jcmor23

I've never had the opportunity to fish Empire area. Thinking about making a run from Empire to WD 30's. Looking at maps and articles on La Sportsman it seems it may be a little tricky navigating out. Any tips or suggestions. I won't be doing this in the dark and will have adequate light.

Also thinking about fishing for trout on the way out, any spots along the way?

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

BananaTom

From Empire, take the Ship Channel as we called it.

I fish Happy Jack at Port Sulpher/ Empire allot.

Once we went from Happy Jack to Empire, crossed the river and fished the East side.
It is freaking beautiful over there since they opened the locks, and let the river flow into that area.
It is amazing to watch it come back to life!!

Watching for diving birds.

When we go there, it ain't fishing buddy, we call it Catching.
Non-stop action!!

We fish the Salt Mine area for trout, when the wind lets us. Those are meat days. 25 per head.
For reds we fish small ponds, and watch for them tailing.

jcmor23

Thanks Banana.....

How well marked is the ship channel?

Striker Tackle

Once you leave the Delta Marina you simply follow the what is left of the Empire canal into the old Bayou long this is about 4.5 miles run from the marina by then what remaining land ends and essentially open water the rest of the way except for an island or two, some piles that run the outer ledge of the old channel. You will see the channel marker bouys green/white and red/white, cant miss them they are about 3' in diameter stay in the middle and follow them out to the beach and you will be fine. When you get out to the jetties you have to stay to your west side (Shell Island side) last summer the entrance to the actual jetties was filled in with sand or silted in. They have pumped brand new beaches on both Shell Island and Pelican Island, nice white sand beaches, pretty impressive. The total run is about 11 miles you can't beat it.

I have a camp in Happy Jack and either run over that way thru Grand Bayou or take Port Sulphur Canal thru Bay Long to go hit the WD 30's & 40's.

Striker Tackle

Been fishing offshore only for the last few months, but was told from friends that the trout are spawning early so its worth a try around the islands toward the beach and the oyter reefs on the backside.

And of coarse birds diving.

Good luck!

bluffman2

sounds like im fishing the wrong area.......tear em up boys

bigbill1963

i remember fishing empire in my boat and on the cougar way back when... the empire canal was a canal back then, land on both sides all the way to the gulf.

Team Xtreme

Be careful running that channel to the rocks, it's best to have general idea of how the route is and follow commercials or sports to make line on GPS.

capthoop

Oyster poles just about mark the entire way to the gulf. Trout may be on the oyster beds along the way.. You can run aground on the oyster reefs. Just be careful.

Holmes

I fish WD all the time lunch out of Delta Marine the channel is marked with white cans keep them to your left going out once you hit the rock jetties slow down it was silting in so cut to your right and go around . I usually fish the 40blks for snapper and cobia or run to MC 286 or 311 ... I even have made the run to Meadus and WD 152 . The thing I love about putting in there if it's rough I can fish the many rigs in the 40 blks or 60blks if it's good we run long . I been fishing that area since 1993 . So feel free to PM me if any questions

rjs202

Empire is one of my favorite places to launch from due to so many options to fish. Although I have the option to drive down to Venice from my camp in Buras, I tend to still launch at Delta Marina. It is a pretty easy run out the old channel, just keep between the cane poles and keep the white/red buoys to your left. On the way out watch for birds dropping over the oyster beds for some quick trout action, but like capthoop said be careful not to run aground as they get real shallow outside the channel.


If you need some bait you can poke around by the pogie boat dock by the marina and get all the finger mullet and pogie you need (I usually get a couple small hardheads which are perfect for cobia too). Or if you are looking for croaker, run the seashore over to the Scofield inlet (or what's left). I usually castnet at about 5-8ft deep or right where the waves start breaking and can get all the croaker I need.


I've had good luck with mangroves and sheepshead at this time of year at the WD 29/30/31 blocks. Try Green Monster if you get a chance. Then can run a little further for bigger snapper and cobia. Used to fish all the satellite rigs in ~25ft of water during the summer for trout too but I hear all of them are getting demoed soon. If you want some redfish action you'll have to hit me up for a trip, can't reveal too many of those spots on here

capthoop

The buoys have been removed. The canes marking the oyster leases are still there.

rjs202

That's good to know! Last time we were down they still had the spoil area cans up from where the pumping barges were set up. Guess I'll just have to take it slow getting a new track when the new boat gets here.


Hoop, any chance we could hire you to get some tracks out of south and southwest pass in case I ever want to run to deeper stuff out of Venice? Boat will be here in a few weeks, plan on hauling it down in May/June. Not very familiar with any runs down there besides red pass.

jcmor23

Thanks guys, this is great info. Wish i could have gone this weekend but weather looks a little breezy.

capthoop

Call me. 504-247-8459

Holmes

Hey Capt. Hoop did you say the white cans markers are gone ?

capthoop

Yes they are. Those were put there to mark the dredge pipes. Every thing is moved out.

Striker Tackle

Well Capt. Hoop was right, I hadn't been out there since late last summer. Went out this weekend took the back way from Happy Jack thru Bay Long ran to WD 40's general area and came back up by the jetties. Bouys are gone!! Just stay inside the main channel which is line with plenty of pvc pipes marking the edge of the oyster reefs.

On a fishing note there were plenty of snapper out toward the 9 nm boundary, just had to catch 30 to get 10 keepers, which is better than not catching at all, even managed 1 lane snapper few small mangroves & 100 trout with about 20 keepers. Kids had fun that's what matters.

R.M.

capthoop

Did you doubt me Ray?

Glad you and the kids did well.