[john-zablocki]

Hey Jacob–I live in Lafayette and fish Vermillion Bay a fair bit. I guide fly fishing trips for redfish part time, so I haven’t been chasing specks lately. That said, a few suggestions to come to mind. It looks like a good strong falling tide Saturday, with low tide around 12:30. If I was out chasing specks, I would target drains and points. Drains like mouth of Shark Bayou or Bayou Pierre, or if you wanted to launch at Burns Point, you could hit up some of those good marsh drains just north of there, like British American canal or Yellow Bayou. I’ve also heard reports of people catching limits of specks at points in the Hammock.

If you want to target some reds/flounder, I’d try fishing the Blue Point shoreline from Bayou Pierre up to the end of the shoreline where it opens to Vermillion Bay. I find a lot of reds along the shoreline east of Bird Island Bayou at Marsh Island. If all else fails, you can hit up some of the crowded community holes (the Cove, Trash Pile, Avery Canal, etc).

[john-zablocki]

Right on. Much appreciated. My sense is that in many ways south Louisiana is a victim of its own abundance. It’s such a vast and productive environment that I think it creates this sense in people that it is limitless and can be managed that way. But it’s not. Six bowfishing boats hitting up the same ponds night after night can do some real damage. I hate to say it but I think people in Louisiana don’t realize what they have and what they are losing.

Re: sandbar city–I hear you on that. That’s my biggest concern with that run. That’s why am heading out Friday where it’s a rising tide all day in case we would get stuck in morning. I also carry an EPIRB, Satellite Phone, and VHF radio just in case.

Will let yall know how it goes!

[john-zablocki]

First, thanks for the prompt reply. Much appreciated. I was contemplating whether I may change plans and run out the Atchafalaya Delta rather than the Wax Lake Delta. It’s a much closer run to the west side of Four League Bay from the Atchafalaya than it is to the Wax. I’ve fished the east side of Four League Bay (e.g., Oyster Bayou into Bay Castagnier) running from Dularge, but not the west side. The east side was choked with redfish, so am eager to see what the west side looks like.

Re: Launch–
Am considering either launching at Calumet if we fish the Wax Lake Delta or the Jesse Fotenot Memorial Boat Launch on the Atchafalaya River south of Morgan City. Below is link to a quick and dirty KML file mapping out the two options.

https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1eMSGv_Rspqzo1FiN1Rr6cFAcul8k4Een?usp=sharing

Lastly, I don’t remember if I commented this before, but I think you did a really excellent job on the courses (I went through 101,201, redfish sight). And also appreciate very much your voice and advocacy on fisheries management in Louisiana. Your commentaries are very to the point and not conflict-averse, but at the same time thoughtful and measured in tone.

I don’t know if you fly-fish, but if you ever want to give it a shot, let me know and happy to have you as guest of honor in my boat.

-JZ