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Lake Pontchartrain Fishing

Lake Pontchartrain Fishing

Lake Pontchartrain was formed naturally 2,600–4,000 years ago from the Mississippi River Delta. The evolution of the delta caused alluvial deposits to begin creating the southern and eastern shorelines of Lake Pontchartrain, which actually isn't a lake but an estuary. Lake Pontchartrain is connected to the Gulf of Mexico through the Rigolets strait and the Chef Menteur Pass. The estuary has an oval shape with a max length of 40 miles and a max width of 24 miles. There are shipping channels that are kept deeper than the rest of the estuary through dredging. The world's longest continuous bridge over water crosses Lake Pontchartrain, providing lots of structure to catch fish.

Lake Pontchartrain provides inshore fishing opportunities. With the average water depth is 12–14 feet with a max depth of 65 feet, the types of fish you could catch while Lake Pontchartrain fishing include Atlantic Croaker, Bass, Catfish, Flounder, Redfish, Sheepshead and Speckled Trout. When the spillways are opened, freshwater flows into the estuary, bringing some freshwater species.

Fall and winter are the best seasons for targeting Speckled Trout because they tend to temporarily migrate elsewhere when the freshwater flows in from the spillways. Black Drum, Flounder, Largemouth Bass, Redfish and Sheepshead are other species great to target while Lake Pontchartrain fishing in winter. During summer, common species caught at the estuary include Black Drum, Flounder, Jack Crevalle, Largemouth Bass, Redfish, Sheepshead and Tripletail. If you know where to look, you can still reel in Speckled Trout in the summer too.

The world's largest Sheepshead, weighing in at 21.25 pounds, was caught at Lake Pontchartrain. A record 4.64-pound Ladyfish was also caught at the estuary and holds one of the state records in Louisiana. The largest Speckled Trout hooked from the estuary was 11.99 pounds, holding rank No. 2 in Louisiana.



Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Forecast

Target Species of Fish

Based on historical data for fishing Lake Pontchartrain, you should target one of the following species for this time of year:
  1. Spotted Seatrout

  2. Spotted Seatrout

    There is a 65.12% catch rate for Spotted Seatrout, based on 13570 Spotted Seatrout counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Spotted Seatrout Counts Chart
    Spotted

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN SPOTTED SEATROUT COUNTS CHART


  3. Red Drum

  4. Red Drum

    There is a 11.16% catch rate for Red Drum, based on 2326 Red Drum counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Red Drum Counts Chart
    Red

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN RED DRUM COUNTS CHART


  5. Sand Seatrout

  6. Sand Seatrout

    There is a 6.81% catch rate for Sand Seatrout, based on 1420 Sand Seatrout counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Sand Seatrout Counts Chart
    Sand

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN SAND SEATROUT COUNTS CHART


  7. Largemouth Bass

  8. Largemouth Bass

    There is a 4.38% catch rate for Largemouth Bass, based on 912 Largemouth Bass counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Largemouth Bass Counts Chart
    Largemouth

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN LARGEMOUTH BASS COUNTS CHART


  9. Sheepshead

  10. Sheepshead

    There is a 2.67% catch rate for Sheepshead, based on 557 Sheepshead counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Sheepshead Counts Chart
    Sheepshead

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN SHEEPSHEAD COUNTS CHART


  11. Black Drum

  12. Black Drum

    There is a 2.15% catch rate for Black Drum, based on 449 Black Drum counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Black Drum Counts Chart
    Black

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BLACK DRUM COUNTS CHART


  13. Southern Flounder

  14. Southern Flounder

    There is a 1.58% catch rate for Southern Flounder, based on 330 Southern Flounder counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Southern Flounder Counts Chart
    Southern

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN SOUTHERN FLOUNDER COUNTS CHART


  15. Hardhead Catfish

  16. Hardhead Catfish

    There is a 1.13% catch rate for Hardhead Catfish, based on 236 Hardhead Catfish counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Hardhead Catfish Counts Chart
    Hardhead

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN HARDHEAD CATFISH COUNTS CHART


  17. Whiting

  18. Whiting

    There is a 1.08% catch rate for Whiting, based on 225 Whiting counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Whiting Counts Chart
    Whiting

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN WHITING COUNTS CHART


  19. Blue Catfish

  20. Blue Catfish

    There is a 0.9% catch rate for Blue Catfish, based on 188 Blue Catfish counted.

    Lake Pontchartrain Blue Catfish Counts Chart
    Blue

    ENLARGE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BLUE CATFISH COUNTS CHART


Recommendations above based on 47 species of fish and 20839 fish counted for November around Lake Pontchartrain.

To date, there are 124 species of fish and a total of 193540 fish counted for Lake Pontchartrain and within a 30 mile (48 km) radius since 5/1/1829 (194 years).

Last Update: 11/23/2023 10:20:39 PM

*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Please check local, state/province, and federal laws before fishing for any species found on this site. All data is based on historical data found for this area, and in some cases as far back as the year 1600.

View full Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Forecast to see all species.

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Top Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Spots

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The Top 10 Fishing Spots for Lake Pontchartrain are the following:

  1. Platform
    Platform


  2. Obstructions


  3. St. Tammany (east)
    Artificial Reef Reef site St. Tammany (east) Latitude NAD83 30° 13.455? Longitude NAD83 89° 56.854? Reef type Inshore Waterbody


  4. St. Tammany (west)
    Artificial Reef Reef site St. Tammany (west) Latitude NAD83 30° 18.348? Longitude NAD83 90° 09.000? Reef type Inshore Waterbody


  5. The Rigolets
    The Rigolets


  6. Catfish Point
    Catfish Point


  7. Bridge Span
    Bridge Span


  8. Trout Bayou
    Trout Bayou


  9. Rabbit Ledge
    Rabbit Ledge


  10. wreck-9652


View more Top Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Spots


Latest Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Reports

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View Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Reports

Top Lake Pontchartrain Bait & Tackle Stores

  1. Matrix Shad
    Capt. Chas Champagne is an avid angler, located in Slidell, LA. Capt. Chas owns and operates Dockside Bait & Tackle and also manufactures his own tackle producing the Matrix Shad fishing lure and the Golden Eye jig heads.

  2. Bayou Liberty Marina


  3. Bait Shop II LLC


View more Lake Pontchartrain Bait & Tackle Stores

Top Lake Pontchartrain Fishing Charters & Guides

  1. Salted Flats Fly Fishing LLC
    Catch Tarpon and Redfish on Fly - Florida and Louisiana Flats Fishing Guide

  2. Fishunter Guide Services


  3. BIGFISH Charter Fishing & Lodging
    Full Day Day of Fishing from Hopedale, LA Big Time Fishing from our 23' Bay Boats or 29' Catamaran

  4. United Charters


View more Lake Pontchartrain Charters & Guides

Top Lake Pontchartrain Marinas

  1. Bayou Liberty Marina


View more Lake Pontchartrain Marinas

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