Tide changes equal great fishing at Grand Isle

This past weekend was a great time to be fishing in Grand Isle – an increasing tide meant plenty of hungry specks on the beach, even on Saturday when early morning storms kept most anglers in bed.

We were invited by Tony and Ann Taylor to stay at their camp on Grand Isle and decided to sleep in Saturday morning until we spotted our neighbor, a dentist from Baton Rouge named Jacob, walking over the levee with a stringer of speckled trout!

He must have thought I was crazy when I asked him if I could clean his trout, but we needed the heads to bait the crab traps.

After the storms let up we launched the boat but the bite had already played out, at least along the surf, and we only caught 10 specks and several white trout.

Later in the afternoon, we checked the crab traps and caught four dozen to boil. The rest of the day was spent boiling crabs and enjoying camp life.

Needless to say, on Sunday morning we were in the surf at dawn, And the fish were there too.

Birds began hitting along the coastline. The tide was changing which caused shrimp, poogies, minnows and croakers to gang up between the sandbars. Fish were popping all around us.

Looking down the beach, we could see surf fishermen following numerous groups of birds all down the beach.

My  brother Randy and I were fishing with a 2-inch plastic sparkle beetle (not 3 inch, see photo on 2B) while Tony and Ann were fishing with blue moon plastic cocahoe minnows. The specks would only hit the sparkle beetles AND only on a plain lead-head jig (we were using 1/4 ounce), not painted.

The Taylors quickly switched to the H&H sparkle beetles and began catching as well. They said it was one of the best surf-fishing days they had had all summer.

It was a good change of pace to surf fish and not be in a boat.

Good tips for fishing the surf for specks
• Fish the days of tide range change greater than 1 foot, best time will be early morning, especially right when high tide starts falling.
• Find structure – rocks, point, oyster reefs, pilings, sandbars, and rigs.
• Fish under the seagulls hitting the water.
• Find clear water.
• Talk to marina attendants for best locations
• Check the Louisiana Sportsman Magazine for the best days of tide range.
• Keep a good supply of jig heads and popular colors of plastic baits.
• Know when the full and new moon will occur. Fish three days before and after each phase.

The Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo


This year, State Rep. Nickie Monica will serve as the President of the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo.

The Rodeo is schedule for July 28-30.

Activities will take place at the Pavilion and the end of Highway 1.  The Hurricane Levee Band, The Wiseguys, and The Topcats are scheduled to perform.

After last years cancellation due to the BP Oil spill  many fishermen and party goers are looking forward to good fishing, food, merchandise and a party atmosphere for the nation’s oldest rodeo.

 

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