It’s a fishing day

Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) fishing conditions · Louisiana

Now until Monday 3 amSpotted seatrout

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 73°, close to the 72° spotted seatrout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for spotted seatrout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Spotted seatrout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 1003 pm
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1006 pm
  5. 96
  6. 96
  7. 969 pm
  8. 96
  9. 100
  10. 100Sun
  11. 96
  12. 96
  13. 963 am
  14. 96
  15. 96
  16. 1006 am
  17. 96
  18. 96
  19. 969 am
  20. 96
  21. 100
  22. 10012 pm
  23. 96
  24. 96
  25. 963 pm
  26. 96
  27. 100
  28. 966 pm
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 969 pm
  32. 96
  33. 100
  34. 100Mon
  35. 96
  36. 96
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
73°F

Spotted seatrout range 60–85°

Wind
10 mph

From the northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:22 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
77°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Louisiana regulations for these waters.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

73°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in spotted seatrout's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

13" minimum · 20" maximum · 15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 13–20" slot, 15/person/day (two over-slot allowed).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Louisiana

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

73°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Right in red drum's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Red drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 27" maximum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18–27" slot, 4/person/day; none over 27".

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Louisiana

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on red drum

Black Drum

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

73°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in black drum's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Black drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 2–40 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 27" maximum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Louisiana: 16–27" slot, 5 a person a day; no more than 1 over 27".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Louisiana

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–May. More on black drum

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

73°
48°58–82° · ideal 70°92°

Why

Right in southern flounder's ideal range. Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–20 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. No minimum size, 10/person/day. Closed Oct 15–Nov 30 in state waters.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Louisiana

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on southern flounder

The water

  • Water temperature73°F
  • Barometer30.06 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:22 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:32 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Southwest Louisiana’s famed "Big Lake" — a shallow, oyster-studded estuary widely regarded as one of the best trophy speckled-trout fisheries on the Gulf. Wade and drift anglers chase gator trout and slot redfish over the reefs, with black drum and flounder rounding out the catch. The Cameron jetties at the pass are a year-round draw.

LA: speckled trout 13–20" slot, 15 a day with no more than 2 over 20". A renowned big-trout estuary — many guides practice voluntary release of large females.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Sea Rim State Park44 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm
94Go
Crystal Beach (Bolivar Peninsula)82 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm
94Go
East Beach (Galveston)91 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pmSmall Craft Advisory
69Marginal
Galveston Bay94 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm
94Go
Galveston Seawall96 mi · TexasBest now until 7 pm
94Go
Toledo Bend Reservoir98 mi · LouisianaBest now until 7 pm
82Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)?

Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, Black Drum, Southern Flounder. 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 Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)?

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 Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) 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 Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) have?

Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. LA: speckled trout 13–20" slot, 15 a day with no more than 2 over 20". A renowned big-trout estuary — many guides practice voluntary release of large females.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake)?

state agency regulations apply at Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake). 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 Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) tidal water?

Yes. Calcasieu Lake (Big Lake) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.