Redfish season settles in as Louisiana waters cool

What's biting

What's next

Tide timing is the main lever for planning. At station 8761724 the next high lands at 13:32 UTC, which is 8:32 AM local (CDT), and the following low comes at 21:03 UTC, about 4:03 PM. At station 8760922 the high arrives earlier, near 12:40 UTC (7:40 AM CDT), with the low at 19:58 UTC (2:58 PM CDT). The morning rising and peak tide window is the stretch to prioritize, since moving water pushes bait into the shallows and redfish tend to stage on those edges.

Coastal Angler Magazine points to tides, structure and the right retrieves as the keys to October success with artificials. Working lures slowly along edges as the tide moves is a sensible approach. With the moon in a waxing gibbous phase, evening light and the push toward the next low are worth a second look, though the earlier morning window is the better bet.

If cool fronts continue to arrive and nudge temperatures down a few degrees, expect fish to hold tighter to deeper channel edges and warmer, slower-moving backwater during the coolest parts of the day. Midday sun can warm shallow flats enough to turn fish on, so adjust depth to the temperature you see on the water.

Context

Late October is typically a transition period on the Louisiana coast. Water that spent the summer in the 80s eases into the 70s, and redfish generally feed more aggressively as baitfish move out of the marsh. The mid-70s readings this week look on schedule for the season rather than early or late. Anglers usually see fish concentrate along tidal edges and drains as the fall progresses, and conditions often improve with each passing front. Check state regs before harvesting.