According to Capt. Owen “Big O” Langridge, September is bull red month down in Venice.
“This is the month when people come from all over the country to catch bull reds in Venice,” he said. “Actually you can catch bulls all year round out here, but in September you’ll catch a lot more of them.”
After 25 years at it, Langridge isn’t charter fishing anymore, having recently retired from the business of catching fish.
“Now I only do it for fun,” he said.
Langridge said any redfish over 27 inches is considered a “bull,” and he estimates that 90-95% of the reds over that size are females. It’s important to remember that the new Louisiana regulations do not allow anglers to keep any reds over 27 inches, so the fishing is strictly catch, photo and release.
September is special
Langridge said any other month if you target the big reds you can usually expect to catch and release six to eight fish. But in September, he says they often catch 20 to 30 bull reds.
“September is absolutely the best month of the year if you want to catch bulls,” he said. “People love it for the sheer action of catching these big maulers. They call them bulls because they fight like a bull, never quitting until they’re just worn out.”
Langridge said he’ll hunt the big fish in any of the large bays on both sides of the river.
“East Bay, West Delta, Custom House Bay, Blind Bay, Quarantine Bay, Grand Bay…any and all will hold bulls this month,” he said. “The easiest way to find them is to look for pelicans either diving or even just sitting on the water. If you see a few pelicans just sitting on the water in those big bays, sneak in slowly and start fishing.”
Langridge said you’ll want to use a stout rig and a jighead with a good hook, a 2 ½ foot leader, a loud popping cork and a big plastic minnow in purple/chartreuse or black/chartreuse.
Other options
Langridge said big trout and bass are also on the menu down in Venice this month.
“We’re having one of the best summers we’ve had in a long time, and the fall outlook is excellent,” he said. “The river has stayed around 5 feet which has really fired up the bass fishing. I expect it to stay good unless we get a hurricane to mess everything up.”
Langridge said he’s been running to Breton Island and the nearby rigs, and to Gosier Island, Curlew Island and the numerous structures out that way, targeting bigger trout. Live shrimp under a cork or Carolina rigged, or plastic shrimp in pink/chartreuse fished under a cork or jigged off the bottom has been successful. He said the week just before the new moon and the full moon are absolutely the best times to fish, and he prefers an incoming tide when fishing trout.
Naturally, the weather can play a major factor whenever you’re fishing, but especially so in September being it’s the height of hurricane season. Pick your days, and be safe on the water!
