Salt Bayou Fishing in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana

• Overview

  In Louisiana, Salt Bayou falls inside Saint Tammany Parish. It sits in warm bottomland country. Nearest place of any size is Pearlington, 5.2 miles away. Eden Isle is 7.3 miles away, with Slidell at 7.8 miles. Also worth knowing: Foster Bayou after 1.4 miles, Lower Black Bayou at 2.1 miles, Upper Black Bayou after 2.2 miles, Sawmill Bayou at 2.3 miles and Stump Lagoon after 2.5 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Salt Bayou

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Salt or brackish and tidal: fish the flow, rest at slack, and watch the mud on a falling tide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover blue catfish, flathead grey mullet, gizzard shad and spotted gar. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. On Salt Bayou the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 82°F in July and bottoms out near 51°F in January. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Salt Bayou.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Catfish want bait on the bottom: cut bait or worms, a simple running rig, and patience after dark. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Foster Bayou at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Salt Bayou as something to verify.