FISHING ADVENTURES

Southwest Louisiana is the place where you need to drop your line. The location sets anglers up for success because the choices are numerous whether you want to go fishing in freshwater, brackish water, saltwater, or even go offshore or surf fishing with the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Waterways are plentiful and so are opportunities to catch the big one – and not let it get away!

Captain Tom Adams of Fishing Tom Guide Services has some tips and advice for anyone looking to have a reel good time fishing in the Lake Area. He’s been fishing the Louisiana Coast most of his life, but for the past 10 years, he’s been guiding in the Lake Charles area.

If fishing in the Calcasieu River, Tom says you can catch many different types of freshwater fish, sport fish like black bass and catfish to great pan fish like sacalait (white perch and bluegill). Captain Tom recommends using minnows, worms and varieties of artificial lures.

“A beautiful place to have this type of experience is in the spring or summer at Sam Houston Jones State Park,” said Captain Tom.

For a saltwater experience, Holly Beach is ideal for walking on sandy beaches, collecting seashells and fishing the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Captain Tom explains: “The best way to fish the surf is with a surf rod and high-test line. A Carolina rig baited with croaker or mullet are the best way to entice the monsters that lurk in the waters of the Gulf. The most common fish caught this way are Redfish, black drum and sharks. The best time for this is summer and fall. During the summer months with a calm day, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico open up to offshore fishing. This introduces the opportunity to catch Ling Cod, Mahi and Red snapper.”

Whichever fishing excursion is right for you, Captain Tom has a piece of advice: “On any fishing trip it is important to have sunscreen and plenty of water. It’s no fun to cook your wonderful catch if you got cooked by the Louisiana sun.”

Check out fishing guides in Southwest Louisiana!