Goose Point Reef is a new artificial reef in Lake Pontchartrain, and many are asking questions about it. Where is it located? Will it actually attract speckled trout and redfish? What other spots in Lake Pontchartrain are worth trying?
These questions and more are what you'll find answered in this guide.
Where is Goose Point Reef located?
This new man-made reef is located off of Goose Point near Lacombe, Louisiana. The general location is perfectly depicted in the map below.
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To be more exact, you will find the center of Goose Point Reef at 30° 15’15.91” N 89° 57’55.76” W
Northwest corner: 30° 15’16.98” N 89° 58’02.86” W
Southwest corner: 30° 15’12.44” N 89° 58’01.76” W
Northeast corner: 30° 15’19.30” N 89° 57’50.10” W
Southeast corner of Goose Point Reef: 30° 15’14.77” N 89° 57’49.00” W
Click to Enlarge
What's the nearest boat launch to fish Goose Point Reef?
You can use the public boat launch on Lake Road, like what you see in the map above. There's also the Main Street launch in Lacombe, but that would require a longer run down Bayou Lacombe.
Yes, you can also get to this new fishing spot via launches at Mandeville, Slidell or on the south shore. Doing so will require running open water and lots of it. So you will want to ensure that you make a good wind call when you do. My favorite tool to that end is Windfinder, and this guide will show you how to do that.
How deep is it at Goose Point Reef?
It is about ten to thirteen feet deep across the area, and you can expect it to be slightly shallower over the top of the reef. There really aren't any navigational hazards in the immediate area that you need to be wary of.
What is Goose Point Reef made out of?
This new man-made reef is comprised of concrete rubble sourced from new construction on Interstate 12 to the north. I think this can make for a good reef, but it's worth noting that other reefs on Louisiana's coast are made out of reef balls, limestone, and other material.
Will this new artificial reef in Lake Pontchartrain actually attract fish?
I have reasons to believe that it could. The first being that broken concrete can be a good surface for things like barnacles, clams and oysters to attach themselves to, thus building a living reef.
The next thing that's good is that Goose Point Reef is located just off a major point in a tidal highway. This is what migrating bait and fish use to get about, and they will certainly inhabit this new man-made reef on their way in and out of the Pontchartrain basin.
Ultimately time will tell.
When is the best time of year to fish Goose Point Reef?
I think pretty much any time of the year is worth fishing it. You can expect redfish to be there year-round, and I would expect to see speckled trout there during fall, spring and the warmer parts of the winter pattern.
I would especially look to fish it during the spring pattern, when demersal finfish are a primary forage.
You shouldn't expect a lot of speckled trout to be had during summer, because that's when they are outside of the marsh in saltier water for their spawn.
What tackle should I use for speckled trout and redfish at Goose Point Reef?
Because it is located in deeper water unfit for a popping cork, you will really want to consider throwing a Heavy Drop Shot, especially if you're unfamiliar with fishing in deep water and fast moving current.
In fact, if you're not 100% gravy on fishing the challenge of deep, fast moving water, then you really want to make time to watch my free video course on how to do exactly that.
In it you'll learn how to position your boat on biting fish, how to know when you hit the bottom and what you need to do to ensure the fish see the bait. If they can't see it, then they cannot possibly bite it!
And no, live bait will not do it for you.
After that, if you're savvy using casting tackle, then I would consider jigging. It's what I would do before I ever touch a Heavy Drop shot at a place like Goose Point Reef. If you're unfamiliar with this technique or the Pontchartrain Pop, then please bookmark my ultimate guide to jigging and make time to review it in the future.
Where else in Lake Pontchartrain should I try fishing?
If you're going to fish Goose Point Reef then you should have other fishing spots identified in the event that the reef doesn't produce, which is more likely than not.
A great community hole worth trying, especially during spring and fall, is the Trestles railroad bridge on the east side of Lake Pontchartrain. Practically any other bridge in Lake Pontchartrain is worth considering, to include the Twin Span, Highway 11, and Causeway bridges.
Much farther to the south and west lies the powerlines that could also be worth trying, mostly for redfish.
Power line redfish can be a great choice, especially during the summer.
Last, but not least, there are a slew of other artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain worth trying. Some are near Goose Point Reef, others require a longer run. Either way, you can count on having more than one fishing spot to try on the day of your fishing trip.
Discover How I Catch Speckled Trout & Redfish From Scratch
This guide contains key information to make your fishing trip to Goose Point Reef happen. The most important is making a good wind call. If you manage to screw that up, it will be a self-correcting error, that I can promise you.
But what other conditions should you be looking at? The way I plan successful fishing trips is by judging the past, current and predicted conditions, choosing fishing spots based upon that judgment then laying out safe routes to get me there and back.
Do you want to catch a box of speckled trout? Pay close attention to how I plan successful fishing trips and copy what I do.
This and more is what I teach inside my flagship course, Inshore Fishing 101. It's only available inside my membership LAFB Elite. There I'll show you how to successfully fish more spots than just Goose Point Reef.
Mississippi Angler Learning Louisiana Waters
The courses inside LAFB Elite, especially Inshore Fishing 101, are very complete. There's a lot of information in them, so I recommend taking it slow and using what you learn out on the water.
Otherwise it will leave your brain exploding with knowledge. But it all does make more sense when you get out on water and see it happen before your eyes.
The difference is that with Devin's courses you'll know what to look for and what to expect. This makes fishing more productive.
Robbie Larson
Mississippi Angler
Worth every penny, and then some!
You’re selling yourself short if you don’t join. It’s all the information that most guides know, right at you fingertips.
If you join and use the site for what it’s for, you WILL catch more fish.
Willie Brown
NOLA Native
Learned The Process To Catch Fish
LAFB Elite is great. I earned a lot and look forward to putting that knowledge to use!
Also, I love being able to go back into the courses and refresh what I’ve learned before and after trips in order to see what can make the next trip better.
I may only get to go a few times in a year so I need to make the most out of my trips!
Jamie Traweek
North Louisiana Transplant
Upon joining you gain instant access to LAFB Elite's Community, where our members enjoy detailed fishing reports and get help planning their next fishing trip. It's the best resource you can have for gaining long term success for your fishing trips, whether you plan to fish Goose Point Reef or somewhere else on Louisiana's coast.
Hope to see you inside!
