Offshore Artificial Reefs Species Overview

Offshore bottom fishing consists of chasing bottom dwelling or benthic fish over structures where they live and feed. Structures are both natural and man-made. Natural structures consist of rock ledges, caves, coral reefs, rock outcroppings, and hard bottom. Man-made structures include artificial reefs, oilrigs, and accidental sinking. Both live and dead baits, lures and jigs are lowered to entice bottom dwellers from their hideouts. Often heavier tackle is required to pull these fish from their lair. Louisiana has an amazing fishery for bottom dwellers because the key is structure. Here many of the oilrigs rise from the depths, but their support systems have become a thriving ecosystem of their own. The rigs and related towers become home to a wide variety of grouper, snapper and amberjack. The best part is that you do not need to spend years searching out bottom structures, they are standing tall for all to fish.

Anglers can be jigging the legs of the rigs for scamp and gag grouper, while those in the back are deep-dropping for snowy, yellowedge and warsaw grouper.

Nowhere else are there so many options in such close proximity. You can bring your own boat and succeed at bottom fishing, which is hard to do in other places where the structures are hidden and require so much local knowledge. Now nothing replaces local knowledge, so the many charter boats are consistently putting clients on amazing and delicious hauls of fish. Either way you go you will win in Louisiana.