Eric Lucas and Eli Troutman love wade fishing the barrier islands but there are some days where it’s just not possible — make that safe — to make the run out in the Gulf in their small boat.
That doesn’t mean they can’t wade. Oh no, not these guys. On rare days when there’s not a stout south wind, the teenagers run out of Graveline and fish Belle Fontaine Beach.
You read that correctly: Belle Fontaine Beach.
“You don’t have to run to the islands,” Troutman said. “You can wade Belle Fontaine Beach. You can park your boat off the beach and you can walk. You’re in about 2 feet of water looking for drop offs. When you find them just fish them. If there’s a 1-foot drop off, fish it.
“If you have a north wind that’s pushing and there’s not many waves on the beach you can fish a top water.”
Belle Fontaine Beach is to the west of Graveline Bayou and offers a mile or more of sandy beach. But beware: It’s extremely shallow and 8½ years later it still has scattered debris from Hurricane Katrina, so extreme caution is a must.
To fish Belle Fontaine Beach, Troutman and Lucas run out of Graveline and anchor 100 yards or more off the beach, hop out of the boat and wade. They advise wearing a good pair of wading shoes or boots to protect your feet from oysters and scattered debris.
“Same things we do at the islands you can do on Belle Fontaine Beach,” Lucas said. “You’ll see a consistent depth then you’ll start noticing a slight decline. We fish that.
“If you see birds there’ll be trout everywhere.”
Belle Fontaine Beach is a massive flat with holes, oysters and debris. Take a lesson from Lucas and use Google Maps and Google Earth to your advantage. A little map study can go a long way to great success.
Remember, this is not a place to go barefooted for a leisurely stroll while wade fishing. There are oysters, debris, and as with any saltwater beach area, sting rays.
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