UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                              --------------------

       DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): NOVEMBER 9, 2005

                        THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORPORATION
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


            TEXAS                         1-10671                76-0319553
(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


                         1401 ENCLAVE PARKWAY, SUITE 300
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77077
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                  281-597-7000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

[ ]      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
         (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
         CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
         Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On November 9, 2005, The Meridian Resource Corporation issued a press
release announcing its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year
2005. A copy of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and
is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (d)      Exhibits.

                  99.1 Press release of The Meridian Resource Corporation, dated
                  November 9, 2005, regarding financial results for the third
                  quarter of fiscal year 2005.







                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                 THE MERIDIAN RESOURCE CORPORATION
                                 (Registrant)



                                 By: /s/ Lloyd V. DeLano
                                    ---------------------------------------
                                    Lloyd V. DeLano
                                    Senior Vice President and Chief
                                    Accounting Officer




Date: November 9, 2005




                                 EXHIBIT INDEX




EXHIBIT
NUMBER                              DESCRIPTION
-------                             -----------

               
99.1              Press release of The Meridian Resource Corporation, dated
                  November 9, 2005, regarding financial results for the third
                  quarter of fiscal year 2005.