Cameron/Grand Chenier advice for Gulf newbie

[zthomas]

New to the board and looking for some advice. I’ll be coming down from Arkansas the weekend of 6/25 and 26 with a 21’ deep vee center console. I know my way around the salt, but I’ve never fished the gulf coast—just southern California and Baja.

We’re thinking of launching out of Grand Chenier. I’d love to catch a few snappers and maybe have a shot at cobia. It sounds, from reading a lot of previous posts, like that means running 30 to 50 miles out. Is that about right? Any general tips on which direction to head, what to look for on the sounder, etc.?

Other questions:

Anywhere to stay around Grand Chenier? Or would we be better off staying in Cameron and heading out from there?

Anything specialized I need in the way of tackle, besides 20-lb. conventional gear and cut-bait rigs? When you all talk about trolling, are you talking tuna feather-type stuff at 6 or 7 knots, or diving plugs?

Any other species we should be thinking about? Are there redfish or trout on the closer rigs? AJs?

Are we barking up the wrong tree altogether--should we be fishing inshore this time of year?

Any weather/navigation tips specific to the area?

I know that’s a lot of questions, but I’ll appreciate any little bit of info anyone cares to share.

Like I said, I know boats and the ocean and fish reasonably well, but I just don’t have a clue about pretty much any of the species here or about rig fishing in general. Had to move away from the west coast for work two years ago, and this will be my first time back on the water since then. Can't wait, and I hope to make it down several times a year from now on.

Thanks in advance for any help.