‍ ‍RED DRUM (REDFISH)

Few fish hit with the kind of authority a redfish does. Whether they’re tailing in the shallows or cruising in small wolf packs, it’s rarely a matter of if they’ll eat — it’s which one gets there first. When they pin a fly, it’s decisive. Then comes the power: long, steady runs and that signature surge that sends you straight to your backing. Louisiana redfish are built thick and fight even thicker than those found in other fisheries.

• Louisiana’s nutrient-rich marsh environment grow enormous “BULL REDS” that range from 20 to as much as 50 pounds!

• In Florida and Texas, larger Redfish hide in deeper channels and open ocean. In contrast, the expansive Mississippi River Delta leads to vast stretches of shallow ponds, bayous and tidal flats (just 1-3 feet of water in most places).

• We are sight-fishing for tailing Reds (where you see a corner, or sometimes more, of their tail peeking out of the water, as they feed.

• Look for the telltale V-shaped wake that follows behind massive Bull Reds (and also Gators…)

• We launch boats out of Hopedale each day, providing anglers with a highly concentrated and widely diverse fishery while also offering the amenities and bustling nightlife of The Big Easy!

‍ ‍JACK CREVALLE

Jacks don’t sip — they annihilate. Fast-moving, high-energy, and always on the hunt, they devour flies with zero hesitation. Their takes is sudden and violent, with that first run always making you feel like you hooked something much bigger than you meant to….

They pull hard, change directions, and simply don’t quit. On a fly rod, a Jack Crevalle is controlled chaos in the best possible way.

• Ever given a bad rap, these “canal tuna” or “poor man’s GT” feature explosive topwater takes and exhibit intense endurance.

• “Bulldog like stamina”. Need we say more?

• You’ll never miss a school of Jack’s in the marshes of Hopedale when they corner a school of baitfish. They move in making as much ruckus as possible, creating “blitzes” that look like VIOLENT, BOILING WATER, visible from quite far.

‍ ‍BLACK DRUM

Hopedale features a wide variety of species to catch inshore. It’s less flash and more raw muscle — and they’ll make you earn every inch. A bottom-dwelling estuarine species, heralded for their brute strength, they closely resemble Redfish until close enough to tell the color or it leaps from the water.

• Red Drum (Redfish) has one or more dark, black ink-looking spot(s) on their tail. Black Drum do not have spots on their tails.

• They thrive in brackish water, estuaries and underwater obstacles, and surrounding oil rigs.

• Schools dredge up mud as they feed on crabs, creating these visible underwater mud bombs!

‍ ‍SHEEPSHEAD

Once called “convict fish” because of their vertical, black and white stripes, this species is known for their human-like teeth, and for being masters at snagging someone else’s bait.

• Their uncomfortably human-denture-like incisors and molars have evolved over time, easily crushing barnacles, crabs, and oysters.

• They forage directly off barnacle-crusted pilings and shells. You’ll often see them holding in slack water against structures downcurrent.

• Did you hook one? Can you tell? Don’t let their creepy mouths fool you, they have an intensely gentle “tap” of a take. Pull too soon and it’s game over - let them nibble!

Click HERE for more info on our New Orleans, Louisiana program.

Visit our TRIP CALENDAR for current availability.

‍ ‍ LATE SEPTEMBER-EARLY OCTOBER

This is WITHOUT A DOUBT the best time of year to visit this fishery. Cooling weather as we enter Fall means cooler water temps. The marsh waters clear up and these combined conditions trigger some seriously aggressive feeding in both Redfish and Speckled Trout.

Large Bulls school near passes and Speckled Trout make strong runs inside the bays. We’ve been out in the bayou in cooler months, and Spring. We’ve chosen a time that offers prime fly fishing, with more moderate temperatures. Add to it our incredible pop-up location in the Bywater District of New Orleans proper, and we have to ask. . . . What other way is there to do it?

For more details, check out our NOLA BROCHURE.

Check our Trip Calendar for current availability.

Experience the music, culture and history of New Orleans, Travel Creel style. We are heading back to NOLA and you don’t want to miss out! Our lodge is a sprawling mansion in the historic Marigny district that used to be a neighborhood Bar & Grill. We are within walking distance of the lively French Quarter and Bourbon Street. We’ve teamed up with the best guides on the bayou, come along as a member of the Creel Crew for another epic adventure out on the marsh!

Click HERE to check out our web brochure for more on our New Orleans program!

REDFISH YUM YUM

A delicate, flavorful, and downright addictive dish that pairs perfectly with a day spent chasing giants in the Low-country marsh. This plate brings together the elegance of French Cajun cuisine and the soul of the Travel Creel experience. Fresh redfish takes center stage, accented by the gentle heat of piment d’Espelette and finished with a rich, crave-worthy yum yum sauce that ties it all together.

We want to see! Share your cooking by tagging on social media @travelcreel

Full Recipe

We expect to see conservation efforts of this species to increase, as scientists have warned that adult spawning stocks are declining, due to historic overfishing. Catch and release isn’t optional here; if on a charter, you are not allowed to keep any Redfish AT ALL.

Make sure to always handle fish with care. When photographing, it’s key to ensure they spend as little time out of the water as possible.

Check out these for more info on Redfish conservation efforts in Louisiana:

• Coastal Conservation - Redfish

• AFTCO