Another prime example of bay-field structure is rock used to protect shorelines near complexes of a field’s office and support buildings. I know of a number of those “breakwaters” -- some through work, others through off-day fishing trips. One of them deserves review.

This particular breakwater lined the northern shoreline of an island that housed the offices and supply buildings for the South Black Bay field where I worked as a production facility operator. Eventually, those buildings were removed, and a stipulation in the island’s lease required that at such time, the island would be reverted to its original condition as much as possible. The rocks were removed -- but not all of them!

A decade later, while I was ramrodding a remedial operation on a well in that field, I conducted a “bottom test” along that stretch of the island, which, not surprisingly, had receded a considerable distance because of wave-erosion. The remaining rocks lay scattered in 2- to 3-foot depths about a 50-foot cast from the present shoreline, and for two days -- standing calf-deep in the bay while clad in steel-toed boots, company coveralls and a plastic hardhat -- I provided lunch for the crew.

Admittedly, those rocks would be very difficult to locate these days. Others that lie scattered across the coast in similar fields -- like the rock jetty off Deepwater Point across the river from Venice that protects the facilities for the Coquille Bay field -- are much easier to find, and every one of those that I have fished has given up specks.

Bay fields are quite productive from late summer into autumn, and they typically hold specks that average much larger than those found in inshore fields. They also tend to hold bull redfish and large jack crevalle, and the potential for hooking one of those beasts is great enough to warrant gear a bit stouter than that which suffices inshore.

Any decent reel -- spinning or casting -- that will hold more than 150 yards of 14-pound line should be sufficient. However, a slightly heavier leader is much more important here than it is inshore. I suggest at least 2 feet of 30-pound fluorocarbon tied to the line with an Albright knot -- no snaps or swivels. Also, the jig-head should be a bit stouter -- one of those round-headed models with a short-shank size 3/0 hook highly recommended. Again, quarter-ounce jigheads should be enough, except for around the shell pads in the deeper parts of these fields; there, 3/8-ounce is usually a better bet.

Some of the most acclaimed of Louisiana’s bay fields are Black Bay, southeast of Delacroix Island, Breton Sound Block 21, north of Venice, Timbalier Bay, west of Leeville, and a scattering of smaller fields south of Houma from Cocodrie west to Theriot.

OFFSHORE OIL PATCHES
The final type of Louisiana’s coastal oil patches to offer fine opportunities for specks is found offshore in depths up to approximately 25 feet. Seemingly a late-spring-through-early-autumn affair, targeting these areas can produce top-quality fish.

These fields are developed either by individual wells that flow to a few processing facilities scattered about a particular area or by a number of wells drilled from individual platforms. The various structures in either type of field can be equally productive, though the presence of benthic structure can render some better than others. Here, the specks usually hold deep and near the structures. Add to that the current, which is often present, and getting even a fairly heavy jig down to them before the current sweeps it away is no easy task. But on days when current is minimal, it can be done easily.