St. Tammany County, LA · Gulf of Mexico
Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)
The vast brackish estuary at New Orleans’ doorstep — 630 square miles of fishable water ringed by public access at Fontainebleau State Park, the Causeway, and the lakefront. Redfish, speckled trout, and black drum work the bridge pilings, rock dams, and the Rigolets passes; spring and fall are prime as fish move with the tides.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum & Sheepshead — tied at the top (0/100)
4 species tied for best of 4 tracked at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau).
Coastal Flood Advisory issued June 5 at 12:30PM CDT until June 5 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 10:18 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 10:40 PM | High | 0.5 ft |
Species at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)
4 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 4 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Red Drum Skip the Red Drum trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 82°F water — inside red drum's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — red drum prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Sciaenops ocellatus — Also called channel bass, redfish, or (as juveniles) puppy drum. Summer and fall target around the lower Bay shoals and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Big "bull reds" cruise the surf in fall.
Prefers. Water 65–85°F (ideal 75°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–20 ft.
- Min size
- 16"
- Daily creel
- 5
16" minimum, 5/person/day; no more than one over 27".
Source: Louisiana regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Spotted Seatrout Skip the Spotted Seatrout trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 82°F water — inside spotted seatrout's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Cynoscion nebulosus — Popularly called "speckled trout" or "specks." Summer-fall target in the lower Bay grass beds and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Topwater walkers at dawn and soft plastics on jigheads are standard.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–15 ft.
- Min size
- 13"
- Max size
- 20"
- Daily creel
- 15
13–20" slot, 15/person/day (two over-slot allowed).
Source: Louisiana regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Black Drum Skip the Black Drum trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 82°F water — inside black drum's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — black drum prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Pogonias cromis — The red drum’s heavier, bottom-grubbing cousin — a deep-bodied sciaenid that roots crabs and shellfish off mud and oyster bottom across the Gulf and South Atlantic. "Puppy drum" in the slot are excellent eating; the giant bull black drum that mass to spawn around passes and jetties in late winter and spring can top 80 lb. A staple of Louisiana and Texas inshore fishing alongside redfish and speckled trout.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 2–40 ft.
- Min size
- 16"
- Max size
- 27"
- Daily creel
- 5
Louisiana: 16–27" slot, 5/person/day; no more than one over 27".
Source: Louisiana regulations · verified 2026-06-03.
#1 Sheepshead Check local Sheepshead regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Sheepshead in LA on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 82°F water — inside sheepshead's active range
- 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — sheepshead prefers slack tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Archosargus probatocephalus — Structure-oriented crustacean eater with famously human-like teeth. VA piers, jetties, and the rocks and pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are the classic targets. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or small pieces of shrimp on a knocker rig right against the structure. Expect to lose tackle.
Prefers. Water 60–82°F (ideal 72°F) · slack tide · depth 5–40 ft.
No regulations on file for Louisiana / gulf. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
Location Info
Water Body
Gulf of Mexico
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Louisiana
Coordinates
Notes
LA saltwater regs apply. The bridge and trestle pilings (Causeway, Trestles, Rigolets) are the classic structure bite.
Local reports & rules for Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau): Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)?
Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum, Sheepshead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) have?
Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. LA saltwater regs apply. The bridge and trestle pilings (Causeway, Trestles, Rigolets) are the classic structure bite.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau)?
state agency regulations apply at Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) tidal water?
Yes. Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.