September Fishing Forecast
Summer’s grip is finally loosening across the Northshore, and September brings the promise of relief from those sweltering dog days. The first cool front of the season blew through, dropping water temperatures and expanding anglers’ fishing windows. Below are a few hot-spots across the Northshore where anglers are having success:
Salt Bayou: Thanks to a quiet hurricane season, Salt Bayou continues delivering excellent catches of specks, reds, flounder, and white trout. The drum bite remains steady, though most are running on the smaller side. Those lights along the lakeshore have been magnets for trout, with both specks and whites stacking up there. While your usual arsenal of artificial baits will produce, live bait is the ticket right now. Fish live shrimp Carolina-rigged or free-line pogies when conditions align perfectly. Soft plastics continue producing quality stringers of marsh bass.
Trestles: September marks the beginning of our transition to fall patterns, and the Trestles can be hit-or-miss during this changeover, but when they hit, they hit big. Once the water temperatures drop below 80 degrees, fish will start to show up more. For now, work those pilings early with Matrix Shad in shrimp creole or pink champagne, as both colors perfectly mimic the shrimp that fish are keying on. Don’t overlook early fall flounder opportunities either; try avocado-colored Matrix or Vudu Shrimp right up against the pilings.
Rigolets: Quality fish are being taken in deeper waters around the Rigolets bridges (Highway 90 and L&N), shorelines, and Sawmill Pass. The shallows along Lake Borgne’s shoreline are jam-packed with bait, and specks and reds are following close behind. It’s best to get an early start because the bite dies shortly after 7-8 AM. Live shrimp remains your best bet, but if you encounter a school of pogies and have a cast net handy, that’s pure trout candy. Lake Catherine should hold fish along shores and in the passes (St. Catherine, Millers, and Unknown). Watch for diving birds on the shrimp, though be ready for gafftops and ladyfish mixed with the trout.
Bayou Lacombe: Shorter days and dropping temperatures make September promising, though unpredictable weather remains the biggest challenge. Hunt for the cleanest water and those falling tides that concentrate fish and trigger feeding modes. Bass are accumulating in marsh areas near the lake, taking advantage of arriving shrimp and baitfish. Lipless crankbaits and swimbaits are rewarding anglers with limits of chunky marsh bass. Work parallel to grass lines in the main bayou and hit submerged points near cuts and canals. Start with lighter colors in clean water, progressing to darker shades as needed. Redfish are patrolling shorelines west of Bayou Lacombe’s mouth past Goose Point toward Bayou Cain. Try gold spoons and spinners around shell beds, or fluke-style baits where grass prevents treble hooks. For specks, work deeper water where it’s cooler and saltier, bumping bottom with artificials on jig heads or live bait on Carolina rigs. As water cools later this month, trout should move in and feed more aggressively. That’s when you break out the popping corks.
Tournament Results
The Double Nickel Bass Club was greeted by nice weather for their Tuesday morning tournament. There were 19 boats that showed up to battle it out, but the only bad thing was the rising river and excessive high tide that made for a rough day of fishing. Just about everyone did a lot of running around and struggling to find some fish. Only 3 boats came in with a three-fish limit out of the 19 that participated. In the end, it was Barry Lee who came in first place with 5.28 pounds. Rob Roberts claimed second place with 4.21 pounds. Roger Mitchell took third place with 4.04 pounds. Prent Wheat won the big bass pot with a 3.28-pound lunker.
Upcoming Tournaments
FPBA will hold its next event at the Tickfaw River (Hwy 22) on Sept 13. For more information, please contact Patrick Engerran at 985-474-6112.
Pearl River Team Trails will hold its next tournament at Crawford Landing on Sept 13. For more information, please call Charles Dauzat at 985-960-3260.
The Double Nickel Bass Club is holding its next tournament at the East Pearl River on Sept 16. This club is only for those 55 or older. For more information, contact Dwain Crumby at 985-502-6006.
The Northshore Home Builders Association is holding its annual fishing rodeo at Rigolets Marina on Oct 3. For more information, please contact Jenny Dexter at 985-882-5002.
(Keith Lusher Jr. writes a weekly column. For more info, visit NorthshoreFishingReport.com. Contact Keith at [email protected].)
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