Louisiana Fishing Calendar
Wondering what to fish for right now? Browse the year month by month for common freshwater and saltwater targets, seasonal patterns and simple trip-planning tips.
Spawning movement, warming shallows and rapidly increasing freshwater and inshore activity.
Early starts, shade, current and deeper water become increasingly important as heat builds.
Cooling water and moving bait can create some of Louisiana's most consistent all-around fishing.
Stable weather windows, deeper structure and slower presentations often become the key.
September in Louisiana
The first hints of fall can change fish behavior quickly. Cooling nights begin improving shallow-water activity.
Saltwater: Redfish • Speckled Trout • Flounder
Fish movement changes with weather, water temperature, river stage, salinity and local conditions. Always verify current seasons, size limits, creel limits, closures and access rules with the appropriate official agency before fishing.
Conditions matter more than the date.
Warmups and cool-downs can move fish before the calendar says a season has changed.
Rain, river stage and current can reposition fish and change access in rivers, bayous and reservoirs.
Coastal fish respond to moving water, freshwater runoff and changing salinity throughout the year.
Cold fronts, stable weather and wind direction can completely change where fish feed from one day to the next.
January
Cold water concentrates fish and makes slower presentations important. Coastal anglers can still find excellent action during stable weather windows.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Deep brush, channels and structure can produce during cold spells.
Slow down around deeper cover, points and protected areas.
Blue and channel catfish remain dependable in rivers and larger lakes.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Look for deeper canals, bayous and protected winter holes.
Marsh drains, deeper bends and sunny shallow areas can hold fish.
A reliable cool-season target around deeper marsh and estuary structure.
Deeper brush, creek channels, river holes, steep banks and protected water that changes temperature slowly.
Interior bayous, canals, deeper marsh bends and protected winter holes.
Slow presentations, smaller strike zones and stable-weather windows usually matter more than covering lots of water.
Watch fronts closely. A warming afternoon after several stable days can be much better than the morning immediately behind a hard cold front.
February
Lengthening days begin pushing fish toward prespawn patterns, while coastal fish respond strongly to warming trends.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Prespawn movement often begins toward creek channels and shallower cover.
Fish transition areas leading into spawning pockets as water warms.
River current seams and deeper holes remain productive.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Warming afternoons can improve shallow-water activity.
Protected marshes and drains remain strong choices.
Structure-oriented fishing can be productive around pilings, rocks and passes.
Channel swings, staging banks, secondary points and cover near traditional spawning areas.
Protected marshes, drains, canals and shallow areas that warm during sunny afternoons.
Follow warming trends. Fish may move noticeably shallower after several mild days, then slide back after a hard front.
Pay attention to several warm days in a row; small water-temperature increases can trigger noticeable movement.
March
One of Louisiana’s most anticipated fishing months as bass and crappie move shallow and coastal waters warm quickly.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Prespawn and spawning fish move into coves, flats and protected shoreline cover.
Shallow cover and spawning areas can become prime.
Activity begins increasing as shallows warm.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Marsh ponds, shorelines and drains become increasingly active.
Fish begin spreading from winter holes toward bays and nearby flats.
Strong around passes, canals and marsh structure.
Protected coves, flats, shoreline cover, spawning pockets and the first break just outside shallow areas.
Marsh ponds, shoreline grass, drains, shallow bays and nearby transition water.
Keep a shallow pattern and a backup transition pattern ready because spring weather can move fish quickly.
Spring weather changes fast. Keep both shallow and slightly deeper patterns available during the same trip.
April
Warm, active water makes April one of the most versatile months for both freshwater and coastal anglers.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Spawning and postspawn fish can be found around shoreline cover and nearby structure.
Spawning fish may remain shallow before transitioning deeper.
Bream fishing improves rapidly in warm protected water.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Bays, reefs and moving-water areas begin producing more consistently.
Excellent throughout marshes, bayous and shoreline habitat.
Spring movement increases opportunities near passes, drains and current edges.
Shoreline cover, spawning areas, nearby points, grass, timber and the first structure outside the bank.
Bays, reefs, drains, shorelines and areas where wind or tide creates moving water.
Use wind protection to your advantage and let current, bait and water clarity determine where you spend time.
Wind direction matters as much as temperature. Use protected shorelines when spring winds make open water difficult.
May
Longer days and warm water create excellent variety, from bream beds and bass to trout, redfish and nearshore species.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
One of the year’s best periods for bedding bream in shallow areas.
Postspawn fish recover around cover, points and feeding areas.
Fish begin settling into brush, timber and channel-related cover.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Reefs, bays, points and moving water become major targets.
Marsh and coastal shoreline action remains strong.
Nearshore opportunities begin improving as Gulf waters warm.
Bream bedding areas, postspawn bass cover, brush, timber, docks and creek-related structure.
Reefs, points, bays, marsh edges and nearshore structure as coastal water continues warming.
Start shallow early, then follow shade, current and slightly deeper structure as the day heats up.
Early mornings often provide comfortable conditions and active fish before afternoon heat and wind build.
June
Summer settles in. Fish early, follow shade and current, and adjust to warmer water throughout the day.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Early shallow bites often give way to deeper structure and shade.
Brush piles, standing timber and deeper cover become important.
Excellent time for channel, blue and flathead catfish opportunities.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Open bays, reefs, islands and current lines can produce well.
Early marsh fishing and deeper midday water are both useful patterns.
Offshore season opportunities draw anglers to Gulf structure when regulations allow.
Early shoreline cover, shade, vegetation, brush piles, standing timber and deeper points or channels.
