New Orleans Red Snapper Fishing
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
Target Red Snapper during limited 4-month Gulf seasonFish productive oil rigs and reefs offshoreCatch multiple snapper species plus Cobia opportunities
When snapper season opens in the Gulf of Mexico, there's no better place to be than fishing the deep-water rigs and reefs off New Orleans. This is your shot at some of the most sought-after bottom fish in the Gulf, and Captain Performance knows exactly where to find them. With only about four months to work with each year, every trip counts when you're targeting these prized catches in the oil rig structures that have become artificial reefs teeming with life.
Your day starts early as we head out to the productive waters surrounding the countless oil platforms that dot the Gulf horizon. These structures have been creating world-class fishing habitat for decades, attracting baitfish and the predators that feed on them. The trip focuses on bottom fishing around these rigs, where red snapper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, and the occasional mutton snapper (what we call b-liners down here) set up shop. Don't be surprised if we hook into some cobia cruising the mid-water column either - they love these structures just as much as the snappers do. This is a single angler charter, so you'll have the captain's full attention and won't be competing for prime fishing spots on the boat.
We're talking serious bottom fishing here, using heavy tackle to pull fish up from depths that can range anywhere from 80 to 200 feet depending on which rig we're working. The captain will have you rigged up with circle hooks and fresh cut bait - typically squid, cigar minnows, or whatever's running fresh that day. The technique is straightforward but requires some finesse: drop your rig to the bottom, reel up a few cranks to get off the structure, and wait for that telltale thump of a snapper picking up your bait. The challenge comes when you hook up - these fish know every inch of their home turf and will try to cut you off on the rig structure. That's where good tackle and quick hands make the difference between fish in the box and another "big one that got away" story.
Black drum around these rigs can grow massive, with fish over 40 pounds not uncommon during the right conditions. They're bottom huggers that love to feed on crabs and shellfish that call the rig pilings home. Spring and early summer are prime time for the big bulls, and when you hook into one, you'll know it immediately - they fight with pure bulldogging power and test your drag system to the limit. What makes them special is their size and the way they use their weight against you, making every turn of the reel handle a battle.
Sea trout in the rig areas tend to be the larger, deeper-water specimens that can reach impressive sizes compared to their inshore cousins. These fish suspend in the water column around the rigs, feeding on the abundant baitfish that the structures attract. They're more active during dawn and dusk periods, and their aggressive strikes on both live and cut bait make them a customer favorite. The deeper-water trout also tend to be much thicker and heavier than the skinny-water fish most anglers are used to catching.
Redfish around the offshore rigs are typically the larger adult fish that have moved out from the marshes to join the spawning population. These bronze-backed fighters can exceed 30 inches and provide some of the strongest fights you'll experience. They patrol the edges of the rig structures looking for easy meals and will absolutely slam a well-presented bait. Late summer and fall tend to produce the best action for these offshore reds, and their power combined with the deep water makes for some memorable battles.
Remember, snapper season is limited to just about four months each year, making these trips some of the most in-demand charters in New Orleans. The combination of productive rig fishing, multiple snapper species, and the chance at bonus fish like cobia makes this a top-rated experience that fills up fast. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to add some Gulf snappers to your fish box or someone who wants to experience the renowned rig fishing that makes this area famous, this charter delivers the goods. Don't wait until the season is halfway over - book your trip now and get ready to fish some of the best artificial reef structure in the Gulf of Mexico.
Your ride to the Gulf's best red snapper spots is a tech-loaded motorboat built for serious wreck fishing. This boat cuts through New Orleans waters with GPS navigation and radar keeping you on course to productive structure, while the wireless trolling motor lets you position silently over submerged wrecks without spooking fish below. The fish finder shows exactly what's holding near the bottom - whether it's red snapper, cobia, or those tasty mangrove snappers hanging around the rig pilings. XM weather keeps you updated on conditions, and VHF radio maintains contact with other boats working the same productive areas. With snapper season's short window, this boat's technology gives you every advantage to locate and land those prized Gulf bottom dwellers that call the offshore structures home.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweight champions of the drum family, running anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These grey-black bruisers love crushing oysters and crabs with their powerful jaws, making them perfect targets around oyster beds and muddy flats in 2-20 feet of water. Spring spawning season is prime time when they school up in the marshes and estuaries around New Orleans. What makes them special is that drumming sound they make - you can actually hear them underwater. They fight hard and steady, though keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for the table since the big ones get tough. Pro tip: use fresh blue crab for bait and fish right on the bottom - they won't come up for it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature inshore species, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and distinctive black spot near the tail. These fish typically range from 20-35 inches and fight like freight trains in shallow water. You'll find them cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges in just 1-6 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. They're year-round residents here, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're most aggressive. Guests love reds because they eat almost anything and provide explosive topwater strikes that'll get your heart pumping. The meat is excellent with a mild, sweet flavor. Here's a local tip: look for nervous baitfish or "muds" (stirred-up water) - that's usually redfish feeding on the bottom.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful silver fish covered in black spots that typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds. They love grass flats, oyster reefs, and drop-offs in 3-12 feet of water throughout our Louisiana marshes. These fish are most active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What guests love about trout fishing is the variety - they'll hit topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with equal enthusiasm. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious but delicate, so don't overcook it. They're scrappy fighters that make great action on light tackle. Local secret: work your lure slowly over grass beds during moving tides - specks ambush prey from the grass edges.
New Orleans, LA