I have a fishing trip planned for Vetrans day weekend with a co-worker. We'll be staying near Sweetwater marina. I'd like to target some of the larger Reds if possible. Anyone ever been or have any advice? Based on the time frame I'll be there, I've heard that I should be using live shrimp and working the grasslines, points and cuts in some of the lakes. Should I be using a popping cork to fish the shrimp? Or just a weight on the bottom? Thank you in advance!

Popping cork and most people just use dead shrimp. I'd try some white gulp shrimp too under the cork and pop the hell out of it. Less junk fish, less bait changes. That's for fishing the grass edges, points, channels of the larger lakes. Also throw some redfish magic spinner baits. I prefer to go back into the smaller ponds surrounding the larger lakes and sight fish, though it can sometimes be too shallow. You can also blind fish these as well with redfish magics, gulp shrimp or jerk shad on a jig head or just on a bare worm hook. Also can use any other plastics you prefer, cocahoe minnow has caught many a redfish over there. I've just found you can cover more water with artificial. We've had good luck around Lake Quattro Caballo - aka Lake Four Horse.

Thanks hallb! I'll definitely have to get some of those baits

I have only been after the reds two times, both were in Louisiana. Try a shrimp or piece of shrimp on a 1/2 once lead head. Shaky head or similar. Slow roll it on the bottom near water inlets/ called wears if they have them in that area. This may not work for you or they may not be close to the same pattern as I have experienced but worth a shot if nothing else is working.

What Hal said is spot on. Your spinnerbait better be tough and don't buy cheap stuff.
Gulp and 1/4 oz wide gap quality jig heads for sight casting. I have more confidence fishing spinner baits when blind casting. Pretty awesome watching one get slammed slow rolling in shallow water.
Every bank looks like it would hold fish and everything LOOKS THE SAME, so keep your GPS on at all times for tracking.
Can never go wrong with a popping cork and an LSU grub or gulp

Thanks for all the input guys! What kind of line are you using? Are the reds picky about line size?

They aren't picky over there. I use braid and generally start off using a 20lb flouro leader, maybe 25-30 depending on the size of fish you get into. But truth is, I usually just end up tying to my braid when it's time to re-rig and catch just as many fish.

We had four guys. We used anything from 10 lb mono to 50 lb braid. I didn't notice a difference, but we were not fishing artificial lures. The guy using 10 lb Pline broke off on one fish and straightened his hook on another. Other than that we only broke off on hang ups. We didn't get into the huge reds but turned probably 25 back that were from 28-33 inches.

Good to know guys. Thank you.

Delacroix used to have a big sign that said "end of the world".....

You need to define larger reds...because if you are talking bulls the above info is for "normal" size reds in the slot and just above mostly. You may catch a bull maybe not...you need to get on the outside of the big bays or passes to get bulls normally. If you haven't been there, be careful because the traffic in the river from big boats is stiff....and if there is fog...make sure you are close to Jesus before you go out !

I’ve been fishing down there for almost 20 years. (Well close. We fish around Buras). In all that time I’ve never caught a Red on a shrimp. We have always used plastics (white or white and purple). I rarely use a popping cork either. Not saying it’s doesn’t work but there are other ways. Send me an email and I’ll mark a couple spots on a map for you. It might be a little bit of a run though.
Josh@amsco-supply.com

That's what my friend was telling me.

Id like to get ahold of a bull red while I'm there. What would I need to do different for them?

Thanks! Just sent you an email

Buras and Delacroix are in whole different areas, the "river" - I assume you are talking about the Mississippi - runs down Buras/Venice, not the Delacroix area. I've caught plenty of bull reds fishing the way I described up top even though we weren't specifically targeting, the majority of the fish are upper slot 26" plus fish. If you want to catch a bunch of bull reds, go fish Pensacola pass or Perdido pass, no need to go to LA for that.

We were fishing Dealcroix several years again a 19 foot center console boat. Driver was my buddy from down that way. He mistook one turn for another in the maze of canals and ran us uo on a mud flat all the way to the motor in 2" of water. It took he and I a couple of hours to get that heavy boat turned around and out of there. But we did catch a boat load of fish.

A little bigger spool
Honestly, nothing really. Just remember they all fight hard and even more so in shallow water. A 30inch red in 20ft vs 2 ft is a big difference.
20lb powerpro at a minimum for braid. LA redfish are like Perchjerker(fat, dumb and happy).
Your bass reels will be fine, they just might get a lot more pressure on them. I would have one spinning reel setup just due to wind and light lures.

Also be prepared to never really enjoy fishing for them anywhere else cause you will hopefully be spoiled.

That's my go to. I usually fish out of there or hopedale 4-5x a year. They are killing it right now. I would fish cuts an points all along the inside with live or dead shrimp up against the bank for reds, then turn around and cast off the other side of the boat for trout. If you see a bunch of boats huddled up, they are on the trout. Matrix shad is my go to for trout. Get the guys at sweetwaater to show you some spots on a map, most importantly where not to go. It gets REALLY shallow with a west wind at low tide. Also, dont over look the oldschool gold spoon for reds.

Search youtube for Capt. Charlie and Coastal fishing concepts. All sorts of good advice for fishing the marsh and a good show.