The Very Best in Shoreline and
Inland Bay Fishing

A typical day of fishing:

With the sun making its way over the lowest clouds in the Gulf Of Mexico horizon. Captain Chad Billiot eased his 200   horsepower bay boat down Bayou Lafourche toward East Timbalier Island.

Billiot was starting this May morning like he has many others in his four years as a charter captain. He was searching for trophy speckle trout in an attempt to please his excited customer.

"They all want a mule to put on the wall," said Billiot, a charter Captain with Tideland Charters of Leeville, Louisiana. That's one of the first priorities is running out there to see if we can catch some.

"After they start catching some (smaller trout) they forget about the big boys".

With the peak speckled trout spawning season running April through June, this is the perfect time to catch a trophy trout. The reason trout migrate to the coastal areas like Timbalier are many, according to Bobby Gros, owner of Bobby Lynn's Marina in Leeville, Louisiana. "It's closer to deep water, which is where the big trout hang" said Gros. The son of former Central Lafourche High School football coach Bobby Gros. "They can come up to spawn and get back to deep water. The cover is excellent in the Timbalier area".  Another reason is the food supply.

"The big white shrimp move up on the beach at this time of year and the big trout follow those white shrimp." Gros said.

Billiot knew what he was looking for on this sunny, mid 80's day. " A good strong tide is what your looking for whether it's going in or coming out" he said. " Incoming tide could be best depending on what the water looks like and how it's pushing through. I've had my best success on a falling tide."

Patience is also a key.  "Small trout hit quick and fast, but big fish you have to fish slow on the bottom." Gros said. "Once summer gets here and the spawn's over, you can put a shrimp under a cork and boom, boom. You can't reel them in fast enough, but all of them are 11-14 inches. This is the best time for a trophy, Billiot said.

Clean water is a must for that trophy, Billiot said.   "The clearer water the better, especially for big trout," Billiot said.

After a 20 minute ride to East Timbalier Island, Billiot milled around looking for the right conditions. But on this day the water was a little to murky and he decided to head back to some of his other hotspots inside.

One of the beauties of fishing Leeville is the variety of opportunities. Whether it's heading to the gulf or fishing the interior marsh, the area has it all.

"Leeville's like the crossroads and that's what makes it so unique," Gros said. "It's close enough to the gulf. You can get to the gulf in 20 minutes or you can fish Golden Meadow in 20 minutes or Pointe-aux-Chenes.

"On bad weather days you can fish inside and catch fish and on good weather days you can use a small boat and go anywhere".

For red fish, the interior marsh ponds are hard to beat. "if I had to pick anywhere (to fish redfish) it would be the shallow ponds in the early morning," Gros said. "Granted in the summer time, redfish, like other fish, will head to deeper water when it heats up. But for 16 - 20 inch redfish you can't beat the marsh early or late."

Specks can be caught in places like Lake Raccourci and Little Lake by fishing the wellhead structures and oyster beds. Among the best baits are top-water plugs (MirroLure Top Dogs, ZaraSpooks, Jumpin' Minnows), live shrimp and live minnows.   Reds are less finicky, especially when their hungry. "If he's in the area and he's eating, it doesn't matter what you pass in front of him," Gros said.

On this day, a trophy trout wouldn't be in the cards, but lots of specks and reds would make their way into Billiot's boat and fun would be had by all. "Pleasing the customer and making sure they have a good time is the most important thing," Billiot said.   Entertainment is 85 percent of the job and 15 percent of the job is catching fish. "To contact Billiot, call 504-637-5058

Marsh Rat Guide Services
11823 West Ave. A. | Cut Off, La. 70345
Cell (985)637-5058
Email: marshrat@mobiletel.com

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