Waterlands

NWS zone GMZ543 · Western Gulf

Barataria Bay fishing forecast

Louisiana · Gulf coast

Score now

73Great
Atlantic tarpon · 7:00 PM CDT
Named spots
173
Species scored
15
Tide stations
3
Open in the tide mapAll Louisiana bay systems

Overview

Barataria Bay is NWS marine zone GMZ543 on the Louisiana Gulf coast, in the Western Gulf species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 173 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 3 NOAA tide stations nearby.

15 species are scored here in this forecast; Atlantic tarpon, Crevalle jack, Atlantic croaker and Red drum are at peak season now.

At 7:00 PM it scores 73 (great), led by Atlantic tarpon. The best window for the rest of today is 7 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 78 for Atlantic tarpon. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM, scoring 85.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 7:04 PM CDT.

Best window today

7 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Atlantic tarpon

78Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Thu, Sep 17

    79

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  2. Fri, Sep 18

    79

    11 PM

    Red drum

  3. Sat, Sep 19

    84

    8 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  4. Sun, Sep 20

    85

    8 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

    Best day

  5. Mon, Sep 21

    83

    3 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  6. Tue, Sep 22

    82

    2 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  7. Wed, Sep 23

    81

    2 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  8. Thu, Sep 24

    77

    4 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  9. Fri, Sep 25

    73

    12 PM

    Atlantic croaker

  10. Sat, Sep 26

    76

    1 AM

    Atlantic croaker

  11. Sun, Sep 27

    77

    5 PM

    Red drum

  12. Mon, Sep 28

    83

    6 PM

    Red drum

  13. Tue, Sep 29

    81

    4 AM

    Red drum

  14. Wed, Sep 30

    78

    7 AM

    Red drum

Species · 15

Listed for the Western Gulf region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

73Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (85)

72Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 9 AM (78)

69Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (80)

69Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 6 PM (83)

60Good
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (69)

57Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (68)

57Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (61)

56Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (61)

56Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (65)

52Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (58)

51Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 9 AM (56)

49Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (58)

49Good
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (71)

46Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 6 PM (68)

35Fair
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 173

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

161 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Grand IsleNOAA 87617249.4 miPort Fourchon, Belle PassNOAA 876207525.5 miShell BeachNOAA 876130535.9 mi

Regulations

LDWF saltwater regulations Buy a Louisiana fishing license License types

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Not synced yet, last verified Sep 13, 2026.

No reviewed rules for the species listed here are on file yet. Check with LDWF before you keep a fish.

Other Louisiana bay systems