• Registered: 2010-05-24
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Water Temperature on Flats

Fished some flats off of Bayou Lacomb near Lake Pontchartrain Friday afternoon.  My depth finder showed a water temperature of 92 degrees.  I didn't believe it at first, but was later told the lake was in the mid 80's.  I suppose it is reasonable to believe that in the afternoon, with the sun radiating off the bottom in shallow water, the temperature can exceed 90 degrees.  The flat had a lot of grass and the water was beautiful.  Saw a ton of mullett and gars, but no reds.

Is there a temperature range that redfish can tolerate in shallow water?  I heard 60 to 80 degrees.  Do you only fish the shallow ponds in the morning during the summer?

  • Registered: 2009-02-24
  • Posts: 30

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=nwcl1

For what it's worth, the south shore station show the water temperature in the low 80's.  Seems warm for May.

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

Brett, the flats near Lacombe are typical of most Gulf Coast sand flats, and totally unlike most of Louisiana coastal marsh. They are cooler than normal near sunrise, and warmer than normal mid-afternoon.  For this reason, the best time to fish them May thru early September is first light to about 10 am.  After which I usually fish deeper water or head home.

  • Registered: 2010-05-24
  • Posts: 2

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

Thanks Catch.

Is there a maximum temperature that I should be looking for that tells me I'm wasting my time fishing in shallow water?

  • From: Lafayette
  • Registered: 2010-03-24
  • Posts: 234

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

I dont do much saltwater fishing ,but in the many books i read ive heard that the ideal temp range is 70-90 for redfsh but they can tolerate alot higher suposedly. Specs on the other hand cant go much higher then 90

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

Yep, Guru is right, the fish get very lethargic above 90 degrees. The main culprit is low dissolved oxygen... warmer water holds less DO:

http://accelerateu.org/graphic_resources/Q44,45,46,47,48rev2.JPG

At 95 F = 35 C, the oxygen level would be 6ppm ideally.  However, factor in that seawater gets warmer, the amount of organics increases also, that consume oxygen.  For this reason, August is a poor month for catch-and-release or use of light tackle (6wt) for redfish.

  • From: Lafayette
  • Registered: 2010-03-24
  • Posts: 234

Re: Water Temperature on Flats

I love it when im right. Catch's chart makes sense I usually catch the most fish in the springtime when the water is still cool.
And also using a 6wt for redfish ? thats kinda inhumane for the fish (not trying to sound petaish or anything) ,but there totally exausted when  you let them go just bcause there out of water.