Teach me how to fish

[CatchDat]

Ok, well, maybe it's not THAT bad but I have had some really tough luck. I bought a boat in December 2012, my first. Until then I had never actually driven a boat and had only been out marsh fishing a handful of times. Since then I've made around thirty trips and had my best luck in the spring of last year and then in October and November of last year.

I fish two areas: Hopedale & Golden Meadow. Both are equidistant from home and take about two hours to get to. In Hopedale I can do well on redfish when the bite is on. In Golden Meadow I can get specks. In just over a year though I have never limited on either. Although on multiple occasion I have caugth a decent mess of specks and countless undersized ones on those trips.

So..... obviously I have a lot to learn. Do any of you fish either of those areas and have any tips? I fish out of a 19' bay boat with a 150hp. I'm open to other areas. Typically I fish plastics. H&H, matrix shad, etc. In Hopedale we always have some type of live bait too. Either shrimp or croakers.

I know many of you are born and raised on the water and know where to go. So I realize a lot of my struggles are just lack of experience. Just getting a bit frustrated though as I have to work really hard for what I catch.

[meaux fishing]

you are doing better than some people who are just starting out In hopedale you can catch trout in deep canals or holes in the winter not far at all from BSM. Let your bait fall slow to the bottom and work it back to the boat. It will generally be a really soft bite. In the sring and fall they are in the lakes and bays north of breton sound. In the summer they are in the sound at rigs, reefs, islands, and other structure. The same is true for golden meadow/leeville/ fourchon area.

[SpotOnFishingAdventures]

You are doing good. I am a guide out of the Leeville La area just south of Golden meadow. We fish up some in the fall and winter. But most of your fish will move tin the lakes and bay's down to the coast in Spring and summer.
I am not from down there but i have been fishing there around 15 to 20 years. I starting out like you i knew nothing. I will never forget my first 4 trips to saltwater i did not catch a fish to bring home. But i stayed at it and used my fishing skills (I knew I had from Tournament Bass fishing) and learned a lot and asked a lot of questions. Look at me now I am Living a dream of charter fishing. Best job ever.
If your fishing the Leeville/Golden meadow area join my face book Page and subscribe to my You tube Channel. I have Started back in December doing a Fishing Forecast video every month. Its my thoughts of how and where we will be fishing for that month. A lot of what i say can be applied for any place you fish.
Let me know your feed back on how your doing.

[I make oil]

Excellent replys. I always say Jan and Feb are two of the toughest months to fish inshore. The water is usually low and cold and often it's windy.

Leeville is a great area to start from and gives you many options. In April it will warm up, the water will be better and the fish will start to turn on. That is my favorite time of the year to fish. March is more hit and miss but it can be good too. The best thing to do is fish conditions not necessarily locations. Look for moving water, skipping bait and fish finning. I do have a few go to areas but they don't always produce. I much rather find my fish than just go to "spots".

Fishing is still fishing and when conditions are not right it's tough for anyone to catch. I skunked Sunday. I'd still rather be fishing than sitting at home though.

[RichIsFishing504]

Where do you live at?

[redneck,inc]

Leeville is one of my favorite places to fish. My son and his wife live and work at Grand Isle and I always bring the boat down and fish Leeville

[TroutSupport.com]

Originally Posted by I make oil

EThe best thing to do is fish conditions not necessarily locations. Look for moving water, skipping bait ... I much rather find my fish than just go to "spots".

X2 on this. A lot of it is knowing what to look for on the water so you are not spending time in what we call dead water. The other is seasonal movement of trout and the 'hatch' the are following. combine that with movements based on temperature .... ie.. July its hot and the trout want to go deep.. same for late Dec and Jan.

t

[sparkyc4]

Originally Posted by I make oil

I skunked Sunday. I'd still rather be fishing than sitting at home though.

Same here. I skunked on Sunday.

I've fished Breton Sound/Hopedale for a few years successfully, but prefer Point a la hache. If you ever need a fishing buddy to show you around, let me know. I live in the mandeville area.

[CatchDat]

Thanks for all of the feedback. It's motivational. Out of all those trips, only a couple have I not come home with fish to clean and those days were either very low tide and now after movement or extremely windy and I was a fool even being out.