August in New Orleans gets hot. The kind of hot that makes people wonder why anyone would want to be outside.
The answer is simple: because the fishing is on.
The marshes around St. Bernard Parish, just 35 minutes from downtown New Orleans, are loaded with fish in August. You just have to know when to go and where to look. Here’s exactly what’s biting right now and what you need to know before you get on the water.
August Is a Great Month to Fish Near New Orleans
Louisiana’s inshore fishery doesn’t shut down in summer. The heat pushes some species deeper and changes their feeding windows, but the fish are there. Redfish and speckled trout are active all month. Flounder are moving. Sheepshead are sitting on structure just waiting to be caught.
The key is timing. August fishing near New Orleans is an early morning game. Most charters are on the water before sunrise and back at the dock by midday. You’ll catch more fish in those first few hours than most people see in a full day anywhere else.
What’s Biting in August Near New Orleans
Redfish
Redfish are the backbone of the Delacroix, Hopedale, and Shell Beach fishery and August is no exception. In summer they push into the shallow marsh ponds and interior lakes where baitfish are thick. On a calm morning you can see them tailing in inches of water — one of the most exciting things in inshore fishing.
Early morning is the prime window. As the sun gets up and the water warms, fish move to shadier, deeper areas. Captain Jimmy knows which ponds hold fish on any given day based on tide and wind direction — that local knowledge is what separates a good August trip from a slow one.
- Best technique: Soft plastics on a light jig head, or live shrimp under a popping cork
- Best time: First two hours of daylight
- Where to find them: Shallow marsh ponds, nearshore rigs, sunken islands, and oyster beds — follow the birds and you’ll find the fish
Speckled Trout
Speckled trout are the other anchor species in August. They hold around oyster reefs, nearshore rigs, and tidal passes where moving water brings bait to them. The early morning bite is aggressive and the fight is strong for a fish their size.
In August, trout tend to be most active in the first hour or two after sunrise before the heat sets in. As water temperatures peak midday they drop into deeper cuts and channels. Plan your trip around the early bite and you’ll stay on fish.
- Best technique: Soft plastics on a jig head or live shrimp under a popping cork
- Best time: Dawn through mid-morning
- Where to find them: Oyster reefs, nearshore rigs, tidal passes with moving water — under working birds is always worth a look
Flounder
Flounder are available year-round in the New Orleans area marsh and August is a solid month for them as a bonus species while targeting redfish and trout. They sit on the bottom near structure and ambush bait as it moves past. A flounder on light tackle puts up a strong fight and is some of the best eating in the marsh.
- Best technique: Soft plastics bounced slowly along the bottom near structure
- Where to find them: Oyster reefs, channel edges, anywhere structure meets moving water
Sheepshead
Sheepshead are structure fish and they don’t care what month it is. If there’s a reef, a rocky bottom, or any hard structure nearby, there are sheepshead. They’re known for stealing bait — they bite light and pull the shrimp off the hook before most anglers know what happened. Kids love catching them because the bites come quickly and the fight is stronger than you’d expect.
- Best technique: Shrimp fished tight to structure
- Where to find them: Oyster reefs, near the rocks, any hard bottom structure
How to Fish August Near New Orleans: The Game Plan
August fishing is about working with the conditions, not against them.
- Get on the water early. The best action is in the first two to three hours after sunrise before water temperatures rise and fish move deeper.
- Follow the tide. Rising tides push redfish onto the flats. Falling tides concentrate them in drains and cuts. The fish tell you where to be if you know how to read the water.
- Stay mobile. A spot holding fish at 6am may be empty by 8am as conditions change. Good captains move — they don’t anchor and wait.
- Come prepared for the heat. Hat, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, and light breathable clothing. The August sun in the open marsh is serious.
You Came for New Orleans. Now Get Into the Marsh.
Most people come to New Orleans for the food, the music, and the culture. And they should — there’s nowhere else like it.
But if you’re already making the trip, you’re 35 minutes from one of the best inshore fisheries in the country. Getting out on the water isn’t leaving New Orleans behind — it’s seeing the rest of it.
The same coast that produces the shrimp, the crawfish, and the oysters on every menu in the French Quarter is alive out here in the marsh. Louisiana didn’t earn the name “Sportsman’s Paradise” by accident. You just don’t see that part from Bourbon Street.
Spend your evening eating and listening to live music. Spend your morning sight-casting to tailing reds in the marsh. Not many places in the world let you do both in the same 24 hours.
Captain Jimmy Corley runs guided trips out of Shell Beach year-round. Call (504) 258-4431 or book your trip online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is August a good month to fish near New Orleans?
A: Yes. The heat changes the timing — early morning is the prime window — but redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and sheepshead are all active. Most charters are on the water before sunrise and back by midday with plenty of action.
Q: What time should I go fishing in August near New Orleans?
A: As early as possible. The best bite is in the first two to three hours after sunrise before water temperatures rise and fish move deeper. Captain Jimmy typically departs before sunup to put clients on fish during the peak window.
Q: What’s the best species to target in August near New Orleans?
A: Redfish are the primary target — shallow marsh ponds, tailing and feeding, incredibly active early morning. Speckled trout are a close second, especially on soft plastics and live shrimp around oyster structure.
Q: Do I need a fishing license for a charter near New Orleans?
A: Yes. All anglers need a valid Louisiana fishing license. Non-residents can purchase a temporary license online through the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries website — it takes about five minutes.
Q: How far is the fishing from downtown New Orleans?
A: About 35 minutes. Waterfowl Specialist launches out of Shell Beach in St. Bernard Parish — close enough for an easy day trip and far enough that you’re in genuine, productive marsh once you get there.
Q: Can beginners fish in August near New Orleans?
A: Absolutely. The early morning bite is consistent and the marsh environment is calm and protected water — not rough open water. Captain Jimmy has put plenty of first-timers on fish and knows how to keep the trip productive regardless of experience level.
Ready to Fish?
Call Captain Jimmy at (504) 258-4431 or book online at waterfowlspecialist.com
Shell Beach, St. Bernard Parish — 35 minutes from downtown New Orleans