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It looks like you’re using the Shell Beach forecast. Use Comfort Island and Bay Gardene since those are “outside” areas that more accurately reflect where you will be fishing. When you do, you’ll see that the wind is gonna be a tad bit bumpier. The tide timing is also different by about 5-6 hours. That’s a big deal.
After that, there’s a hazard (with more information about it linked here) that’s near Platform 2 and Oyster Reef 2.
After that, there’s no problem with fishing shallow water. If you think some place could be shallow, then come off plane further out and idle/trolling motor in and fish it anyway. I caught some nice trout yesterday in water that was as shallow as 18 inches. They are there. Stop throwing mud everywhere, slow down, be as stealthy as you reasonably can and fish them anyway. Your boat can do it.
Bring a cajun anchor or Danforth if you don’t have Power Poles. I don’t have a jackplate or Power Poles and I can make it happen. You can, too.
I think your plan is good and worth executing. If I were starting from scratch that’s what I would do to begin learning the area. That’s because the spots you picked out are protected from a SE wind and that’s what has been blowing this whole time and would have been blowing the whole time by the time you get in the water (if the prediction doesn’t change).
But it isn’t my first time fishing that area, so I’m actually going to recommend something a little different than what you’ve got planned.
** Plan 1 **
I think you should shoot straight out further than what you’ve got planned. If I were you, I’d be at the Long Rocks first thing in the morning and fish against the rocks with an 1/8oz jig and Matrix Shad in Ultraviolet. Then I’d fish off the rocks in the deeper stuff (~5-9ft) with a 1/4oz or 3/8oz jighead. Start somewhere further southeast and let the wind blow you down the length of the Long Rocks. I’d also try the end of the Long Rocks. There are three “ends”. Even consider fishing the middle of the break in the rocks.
Then I’d shoot to Raccoon Island and pop corks on the lee side of it. Then I’d scream to Platform 1 and fish that. I’d be on the trolling motor aggressively fishing around it with a 3/8oz jighead. Then I’d have the throttle punched through the dash to fish the Trash Rig in Bay Eloi. Then I’d go to the rig southeast of there and do the same thing. Jig both spots. If you have a helpful person with you, then that helpful person gets to throw a cork with a 40″ leader. Then I’d pop corks at Deadman Island. Beat them with a stick if they try anything else. It’s also that helpful person’s job not to fly out the boat. It’s a bass boat, it eithers idles or screams at top RPM. There is no inbetween.
Then I’d scream to Comfort Island.
I could also condense this trip to Long Rocks -> Trash Rig -> Comfort Island. I’d even consider doing that in reverse order because the Long Rocks is probably gonna have everyone and their mom there on a Saturday.
When you fish Comfort Island, know the shallow water on the west side usually does best. Cork it with a 40″ leader.
If it’s too bumpy because the weather man sucks at his job then go inside to the MRGO and fish those spots I picked out. Cork ’em. Or you can do what you picked out from Trout 1 to Trout 9. I think those could work but do not dilly dally. You are moving with a purpose.
You need to be mentally prepared to forget the Long Rocks in the event the river is splooging crap all over it. If you get there and see garbage water, LEAVE. Jump to Warp 9 to clearer water. I would not fish the rigs southeast of the Long Rocks (Five Wells and 32 Block) because they are most certainly covered in crap river water.
** Plan 2 **
Use this plan to guarantee calmer water and where water is definitely not gonna be threatened by river water or having been dirtied by that strong SE wind for days on end. Plus the wind is predicted to be calmer out this way. Bring bug spray.
I’d go straight to the rocks on the east side of Lake Borgne. Fish a topwater against the rocks for quality trout, have your helper fish a cork with a 24″ leader.
You will see there are coves in breaks in the rocks, definitely fish in those and fish the end of the rocks.
You will also see bright white shell banks on GED. Fish those.
Then you’ll see a rig off of Point aux Marchettes at 29° 59.034’N 89° 37.247’W IIRC. Fish that. It will be calm enough. Jig and drop shot that bad boy. Maybe a cork. Lots of snags there, be ready to break off.
Then consider fishing the reef balls at 30˚ 04.283’ -89˚ 35.107’. Due east of that is a big shell bank on Lake Borgne.
Magill Lagoon is Plan Redfish.
There you go. Good luck.
