Croaker run begins on Northshore!
Todd Oalmann
Summer slam is not just the name of an overpriced wrestling pay per view, it’s what’s about to take place on our local waterways. The annual summer pilgrimage of huge schools of white trout and croakers will soon kick off. Each summer tons of these fish take up residence in our local waterways. July signals the usual start of the run that will last into the fall of the year. Here are some tips and hotspots to help you land them.
Croakers and white trout are good fighters and fine table fare. My setup for them is an ultra light spinning reel with 8 pound test partnered with a light action six feet Berkley rod. I love this setup because it allows me to feel the slightest nibble, but it’s strong enough to land the occasional redfish or drum that I might encounter. Tackle is simple; I use two types of hooks. My favorite is a number 1 long shank hook that makes it easier to unhook the fish that I catch and lessens the chance they will swallow the hook. My second choice is a small baitholder hook. I switch to a baitholder if I’m losing a lot of bait to these notorious bait stealers. Croakers are bottom dwellers with small downward facing mouths. It’s important to have a hook that is small enough to fit into their mouths. Otherwise, they will nibble your bait and leave you frustrated and empty handed. I usually employ a Carolina or drop shot rig to fish for these fish. I try to use the lightest sinker possible. This helps me to better feel each strike. This same set up works well for white trout too. If the trout or croakers are suspended I will employ a sliding cork rig set at the depth that they are holding.
Croakers and white trout are good fighters and fine table fare. My setup for them is an ultra light spinning reel with 8 pound test partnered with a light action six feet Berkley rod. I love this setup because it allows me to feel the slightest nibble, but it’s strong enough to land the occasional redfish or drum that I might encounter. Tackle is simple; I use two types of hooks. My favorite is a number 1 long shank hook that makes it easier to unhook the fish that I catch and lessens the chance they will swallow the hook. My second choice is a small baitholder hook. I switch to a baitholder if I’m losing a lot of bait to these notorious bait stealers. Croakers are bottom dwellers with small downward facing mouths. It’s important to have a hook that is small enough to fit into their mouths. Otherwise, they will nibble your bait and leave you frustrated and empty handed. I usually employ a Carolina or drop shot rig to fish for these fish. I try to use the lightest sinker possible. This helps me to better feel each strike. This same set up works well for white trout too. If the trout or croakers are suspended I will employ a sliding cork rig set at the depth that they are holding.
Ted Gauthier caught this bull just west of the Causeway.
Now that we have the basics of tackle let’s take a look at baits that will put fish in the box. Both species will take artificials that are commonly used for specks and reds. Deadly Dudley’s, Matrix Shad, Berkley Gulps, even your grandpas old double shad rigs can be dusted off and put to use. However, my preference is to use fresh market shrimp. I don’t use a whole shrimp because these small mouthed fish will peck and nibble and drive you crazy with false hook sets. As they nibble, rarely will they have the point of the hook in a place where you can hook them. To help eliminate this frustration, I like to cut up my shrimp into small pieces of a half inch or so. This allows the fish to take the bait securely in the mouth and gives me much better hook up rates. Other baits that I‘ve used with success are worms, grass shrimp, cut and live pogies, squid, clams, cocahoes, and crab pieces. Fresh pieces cut from the croakers or trout that you have just caught work very well too. All you’ll need is a knife to fillet off a piece of meat and your ready to get back to catching.
White trout and croakers can be found all over the Northshore. They inhabit brackish and saltwater areas. They have a high tolerance for saltwater and can live in nearly freshwater. I’ve had my best trips fishing the following areas:
White trout and croakers can be found all over the Northshore. They inhabit brackish and saltwater areas. They have a high tolerance for saltwater and can live in nearly freshwater. I’ve had my best trips fishing the following areas:
Hot-Spots Accessible By Boat
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#1- The "holes" off of Chef Pass on either the Ponchartrain or Borgne side. The easiest way to fish the holes is to launch at one of the Chef Pass area marinas. That provides a protected run of less than two miles to either end. Chef Pass also is easily accessible from hoists at Rigolets and Bayou Bienvenue. Finding the holes can be tricky now-a-days as they used to be located just off of both passes. With erosion they are now a good length out of the passes. Tide direction is critical to fishing success at the holes. The best fishing usually is on the side where the water is flowing out of the pass. If the tide is coming from Lake Borgne into the Chef then you should fish the Lake Pontchartrain hole. If its flowing the opposite wat then fish the Lake Borgne side.
