Lake Pontchartrain (Fontainebleau) fishing conditions · Louisiana

Now until Monday 3 amRed drum

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 74°, close to the 75° red drum like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

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

Red drum, 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. 100
  9. 100
  10. 96Sun
  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
74°F

Red drum range 65–85°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:08 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
74°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.

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

74°
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

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

74°
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

Black Drum

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

100GoNow until Monday 3 am

Water

74°
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

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

94GoNow until 7 pm

Water

74°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Right in sheepshead'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 5–40 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Louisiana sets no recreational size or bag limit for sheepshead; open year-round in state waters.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Louisiana

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

The water

  • Water temperature74°F
  • Barometer30.04 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:08 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:19 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 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

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.

LA saltwater regs apply. The bridge and trestle pilings (Causeway, Trestles, Rigolets) are the classic structure bite.

Nearby

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

Bay St. Louis Beach42 mi · MississippiBest now until Monday 3 am
100Go
Delacroix (St. Bernard)43 mi · LouisianaBest now until Monday 3 am
100Go
Pass Christian Beach47 mi · MississippiBest now until Monday 3 am
100Go
Gulfport Beach56 mi · MississippiBest now until Monday 3 am
100Go
Biloxi Beach67 mi · MississippiBest now until Monday 3 am
100Go
Grand Isle State Park75 mi · LouisianaBest now until 7 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

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.