An Insider’s Guide to Epic Tuna Fishing in Venice, Louisiana

August 10, 2022February 26, 2024
Fishing

The fishing grounds for the massive Tuna are not far from the docks, and once there, you will get your lines in the water, waiting for the battle of your life. Yellowfin Tuna are in the waters year-round, and Blackfin and Bluefin Tuna are also prevalent throughout the year. Your Venice, Louisiana fishing charter will not only get you to the grounds quickly, but it will also get you on the fish just as fast.

Giant Yellowfin, Blackfin, and Bluefin Tuna are synonymous with the town they nickname “Tuna Town.” Venice, Louisiana, is one of the best places in the world to come for some epic Tuna fishing, and Venice is one of the few places in the world where you can fish for Tuna 365 days a year.

Types Of Tuna Found In Venice, LA

Yellowfin is the Tuna that is most caught here in Louisiana, but other fish can also be found roaming these waters.

Yellowfin Tuna

Also known as Ahi Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna get its name from the yellow-colored dorsal and anal fins and, of course, the yellow tail. Yellowfin can get as large as 200 lbs, but they average around 60 – 80 pounds here in Venice. They can also get to a size of over 7 feet in length. They are powerful and fast, making for a fun day on the water.

Blackfin Tuna

The smallest of the Tuna, Blackfin Tuna average around 15 pounds but can reach up to 40 pounds. Blackfin get their name from the blueish black back with gray sides and a white belly. They may be small, but they put up quite a fight.

Bluefin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna get their name from the metallic blue color on their backs. They are one of the most beautiful fish in the sea. They are the largest of all Tuna, reaching heights of 6 1/2 feet and weight over 500 pounds. They are a blast to catch because they are one of the fastest fish in the sea, and their size makes them one of the true trophy fish.

Where to Catch Tuna in Venice, Louisiana

The Tuna in Venice is easy to catch, and in some instances, you can hook up with some just minutes out of the Mississippi River. But a few places/sightings are your best bets for catching a monster tuna.

Shrimp Boats

As the shrimp boats dump their excess fish, the Tuna can’t resist coming up and gulping this free meal down. You can double your chances by chumming the waters too.

Birds & Weedlines

Like most Pelagic fish, the birds and weed lines are a surefire way to find fish. The birds are attracted to the fish that the Tuna prey on. They might be down deep, but you can find them here. You may also encounter some of the other trophies like Mahi Mahi, Wahoo and even Marlin.

"The Lump" or Sacketts Bank

The official name is Sacketts Bank, but all fishermen know this area as “The Lump.” Located around 50 miles from shore, this area is well known for Tuna. It is a natural bank that plateaus about 200 feet with depths of 400 at the base. This is a place where small fish get caught in the current and are sitting ducks for giant Yellowfin Tuna. The best time to drop a line at “The Lump” is early winter to early spring, but the Tuna can be found year-round.

How to Catch Tuna in Louisiana

There are a few techniques that the experienced captains of the many fishing charters use.

Live Bait

This is pretty self-explanatory except for what bait to use. Some of the best bait for Tuna are threadfin herring, menhaden/pogies, blue runners/hardtails, and mullet, but the best way to figure out the bait is to either know what they are biting or to cut open the first fish to see what their diet for the day is.

Chumming and Drifting

Live bait chum, cut up and ground live or frozen fish, scent oils, or a combination of two or three are great ways to attract Tuna to your boat. Having the chum at the surface brings the fish to you. Once you throw the chum out, you will want to drift up current to the structures you are fishing.

Top Water Fishing

The opposite of live bait fishing. Here you can use spinning outfits and surface lures such as poppers. This is one of the most fun ways to catch Tuna as you can see them come to the surface, then it is game on!

Kite Fishing

Venice Tuna Fishing Season

Tuna are found year round here in Venice, but the best times to reel in a big one are the fall months from September to October and the winter months of January to March. Your best bet to catch one of these aggressive, fun fish is to hook up with one of the many professional charter boats. They know where to go, what the Tuna are biting and the best methods for bringing one or more Tuna into the boat. You will not have a bad day fishing off the coast of Venice. The Tuna are always biting, but even if you do not hook up with a Yellowfin (which does not happen often), your chances of landing other trophies are very good.

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An Insider’s Guide to Epic Tuna Fishing in Venice, Louisiana