Waterlands

NWS zone GMZ531 · Western Gulf

Lake Pontchartrain fishing forecast

Louisiana · Gulf coast

Score now

72Great
Atlantic tarpon · 7:00 PM CDT
Named spots
5
Species scored
15
Tide stations
2
Open in the tide mapAll Louisiana bay systems

Overview

Lake Pontchartrain is NWS marine zone GMZ531 on the Louisiana Gulf coast, in the Western Gulf species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 5 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 2 NOAA tide stations nearby.

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

At 7:00 PM it scores 72 (great), led by Atlantic tarpon. The best window for the rest of today is 7 PM-12 AM (flood tide), peaking at 75 for Atlantic tarpon. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sun, Sep 20 at 7 PM, scoring 80.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 1:34 PM CDT.

Best window today

7 PM-12 AM · Flood tide

Top species: Atlantic tarpon

75Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Wed, Sep 16

    77

    1 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  2. Thu, Sep 17

    77

    12 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  3. Fri, Sep 18

    78

    12 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  4. Sat, Sep 19

    78

    7 PM

    Atlantic tarpon

  5. Sun, Sep 20

    80

    7 PM

    Atlantic tarpon

    Best day

  6. Mon, Sep 21

    80

    7 PM

    Atlantic tarpon

  7. Tue, Sep 22

    79

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  8. Wed, Sep 23

    77

    8 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  9. Thu, Sep 24

    76

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  10. Fri, Sep 25

    73

    6 PM

    Red drum

  11. Sat, Sep 26

    72

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  12. Sun, Sep 27

    73

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

  13. Mon, Sep 28

    74

    7 AM

    Red drum

  14. Tue, Sep 29

    70

    7 AM

    Atlantic tarpon

Species · 15

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

72Great
Atlantic tarponMegalops atlanticus · inshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 PM (80)

69Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 5 PM (76)

65Great
Crevalle jackCaranx hippos · nearshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (69)

64Good
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 AM (69)

55Good
Gray snapperLutjanus griseus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (61)

55Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (59)

53Good
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 19 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 7 AM (58)

51Good
Gray triggerfishBalistes capriscus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (54)

51Good
Red snapperLutjanus campechanus · offshore

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (55)

51Good
Southern flounderParalichthys lethostigma · bottom

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 9 AM (63)

51Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 5 PM (62)

50Good
Greater amberjackSeriola dumerili · offshore

Shoulder season, about 10 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (53)

50Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (53)

48Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (51)

35Fair
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, about 1 more week · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 5

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

Nearest tide stations

New Canal StationNOAA 876192710.2 miShell BeachNOAA 876130528.7 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