Louisiana Sportsman

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October 14, 2026

As the weather cools, the trout fishing gets hot. Mild days and hungry trout make for a great day on the water.

Mild weather and close trout make for great days in the kayak

September 25, 2026 Chris Holmes

Joe Milano was fishing for trout and reds when this shark inhaled a shrimp dangling under his popping cork. After a tough fight on light gear, the shark was safely landed with the aid of a net and fish grip.

Battling a shark from a kayak

September 8, 2026 Chris Holmes

If done properly and safely, one decent-sized shark can provide a kayak angler great sport as well as many delicious dinners.[…]

Nita Guillot Lindsey wrestled this nice eating size catfish from a jug line. Kayaks make a great platform for chasing jugs around while catching catfish.

Kayaking for catfish

August 16, 2026 Chris Holmes

With lowered bag limits on trout and redfish, freshwater catfish are often a welcome addition to a kayak anglers’ fish bags.[…]

Fishing a popping cork and alternating live and dead shrimp did the trick for Robyn Bordelon. She fished a stand of pilings in Leeville and landed one redfish after another.

Unlimited kayak fishing possibilities down Highway 1 corridor

July 14, 2026 Chris Holmes

The entire area down lower Highway 1 down to Grand Isle provides some great summertime kayak fishing opportunities.[…]

Live shrimp are a top bait for many coastal fish species. With a proper set up, a kayak can easily accommodate carrying an ample supply of live shrimp for your trip.

A kayaker’s guide to fishing live shrimp

June 16, 2026 Chris Holmes

Head out on your next kayak fishing trip with a supply of live shrimp and your odds of success increase greatly.[…]

Topwater fishing around the spring and summer full moons provides the opportunity for catching nice-sized speckled trout. Kayaks work great to get you stealthily near the fish and in on the action.

Topwater fishing for spring trout

May 17, 2026 Chris Holmes

Kayak anglers that do not use topwater lures are missing out on some of the most exciting kayak fishing there is.[…]

Bass are great fish to pursue in a kayak no matter your skill level. Prevalent across the state, there is surely a bass fishing spot near where you live. Armed with one rod and a small assortment of tackle, Mark Smith brought this 8-pound bass to the kayak.

Dust off that kayak

April 7, 2026 Chris Holmes

Now is the time to dust of your kayak and get out there. The weather is warming and great springtime fishing is here.[…]

As the transition from winter to spring begins, trout start heading to the outer reaches of the coast.

Kayakers will find fish active and scattered in March

March 15, 2026 Chris Holmes

Spring provides Louisiana anglers with comfortable kayak fishing conditions and great action. Now is the time to get out there.[…]

This big roe-laden female bass was caught on a wacky-rigged Senko worm. After a couple photos, the fish was revived alongside the kayak and successfully released

February kicks off some great bass fishing

February 8, 2026 Chris Holmes

Don’t let February keep your kayak off the water. Fish days with milder conditions and there is a good chance you will wear the bass out.[…]

Coastal Louisiana has miles and miles of rock jetties. Used for erosion control and channel marking, this year-round fishing habitat can be especially productive during the winter.

Winter kayaking essentials

January 12, 2026 Chris Holmes

Winter is in full swing here in the Deep South, but thankfully, kayak anglers can still find a few days where they can have success and fish safely.[…]

Using a small assortment of hard and soft plastic baits slowly trolled behind the kayak, Eric Muhoberac was well on his way to a limit of nice speckled trout.

Trolling and drifting are excellent techniques for winter kayak fishing

December 21, 2025 Chris Holmes

Two techniques that all kayak anglers should employ this time of year are trolling and drifting. Kayaks make excellent platforms for both.[…]

Rock jetties quickly absorb heat from the sun and transfer it to the nearby water. A temperature change of just a couple degrees higher can trigger feeding along the jetties. Trolling or casting a popping cork are productive ways to catch trout along a jetty.

Trout anglers can enjoy comfortable kayak fishing this month

November 13, 2025 Chris Holmes

There is no better time of the year for kayak anglers to pursue limits of speckled trout across the coast of Louisiana than November.[…]

You never know where the bulls may be on Grand Isle. Travis Puls was fishing in the pass, but close to one of the rock jetties when he hooked this bull. Large schools of bulls travel all around the island and can be found nearly anywhere.

Bull reds on the beach

October 25, 2025 Chris Holmes

Grand Isle is a one-stop shop for bull reds right now and they can be found almost anywhere along the island.[…]

Celeste Valotta shows off some of the nice trout and reds that were caught on a recent mothership kayak trip to the Long Rocks out of Hopedale. This is a great summertime fishing area, but is out of reach for kayak anglers without the aid of a powerboat.

Kayak anglers can hitch a ride

September 14, 2025 Chris Holmes

If you are an angler with a kayak and a powerboat, you are missing out on some great fishing adventures if you don’t combine the two.[…]

This hand-sized bluegill is quite handsome and fought like a fish 10 times its size. Filleted and pan fried, they are some of the tastiest fish you can eat.

Take a back-to-basics kayak trip

August 11, 2025 Chris Holmes

A back-to-basics kayak trip every now and then reminds us of why we took up kayak fishing in the first place.[…]

While most marsh reds will be smaller slot-sized fish, don’t be surprised when that unexpected bull inhales your offering. Remember, the new regulations prohibit keeping any redfish over 27 inches.

Reliable redfish

July 7, 2025 Chris Holmes

Don’t let the brutal summer heat keep you on the couch. Kayakers can find some grass and seek out the redfish hiding within.[…]