CAJUN TUNA

Perhaps best known for its worldclass redfishing, Venice, Louisiana, is also ground zero for yellowfin tuna fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, which Capt. Kevin Beach of Mexican Gulf Fishing Company says is nothing short of spectacular when the water and weather conditions are right.

A typical day starts at first light, catching bait.

Then Beach heads out to where his intel tells him he’ll find current upwellings with the desired temperature and clear water. “Clear water is key,” he says, explaining he would rather fish clear, green water than murky blue. Once Beach finds promising water, he slow-trolls three live baits, staggered at 50, 100 and 150 feet behind the boat, keeping a rod-and-reel combo ready to lob a livey away from the boat when he hooks up, a good way to get a doubleheader.

Yellowfin tuna lead the parade of gamefish that hunt around or between offshore structure. Other species he encounters with regularity include wahoo, white and blue marlin, sailfish and more. “With any luck, we get our tuna in the morning, and spend the rest of the day targeting marlin and dropping for swords,” he says.

For offshore anglers hoping to explore Venice waters on their own, Beach has some advice: “Don’t try to run out without radar.” The mouth of the Mississippi River is often shrouded in fog, and marine traffic of all sorts is pretty heavy in the channel at all hours. You’ll often be dodging ships and floating logs, but they’re the only hurdles between you and some of the best offshore fishing you’ll experience.

OFFSHORE BOUNTY: Oil rigs off Venice produce great yellowfin tuna fishing, top, with plenty of 40- to 80-pounders, above.