Louisiana Fishing Vacations

For a fishing trip in Louisiana, the coast is the place to start. Our coverage starts with the Louisiana Gulf Coast, the string of fishing towns south of New Orleans from Venice to Grand Isle, Lafitte and Cocodrie.

What the fishing is like

Louisiana’s coastal marsh is a maze of bays, bayous and passes that holds redfish and speckled trout for much of the year. Around Venice, redfish are caught year-round inshore and nearshore, and October is one of the best months, when big bull reds move inside. Offshore, the oil rigs act as fish attractors, and yellowfin and blackfin tuna are a dependable catch around them. Snapper, cobia, amberjack, grouper and wahoo round out the offshore list, and summer brings tarpon to Grand Isle.

How to choose between the towns

• Venice sits where the Mississippi meets the Gulf, at the end of the road in Plaquemines Parish. It goes by “the Redfish Capital of the World” and “Tuna Town,” and it is the pick if you want marsh redfish and offshore tuna from the same dock.
• Grand Isle is the state’s only inhabited barrier island, with beach, pier and surf fishing, kayak access to the marsh and a long-running tarpon rodeo every July.
• Lafitte is the closest, about 30 minutes from New Orleans, with redfish and trout in the Barataria marsh and a public fishing pier.
• Cocodrie, south of Houma, sits near miles of marsh and barrier islands that hold trout, red drum, flounder and snapper.

How the seasons run

Fishing goes on year-round on the coast. As a broad pattern, trout and redfish carry the winter and spring, summer adds tarpon, snapper, flounder and the offshore pelagics, and fall brings bull reds and strong trout fishing. The state tourism office suggests spring and fall as the most comfortable times to visit Venice. Atlantic hurricane season, which covers the Gulf, runs from June 1 to November 30, and storms can cancel trips and close coastal roads, so plan summer and fall dates with some flexibility.

Licenses and guides

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries sets the rules. Anglers 18 and older need a Basic Fishing License, and a Saltwater License to fish south of the state’s saltwater line. A 3-day Charter Passenger Saltwater license covers fishing from a charter boat with a licensed guide aboard. If you run your own boat offshore, you may also need a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit.

Most visitors fish with a guide. LDWF lets you search for saltwater charter captains with an active guide license and points to the Louisiana Charter Boat Association for more names. Rules and seasons change, so check LDWF before every trip and read our fishing licenses guide and choosing a fishing charter.