Open bays, reefs, islands, passes, current lines and Gulf structure when conditions and regulations allow.
Fish early, prioritize current and shade, and build heat and thunderstorm safety into the trip plan.
Heat safety matters. Carry more water than you think you need and watch afternoon thunderstorms.
July
Hot weather rewards early starts, current, deeper water and shade. Offshore fishing can be excellent during safe weather windows.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Dawn, shade, vegetation and deeper structure become important.
Night and low-light fishing can be especially productive.
Look around shade, docks, vegetation and deeper edges after the spring bedding peak.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Marsh ponds early and deeper passes or channels later in the day.
Focus on current, deeper reefs and open-water structure.
Offshore Louisiana can provide major summer tuna opportunities when conditions allow.
Dawn feeding areas, vegetation edges, shade, docks, current and deeper summer structure.
Deeper reefs, passes, channels, current lines and offshore structure during safe weather windows.
Low light, moving water and depth become increasingly important. Midday often rewards efficiency more than constant casting.
Plan around heat and thunderstorms. Many productive July trips begin before sunrise and end before the hottest part of the day.
August
The heat remains intense, but current, shade and oxygen-rich water can concentrate fish. Tropical weather awareness becomes critical.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Target low-light periods, vegetation, current and deeper structure.
Rivers, channels and deeper holes can remain productive.
Electronics and known brush or timber help locate summer schools.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Excellent around marsh drains, ponds, passes and coastal edges.
Deeper water and moving current become increasingly important.
Nearshore and offshore structure may still produce during suitable conditions.
Current, vegetation, deeper cover, oxygen-rich inflows and shaded structure.
Marsh drains, passes, deeper bays, coastal edges and nearshore structure with dependable current.
Treat weather as part of the fishing pattern: heat, thunderstorms and tropical systems can matter as much as lure choice.
Check tropical forecasts before coastal trips and verify launch access during scheduled lake drawdowns.
September
The first hints of fall can change fish behavior quickly. Cooling nights begin improving shallow-water activity.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Fish begin following bait toward creeks, flats and shallower feeding zones.
Cooling water can improve activity around brush and channel edges.
Strong river and reservoir opportunities continue.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
A signature Louisiana fall target in marshes, passes and coastal bays.
Fish begin moving with bait toward interior waters as conditions cool.
Fall movement starts building around drains, passes and current corridors.
Creek mouths, flats, points and areas where bait begins shifting shallower with the first cooler nights.
Marsh ponds, drains, bays and passes where bait movement becomes increasingly obvious.
Let bait tell you whether the day is still fishing like summer or beginning to fish like fall.
September can fish like summer one week and fall the next. Follow bait movement rather than the calendar alone.
October
Cooler water, active bait and comfortable weather make October one of Louisiana’s best all-around fishing months.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Fall feeding improves around baitfish, points, creeks and shoreline cover.
Strong fall bite develops around structure and channel-related cover.
Schooling activity can improve where bait concentrates.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Excellent fall target across marshes, bays and passes.
Interior marshes, bayous and lakes often improve as water cools.
Fall migration can concentrate fish around passes and moving water.
Creeks, points, shoreline cover, flats and other baitfish-oriented feeding areas.
Interior marshes, bayous, lakes, shorelines and passes with active bait and moving water.
Cover water until you find active fish, then slow down enough to work the productive stretch thoroughly.
This is a great month to stay flexible: keep one setup for moving fish and another for slower structure-oriented fishing.
November
Stable cool weather can produce outstanding freshwater and inshore fishing before stronger winter fronts arrive.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Excellent around brush, timber and deeper structure.
Cool-water feeding can remain strong around bait and transition areas.
Blue catfish opportunities often improve as water temperatures fall.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
One of the classic months for interior marsh, lake and bayou trout fishing.
Remain dependable in marshes and deeper channels.
Cool-season opportunities increase around structure and deeper water.
Brush, timber, channel edges, transition banks and places where bait collects in cooling water.
Interior lakes, bayous, marsh canals, deeper drains and protected water between fronts.
Stable periods between fronts can be outstanding. Pay close attention to water clarity and current along the coast.
Fish the stable periods between fronts. Water clarity and tide movement can become especially important along the coast.
December
Winter patterns return, but Louisiana’s mild climate leaves plenty of fishable days for anglers who adjust to colder water.
🎣 Freshwater Targets
Deep structure, brush and creek channels are dependable winter targets.
Cold-season river and reservoir fishing can be excellent.
Slow presentations around deeper cover and warming banks can produce.
🌊 Saltwater Targets
Deep bayous, canals and protected winter holes become important.
Marsh drains, deeper channels and sun-warmed shallows can hold fish.
A dependable winter fish around estuaries and structure.
Deep brush, creek channels, river holes, steep banks and sun-warmed areas near deeper water.
Protected canals, deep bayous, marsh drains and winter holes that hold stable water.
Pick the best weather window rather than forcing the calendar. A calm warming afternoon can be the best part of the day.
Pick your days. A calm, warming winter afternoon can outperform a cold, windy morning by a wide margin.
Turn the seasonal pattern into a better trip.
A calendar gives you a starting point. These five checks help narrow the pattern for the actual day you fish.
- Check the recent weather.Look at the last several days, not just today's forecast.
- Check water conditions.River stage, lake level, clarity and current can override a normal seasonal pattern.
- Follow the bait.Where forage moves, predators usually follow.
- Match the waterbody.A cypress lake, river, marsh and open reservoir can fish very differently in the same month.
- Verify regulations and access.Check current licenses, seasons, creel limits, closures and boat/access requirements before leaving home.
Turn the calendar into a fishing trip.
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