or comment here. You made another wise-ass remark tonight on another post about filet knives basically saying anyone who uses an electric knife is a light weight. I assume that's you in that video you posted. No? Then should I assume you are just as good with a knife? I doubt it.

Moderators, if you wonder why you're losing members to those 'other' sites, these guys are why.

cajunhopper, if you'd check my spelling and grammar, I'd appreciate it.

cajunhopperv2--For your information i am not a crack head and my life is none of your Business. Keep your rude comment to yourself and act like an adult. this is a fishing forum to discuss fishing. Good play some were esle.---- Nice dress?

bluemoons --Same to you . you are the one that call us clowns and said you were the best fishman IN LA. You to go play some were esle.-- AND DONT FOR GET YOUR BEER.

bluemoons, thanks for that web site. I will belive a study by the people that get paid to keep up with the fish then what someone that 'WONDERS' if we need to lower the limit to 15 fish. That is the way it got started on Big Lake and we said back then it will not be long before they will try it in our waters. Just look at the spillway, NUFF SAID.

Woah now buddy. I was trying to defend you by pointing out that the dude attacking you for your grammar (cajunhopper) didn't use proper grammar himself, and was completely out of line saying what he said. I'm all for the freedom of expressing whatever opinion you have, and although mine differs from yours, I totally see your point.

And that was most definitely NOT ME....that was TizzyT or whatever. The day I seriously call the rest of you clowns and claim to be the best fisherman in Louisiana is the day I quit fishing hahaha. I think you might've read one of my posts that was a joke and taken it to be serious. I apologize if you thought I was trying to attack you.

bluemoon-IN SAYING THAT -I APOLOGIZE SORRY.

coastal erosion is where our battle should be


I'm sorry if offended some, but I'm a big enough man to own it. I challenge the rest of you to own it when you screw up

cajunhopperv2:

I apologize. I made a mistake, and posted in the wrong area.

Thank you for your apology. If you will look at the post, you will see that I asked you to call me, two times. Now that it has been brought to your attention, I wanted you to call me, to not embarrass you on line. You see your post was not all correct grammatically, after you did your criticism of another. We all make mistakes in life and we all make mistakes in grammar. I was an English and History major. I have been out of school since 1969, I know I make mistakes. Happy fishing. Hope you take this in the right light.

Speaking of coastal erosion, I saw that the State is finally doing something. I have been advocating for 20 + years, that the state should buy two dredges. Place one on the East end of Louisiana and one on the West end of Louisiana, and start building up barrier islands. Then try to build up the inside areas afterward. The majority of the places that I used to fish in Cocodrie, Dulac, and Bayou Dularge, have all disappeared.

Well in yesterday's Baton Rouge paper, that have christened a dredge, $41,000,000 I believe, to do just that. Now I can't state who should be working the dredge or planting the grass, because that would be Politically Incorrect, but true and right.

I went to the site bluemoon posted about the trout #'s and if the bioligist are so sure about having all these specks and we cant hurt them, then lets lower the size limit to 11 inches. I throw back lots of 11 to 11 1/2 inch trout every trip, that would def put some trout in peoples boats, cause we cant hurt the population by rod and real is what they are saying RIGHT?

The poor guy that started this post must really feel bad about all this. He will probably never post again!

lol...someone said 'underfished DU'

hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahah

Never taught this post would go on this long Capt. Elton.

ya but i am serious about the 11 inch thing. we should try to get together and get it. It would be like popcorn shrimp but popcorn trout. nice and crispy, whos in?

Studies show the average fishing trip anglers catch fewer than 5 fish! Sure alot of fishermen going to Popeye's on the way back home.

ranger2- I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAN MY SPELLING AND WAT THEY CALL GRAMMAR WAT EVER THAT IS U SEE I WENT TO FA-LA SCHOOLE IN BAY BLUE ANY WAY I THINK I GOING 2 GO AND GET ME MY 5 TROUT SAT.