Keith Lusher 08.14.24
The August heat has sunk its claws into Southeast Louisiana. With highs in the upper 90s forecasted all week, inshore anglers are opting for preseason NFL football games over trying to chase speckled trout.
So when Danny Hunter of New Orleans Best Charters called to invite me on a trip to Lake Borgne, I have to admit I hesitated to answer him right away.
Hunter has been finding limits of speckled trout by fishing oyster beds on the southern end of Lake Borgne. I met Hunter early in the morning so that we could make the most of the cooler hours before the sun fully rose.
We launched at Rigolet’s Marina and hunkered down for an hour-long drive through Rigolet’s Pass and across the lake. The winds were blowing out of the north at 10 mph, making the lake a bit of a challenge, but Hunter’s 24-foot Sportsman Master 247 bay boat handled it well.
After reaching Fishing Smack Bay, Hunter pointed out white PVC pipes that rose from the water. “Those markers show where all the oyster leases are,” he said. “When fishing flat-bottom lakes like Lake Borgne, any kind of structure you can find is going to attract baitfish and predator fish.”
Hunter uses Marker 54 Jerk Shrimp 4-inch shrimp in the the Natural Brown color. He rigs the shrimp 4 feet under an Undertaker Cork.
Hunter threw his trolling motor down and positioned his boat on the outside of an oyster bed. We both casted our rigs into the water. The action was slow at first as we were popping our corks to no avail. However, patience paid off, and Hunter’s cork suddenly shot under. He leaned back, set the hook, and reeled in a 14-inch speckled trout. He explained what he’d observed at these oyster reefs. “Sometimes these fish swim around these reefs looking for baitfish, so you have to be patient out here. If you move after fishing a spot for just half an hour, you might miss the fish when they come through,” he said.
Hunter was right! My cork shot under, and I reeled in a 15-inch trout that I tossed into the ice chest. We stayed put in our position and caught a few more speckled trout with some white trout mixed in. Hunter said the white trout bite had been amazing all summer and had helped “save” a few trips when he takes clients out. “A lot of people frown upon keeping white trout. They say the meat is too mushy. But I find if you get it on ice quickly and keep the meat cold from the time it enters the boat to the freezer, white trout fillets rank right up there with speckled trout,” Hunter said.
As the morning wore on, the sun rose higher, and the heat reminded us of why August can be such a challenge for fishing. Hunter shared his “glass half full” analogy. “Look around. How many boats do you see?” he asked. “We’ve got the whole bay to ourselves out here. If you prepare correctly—sunblock, long sleeves and pants, and a hat—the heat is manageable,” he said.
I have to admit that the steady action of hauling in speckled trout and white trout made the heat barely noticeable at times.
As 10:00 a.m. approached, we were closing in on a limit of specks. That’s when Hunter’s cork went under, and he set the hook on something that pulled drag from his reel. He lowered his head and said, “Stinking gafftop!” Gafftop catfish are a nuisance fish here in Louisiana and are rarely kept, despite making for good table fare. The fish moved in on our party, and we began catching gafftop catfish that averaged 20 inches. After wasting time reeling in a few of these fish, Hunter made a move to another oyster reef where we picked up where we left off. Hunter’s cork shot under, and he yelled, “Fish on!” He reeled in an 18-inch speckled trout, which was an eye-opener. “Now we’re talking,” Hunter said. “Sometimes these bigger trout will come through and turn your entire trip around,” he said.
As we were finishing off our limit, my cork shot under, and I set the hook but was disappointed when I saw the fish running deep. Typically, speckled trout come to the surface when being reeled in, and catfish dive deep. I was sure I had a gafftop and reeled the fish in rather nonchalantly. As the fish neared the boat, Hunter spotted that silvery flash and yelled, “It’s a speck!” I boat-flipped the fish into the boat, and it measured 19 inches. It was the perfect way to end our trip.
From now until the first cool fronts arrive, the oyster beds in Fishing Smack Bay will be producing trout. Hunter recommends that anglers with the summertime blues make a trip to the reefs. “I have been catching fish here all month, and there is no sign of it letting up,” he said.
