MRex, I was born/raised in South LA, but as-of a few years ago, I'm a resident in SW Mississippi, so I fish the MS Coast when I hit the Salt...Bay St. Louis area...just so I don't have to buy the non-Res LA License (the drive-time is about the same, from here). As a kid, we fished Grand Isle a bit, but most of our Saltwater Time was spent in Lower Plaquemines Parish, everything from Murtle Grove to Venice, but Empire and Buras were always best so that was where most time was spent...and wit'da Pole Bent!!!
We fished Shell Island before it was flattened by the hurricanes (I can Surf Fish my life away if I were allowed to)...it's between Bastian Bay and the Gulf...we usually launched out of Empire and run across Bay Adams to get there (I forget the name of the bayou that's between Bay Adams and Bastian Bay). Buras Canal will always have a place in my Heart and Daydreams.
There's a few places in my sights around Bay St. Louis, and my 8-footer will fit the bill with Stealthy Perfection. My little boat is the (Otter brand?) Final Attack...a Yeti YT50 is a 'chest and my seat, just forward of the battery and Minn Kota.
I had intentions on going this time off, but the much-needed rain was a determining factor, here too. If things go well (again, GOD Willing), I WILL be going next time home...I'm leaving for Venice tonight and will be gone 2 weeks (yep, my schedule changed again...changed boats)...my next week home, I'm gettin' Salty! CCM will be the Primary, store-bought's will be a Distant Secondary, live/cut bait will be a Dead-Last Resort...I'll take as many pics as the Blood/Slime/Scales will allow...