Common Saltwater Sportfish of Louisiana
Visit Louisiana Wildlife and
Fisheries -
Size and Creel Limits for Saltwater
Recreational Fishing
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Specs have a streamlined body, bluish black to grayish silver with bronze tones across dorsal side, with numerous spots on the upper sides and on the dorsal and tail fins. Mouth is tender,often yellow orange inside, containing one or two canine teeth on the upper jaw. A favorite of Louisiana sportsmen, the Speck is distributed throughout bays, passes, marshes and in the surf of the gulf coast region. Fishing season in Louisiana is year round although May through October are considered the best months for speck fishing.
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(Megalops atlanticus)Tarpon Silver king, silverfish, sabalo size range: up to 225 pounds, 35 to 50 lbs. typical |
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| A member of the Small Elopidae family, the tarpon is a premier
saltwater gamefish. They are silver in color, with large heavy scales, tubular body,
large uptilted mouth with protuding lower jaw. Living in a variety of habitats,
this hardy fish is equipped with a lung like bladder that enables it to survive in water
with low oxygen levels. They are found close to shore going into mouths and passes of rivers along the coast. In Louisiana they can be found feeding in areas from the mouth of the Mississippi River to south of Cocodrie. These fish are hard to find and even more challenging to hook and land. It is very difficult to set a hook in the hard bony mouth of a tarpon. An attempt usually fails as the strong spectacular leaper can easily throw the hook. Great pride can be taken in landing one of these awesome fish.
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(Sciaenops ocellatus)Red Drum size range: up to 60 lbs. 3 to 8 lbs. typical |
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A member of the croaker family the Red Drum have large reddish
scales on their upper body and have a blunt snout. The tail is square with at least
one round black spot (an eyespot) on top . Small red fish are called "rat
reds", while large ones are called "bull reds." Fishing season is year
round with fall being the best time to catch big reds in the surf. Younger redfish
stay in bays year round, over oyster reefs and in grass flats. They like
shallow water with quick access to deeper water. They are estuarine-dependent, found in
brackish water and saltwater on bottoms of inlets, passes and bays. In shallow water
reds are sighted with their tails slightly out of the water, a behavior called
"tailing".
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(Rachycentron canadum) Cobia, Lemonfish, Ling, Black Bonita size range: up to 100 lbs. 20 to 25 lbs. typical, 50 lb. common |
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Cobia is a member of the family Rachycentridae. A long bodied fish the Cobia has a lateral line running from the snout to the
base of their tail. They are brownish in color, ranging from dark brown on top
to light brown below. Cobia are a migratory fish that move into warm Louisiana
waters during the summer. They like shade and are usually found hiding under and
around rigs, platforms, buoys, anchored boats and around floating debris. When hooked they
become fierce fighters, taking long runs with occasional jumps. tips
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(Scomberomorus cavalla)King Mackerel, Kingfish, cero size range: up to 80 lbs., 8lb. to 12 lb. typical, 20 lbs. common |
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The King Mackerel is long and slim ranging in color from gray on its
back to drab silver to white underneath. They roam in schools close to shore as well
as many miles out often found around tide lines, oil rigs, and anchored boats. It is
a vicious striker and loses its natural wariness when feeding. Once located these
aggressive fish can be readily caught. Bigger fish are more difficult to catch.
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(Scomberomorus maculatus)Spanish Mackerel size range: up to 10 lbs. usually less than 2 lbs. |
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Spanish Mackerel are beautiful fish with iridescent steel blue to
shades of green on their backs. Underneath they are silver-blue with bronze colored
spots on their sides. Having a compressed outline the lateral line curves downward
under the second dorsal fin. A swift and strong fish it roams in large schools,
staying close to shore and around mouths of channels and passes. It is a very active
fish that is a spectacular fighter when hooked.
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(Coryphanea hippurus) Dolphin, Dorado, mahi mahi size range: up to 70 pounds, 4 to 10 lbs. typical |
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Dolphin are a brilliantly colored fish of yellow to metallic
green, green-gold to dark blue with silver markings having a long dorsal fin running its
body length. They have a deeply forked tail. A hard fighting species, the dolphin is
one of the top offshore gamefish. Dolphin inhabit blue-water environs, roaming the
open ocean, commonly found around objects and debris. Dolphin are inquisitive and
will follow a hooked member of the school up to the side of the boat.
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(Lutjanus campechanus) Red Snapper, American Red Snapper size range: up to 80 pounds, most 5 to 25 lbs. |
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The Red Snapper is a valuable and important commercial fish as well
as a favorite of sport anglers. It has been severely overfished and is now being
closely protected. The Red Snapper is brick red on its head and upper body, whitish silver
below. It has a long rectangular snout, and brilliant red eyes. Red
Snapper are bottom feeders, found near drilling platforms, on deep banks and artificial
reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
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(Paralichthys lethostigma) Southern Flounder, Flatfish, halibut, plie, southern fluke up to 12lbs., 2 - 3 lbs. common |
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Flounder are an important commercial and sportfish. They have a flat
body with both eyes facing up. They are light to dark olive brown, marked with
diffused dark blotches and spots on its back, underside of white. An aggressive
bottom feeder, they bury themselves using their fins to hide in the sand or mud
bottom. In this position they patiently await to ambush prey.
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