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Southwest Pass

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Louisiana, United States

24 catches

Top fish species at Southwest Pass

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Southwest Pass fishing reports

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Largemouth bass

16 in · 2 lb 2 oz

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Sheepshead

16 in · 2 lb 6 oz

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Red drum

32 in · 32 lb

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15 in · 10 lb 2 oz

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Red drum

length · weight

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Sheepshead

length · weight

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General info

Southwest Pass is an inshore water located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is most popular for fishing Red drum, Sheepshead, and Grey triggerfish.

Location

29°02′13.1″N 89°19′31.4″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Southwest Pass, LA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Louisiana can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Red drum

Red drum

Regulation boundaryLouisiana State Waters
Bag limit4

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size18" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Max size27" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

Zero Bag for Captain

Bag and possession limit for captains and crew on for-hire vessels is zero.

Additional information
Beginning June 20, 2024 keeping Red Drum over 27 inches total length is prohibited.Charter captains and crew will still be allowed to engage in fishing on charter trips to demonstrate how to catch red drum, but will not be allowed to retain red drum towards any limit on the vessel. For more information on the status of the Red Drum stock in Louisiana, visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hot-topic-red-drum. Harvest in federal waters prohibited. Recreational saltwater anglers may possess a two days' bag limit on land; however, no person shall be in possession of fish over the daily bag limit in any one day or while fishing or while on the water, unless that recreational saltwater angler is aboard a trawler engaged in commercial fishing for a consecutive period of longer than 25 hours. Take or possession of red drum if federal waters is prohibited. The possession limit for red drum and spotted seatrout taken south of U.S. Hwy 90 shall be three times the daily take limit when the fisherman holds and is in possession of a valid recreational fishing license and can show a landing receipt from a public boat launch located south of U.S. Hwy 90 that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the fisherman has been actively on the water or at a remote camp that can be accessed only by water for two days or more. The fish shall be kept whole or whole gutted in separate bags for each species of fish. The bags shall be marked with the date the fish were taken, the species, the number of fish contained in the bag, and the name and license number of the person taking the fish. The fish shall only be in the possession of the person who took the fish. However, no fisherman shall be actively fishing or engaged in fishing while in possession of more than the daily take limit.
Edibility
Very Good
Synonyms
Channel Bass, Redfish, Sciaenops ocellatus, Spottail Bass
Season open: year-round
Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Regulation boundaryLouisiana State Waters
Additional information
No established bag limit or size limit.
Edibility
Very good; Catch, Clean, Cook Sheepshead
Synonyms
Archosargus probatocephalus, Referee fish
Season open: August 1 - December 31
Grey triggerfish

Grey triggerfish

Regulation boundaryLouisiana State Waters
Bag limit1

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size15" (Fork Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Fork Length means the length of a fish as measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.

Aggregate limit20

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Special gear

Circle Hooks

The use of a dehooking device is required when fishing for reef fish. All persons aboard a vessel harvesting reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico must possess and use non-stainless steel non-offset circle hooks when using natural baits.

Restrictions & requirements

Descending Device/Venting Tool

Anglers fishing for reef fish must have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use. Take a short 15‑minute training to learn how to properly use required release gear and access it at a discounted price through returnemright.org.

Additional information
There is a closed season for the recreational harvest of gray triggerfish from Jan. 1 through the end of February and from June 1 - July 31 annually.
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Balistes capriscus, gray triggerfish
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Local laws and licenses

Louisiana fishing license

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Cities nearby

Venice

17.5 miles away

Buras

24.9 miles away

Empire

31.0 miles away

Port Sulphur

40.1 miles away

Grand Isle

44.3 miles away

Pointe a la Hache

46.1 miles away

Delacroix

57.5 miles away

Golden Meadow

62.1 miles away

Lafitte

65.1 miles away

Galliano

65.7 miles away

Poydras

66.3 miles away

Jean Lafitte

67.9 miles away

Cut Off

69.0 miles away

Belle Chasse

69.4 miles away

Estelle

72.8 miles away

Larose

73.1 miles away

Terrytown

73.2 miles away

Chalmette

73.5 miles away

Harvey

73.8 miles away

Gretna

74.5 miles away

Marrero

75.4 miles away

New Orleans

80.0 miles away

Metairie

83.9 miles away

Pearlington

85.4 miles away

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FAQ about Southwest Pass fishing

📍 Where is Southwest Pass located?
Southwest Pass is an inshore water located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. Its coordinates are:
29°02′13.1″N 89°19′31.4″W
.
🎣 Where on Southwest Pass is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Southwest Pass by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Southwest Pass?
The most common species in Southwest Pass are:
  • Red drum - 5 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Sheepshead - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Grey triggerfish - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Southwest Pass fishing reports?
The latest Southwest Pass fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Southwest Pass right now?
According to fishing regulations at Southwest Pass, some of the species in season this October include: Bonnethead shark, Red grouper, Gag grouper, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and Lane snapper. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Southwest Pass?

Fishing in Louisiana requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, available online or at vendors statewide.

In Louisiana, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. Residents 60 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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