Cameron/Grand Chenier advice for Gulf newbie

[zthomas]

New to the board and looking for some advice. I’ll be coming down from Arkansas the weekend of 6/25 and 26 with a 21’ deep vee center console. I know my way around the salt, but I’ve never fished the gulf coast—just southern California and Baja.

We’re thinking of launching out of Grand Chenier. I’d love to catch a few snappers and maybe have a shot at cobia. It sounds, from reading a lot of previous posts, like that means running 30 to 50 miles out. Is that about right? Any general tips on which direction to head, what to look for on the sounder, etc.?

Other questions:

Anywhere to stay around Grand Chenier? Or would we be better off staying in Cameron and heading out from there?

Anything specialized I need in the way of tackle, besides 20-lb. conventional gear and cut-bait rigs? When you all talk about trolling, are you talking tuna feather-type stuff at 6 or 7 knots, or diving plugs?

Any other species we should be thinking about? Are there redfish or trout on the closer rigs? AJs?

Are we barking up the wrong tree altogether--should we be fishing inshore this time of year?

Any weather/navigation tips specific to the area?

I know that’s a lot of questions, but I’ll appreciate any little bit of info anyone cares to share.

Like I said, I know boats and the ocean and fish reasonably well, but I just don’t have a clue about pretty much any of the species here or about rig fishing in general. Had to move away from the west coast for work two years ago, and this will be my first time back on the water since then. Can't wait, and I hope to make it down several times a year from now on.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Ray]

The only place to stay would be in Cameron or Holly Beach.
Hurricane Rita wiped out all the other places.

Cameron Motel in Cameron.
In Holly Beach, there are some campers for rent.

You cannot keep Redfish outside state waters, be careful. AJ's are in deeper water than Red Snapper.

Out of Cameron, you gotta go around 35 miles to get to 50 ft. of water. Out of Grand Chenier it is closer.

If you stay in the middle of the ship channel in Cameron, you don't have anything to worry about. In Grand Chenier, you can run on a mud flat in the middle of the river if you are not careful. Watch for the canes marking shallow water.
Once you get offshore, just watch out for floating debris and platforms/jackets.

[meaux fishing]

Is there a reason you are set on the west side of the state? On the east side it gets deeper a whole lot quicker. With rig fishing some times the fish will be on the upcurrent side Sometimes on the downcurrent side. Make sure you dont have any redfish in the boat is you are more than 3 miles offshore. Also AJ season is closed right now so don't even target them

[Finfeatherfur]

Ditto to everything up here already!!!!! I will be fishing a tournament at that time, but will be out further, alot further unless weather is an issue.

Target mangroves also as the snapper limit is only 2 and you will be done with that quick, fast, and in a hurry! Pick up some sabiki rigs at Academy and use them to put some live hardtails in your livewell on the way out. Also, I see you are from Arkansas so if you get a chance to reach water in the 120-150' depths, I would surely try to battle a Amberjack if you have never caught one. A "reef donkey" is an incredible fight and it would make a great addition to you photos for the trip. Just don't bring it in since our friends in Washington are trying to help us by closing the season!!! What a bunch of aholes!

Good luck and like they said, deeper water is to the east of Grand Chenier area, but I fish this area you are speaking of often and do "ok" for being shallow.

[Finfeatherfur]

By the way, for mangroves, rig up a heavy spinning rig with some 80lb braid and tie a small circle hook to it. Chum them cutting some hardtails, or buy some shad and cut them using that as chum. Once you get them feeding good, then throw in a chunk with the hook inside. If they get hook shy, use a double uni knot w/ some 60lb flurocarbon and repeat. Limit is 10 per person on them and they are everywhere out there.

Also, look for mats of grass and weed lines. Target Mahi Mahi there!

[zthomas]

Man, y'all sure are friendly and generous with the information--a lot more than on the west coast discussion boards like this. I really appreciate the help.

Meaux, with four days for the trip, I'm just going to the closest saltwater. Figure it's a 9 to 10 hour drive, so we'll haul it all the way down Saturday, fish Sunday and Monday, and haul it all the way back Tuesday. Nine hours sucks, but it's do-able. For me, the 11 or 12 hours to Venice is the difference between a long day and a too-long day.

Ray, will call the Cameron motel. I'm guessing there's somewhere in town to grab dinner and a beer?

Finfeatherfur, hardtails are little jacks, right? Do they hang around the rigs, too? The mahi--are they those little "chicken dolphin" or is there a chance of some bigger models? I would have figured they were only out in the blue water--weird to think of them in 50 feet.

Strangely, we occasionally get AJs in Baja, so I've pulled on a few of them. Much more common, though, is my favorite of all fish, California yellowtail (see pic of a buddy of mine in the Sea of Cortez). Very closely related to AJs, but taste better, in my opinion.

So how deep to I have to get (or how far should I plan on running) to find the snappers? And is 20 lb. gear okay?

Thanks again!

[gckid]

Really depends on the wind. Rough off of grand chenier now. might calm down in a couple days. Head 180 degrees out of grand chenier, about 18 miles out you,ll start getting into some rigs, begin hitting these platform, snapper, ling, rip tides, always caught good.

[catch.and.fillet]

In my book, yellowtail = great sashimi

good luck on the trip. Look forward to the report.

[Ray]

There is 2 places to get food in Cameron and 1 Honky Tonk.