Shore Thing Fishing Report, 10/23/2024

October 23, 2024

Fall on the Coast isn't about foliage - it's about fishing! The marshes and reefs are full of tasty trout, and flounder making a welcome showing inshore. 

​- by Sonny Schindler, Shore Thing Fishing Charters

Melissa Paretti with a perfect-sized redfish she caught in Bay St. Louis.

The fall weather has changed things up a little for us, but mostly in a good way. As the air and water temperatures cool, especially the water, the speckled trout have begun their fall journey into the interior marshes and bayous. We are still seeing school trout over the shallow oyster and shell bottoms. These are the areas where the big white trout are also thick. 
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Lee James with a big fall flounder he caught in a bayou near Bay St. Louis.

 
For the time being, if you are looking for a lot of action and something in the fish box, the shallow reefs are the best thing going. Once you see a few birds working or do a drift over these reefs, you will know within the first few casts if the schoolies and white trout are there. Keep moving until you find the right one, and get ready for a lot of fun.
 

Dr. David Jones with a nice redfish he caught south of Pass Christian.

 
The redfish fishing is still very steady. A lot of the shorelines and marshes we fish (Bay St Louis, Lake Borgne, LA Marsh) are very tide-sensitive. Fishing is most productive at high water that is falling, which seems to pull the bait out of the grass and small ditches, where we focus our efforts. If we don’t see bait against the shoreline or coming out of these ditches, we keep moving until we find the right scenario.
 

Dr. Chad Austin with a very nice trout he caught near Pass Christian Harbor.

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After these first few cold snaps, we have started to see some pretty decent flounder. That bite should continue for the next couple of weeks. Please remember, if you venture into Louisiana waters, flounder season is closed for the time being.
 
Other than a chilly start, this time of year offers incredibly good fishing. Just keep an eye on the cold fronts. On the days they pass through, either stay in protected waters or wait for them to pass. The day before a cold front is usually a very good bite, so I strongly recommend that if you can, plan your trip before the front hits.
 

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