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#2- The intersection of Bayou’s Bonfouca and Liberty. This summertime classic is always good for a box of fish! Whether it's craokers or white trout, the action is fantastic here in the month of August. Tide is important here also. Find a good falling tide in the early morning hours or late evening and chances are you'll find them! There are two good options to choose from when fishing this area. the first is the intersection of Bayou Liberty and Bayou Bonfouca. The second is the mouth of Bayou Bonfouca just before it empties into the lake. You'll notice a small cut to the right. Anchor there and fish towards the middle of the bayou. |
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#3- Bayou Lacombe from the mouth to Glockner’s Place. This summertime hot-spot gets a lot of attention from the local crowd. Launch at the public boat launch at the end of Lake Rd. Head towards the lake and you'll be there in no time. From Glockner's Place all the way to the mouth of Bayou Lacombe you'll find croakers and white trout feeding. Drop-shot dead shrimp along the bends in the bayou and you are sure to find a school of hungry fish on the bottom. |
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#4- Any of the bridges that span Lake Ponchartrain. The Causeway, Twin Spans, Trestles, and hwy 11 bridge are some great spots to catch croaker and they offer an escape from the heat at times. Fishing the bridges also gives you the opportunity to catch sheephead and drum that feed along the concrete pylons of the bridge. Carolina rigged dead shrimp is always a good bet along the bridges. Bull croakers have been showing up recently along the Causeway bridge and it's not uncommon to find some in excess of 2 lbs. along the pyons. |
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Hot-Spots For Bank Fishing
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1. The Madisonville Coast Guard shed at the mouth of Lake Ponchartrain. Probably the best spot for bank fishing is the shed at the mouth of the Tchefuncte River. It offers 7 different wharf's that jet out into over the water. 3 of which, are covered so fishing in the shade becomes an option. Dead shrimp on the bottom is fantastic for this area or bring along a cast net. this location is chock full of mullet and pogies and catching enough for chopped bait is a given.
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2. Bayou Lacombe from the Big Branch NWR boat launch to Glockner’s place. This spot has lots of space to park on the road and fish the Bayou Lacombe side along the rocks. Great place to bring the little ones crabbing also. Drop-shot dead shrimp along the bends in the bayou and you are sure to find a school of hungry fish on the bottom. Stop in at Bayou Adventure Bait Shop at the beginning of Lake Rd. and they should be able to tell you when the croaker run has started. They also have all the bait you'll need. |
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Things to look for
Things that I look for when targeting white trout and croakers and all other fish are tidal movement. Fish are programmed to feed at opportunities that allow them to reap the most benefit. They want to expend the least amount of energy and gain the most energy from eating. The changing tides do this for them by bringing bait in and out of areas. Another thing that I look for is a change in depth that allows the fish to hold on ledges and ambush prey. This change in depth is important for another reason; it allows the fish to be in a more comfortable temperature setting during the heat of summer or the cold of winter. Finally, the importance of structure and the presence of bait can’t be underestimated. Look for signs of bait such as shrimp skipping on top of the water, wakes of swimming baitfish, pogies flipping out of the water. All of these are signs that bait is in the area. If you have bait in the water fish will not be far behind. It is not necessary to have all of these conditions present to catch fish, but it sure helps if you have a couple or all of them.
How to properly clean a croaker
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Step 1-Cut from the anal vent up towards the head. This serves two purposes-helps get the tough swim bladder out of your way and removes most of the rib bones.
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Step 2- Place the knife behind the gill cover and gently slice down until you hit the backbone. Turn the knife blade towards the tail. Make sure the knife blade is just above the backbone and begin to filet the fish being careful to guide the blade along the backbone. Once you reach the tail, leave the filet attached at that point.
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Step 3- Filet the meat off of skin leaving the scales and skin attached on the underside.
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Step 4- Look and feel the filet for any remaining bones. Pay careful attention to the rib area. Cut out and discard any remaining bones.
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Step 5-flip the fish over and repeat the process.
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Croaker Facts
*Croakers have very sharp gill plates, use a towel or glove to handle the fish.
* White trout don’t freeze as well as other species. If you choose to freeze them I’ve had the best luck freezing them in water and eating within 4-6 weeks.
* Croakers mature at 1-2 years of age with males being an approximate size of five and a half inches and females running seven inches at maturity.
*The state record Croaker is 8 pounds.
* The state record white trout is 11 pounds.
*There are no limits on the number or size of white trout or croaker that you can keep. Remember to keep what you can use and release the rest.
This annual pilgrimage brings joy to many each year. Many old timers will recall a time when they rowed skiffs out to catch croakers by the sack full. Now is the time to get out and enjoy outstanding action on these great tasting and good fighting fish. Go out and enjoy your own summer slam!
* White trout don’t freeze as well as other species. If you choose to freeze them I’ve had the best luck freezing them in water and eating within 4-6 weeks.
* Croakers mature at 1-2 years of age with males being an approximate size of five and a half inches and females running seven inches at maturity.
*The state record Croaker is 8 pounds.
* The state record white trout is 11 pounds.
*There are no limits on the number or size of white trout or croaker that you can keep. Remember to keep what you can use and release the rest.
This annual pilgrimage brings joy to many each year. Many old timers will recall a time when they rowed skiffs out to catch croakers by the sack full. Now is the time to get out and enjoy outstanding action on these great tasting and good fighting fish. Go out and enjoy your own summer slam!