Louisiana Gulf Coast

Why go

Louisiana’s coast is built for anglers who like to catch a lot of fish. The marsh south of New Orleans holds redfish and speckled trout for most of the year, and the same towns send boats offshore to fish the oil rigs for tuna, snapper and other Gulf species.

The trip is a drive-to one. Fly into New Orleans, rent a car, and you can be at Lafitte in about half an hour, or at Grand Isle or Venice in an hour and a half or more. That makes it easy to add a day or two of food and music in the city to either end.

This is guide country. The marsh is a maze of passes, bayous and canals, and it is no place for a first-time navigator. If you do not know the water, plan on hiring a licensed charter captain for at least your first days.

The fishing

Inshore: reds and specks

Redfish and speckled trout are the backbone of a Louisiana trip, locally known as “reds” and “specks.” Around Venice, redfish are available year-round both inshore and nearshore. October is one of the best months, when bull reds of 30 to 40 pounds move inside, and in summer guides sight-cast to reds in the backcountry shallows. Redfish are common enough that Plaquemines Parish hosts many redfish tournaments through the year.

Trout follow a seasonal pattern. The Jefferson Parish calendar lists speckled trout from January through June and again from October through December. At Grand Isle, trout can be caught from the surf all year, especially in spring and summer, while redfish move into surf range in fall and winter. In May and June, Venice guides fish the bays and beaches at the ends of the Mississippi River passes for big spawning trout.

Other inshore catches include flounder, sheepshead and black drum.

Offshore: rigs and bluewater

Offshore oil platforms act as fish attractors, and yellowfin tuna are a dependable catch around them. Summer brings yellowfin and blackfin tuna plus marlin and mahi-mahi. October is strong for big yellowfin and blackfin, which are fished around the shrimp boats. In winter, when weather allows, boats go after very large tuna and wahoo near the Midnight Lump. Other offshore catches include red and gray snapper, cobia, tripletail, amberjack, grouper and swordfish.

Seasons at a glance

The Jefferson Parish calendar gives a useful broad pattern for the central coast:

• January to March: speckled trout and redfish
• April to June: spawning season, with speckled trout active
• July to September: tarpon, bull reds, snapper and flounder
• October to December: redfish and speckled trout

These are patterns, not promises. Wind, river levels, storms and water clarity all shift the fishing from week to week.

Where to fish

Venice

Venice sits near the southeastern tip of Louisiana where the Mississippi meets the Gulf, at the end of the road down Highway 23. It goes by “the Redfish Capital of the World” and “Tuna Town,” and it is the jumping-off point for both marsh and offshore trips. Anglers launch from Venice Marina or Cypress Cove Marina, both with ramps, fuel, tackle, food, lodging and guides.

Good inshore areas named by local guides include the bays and beaches at the ends of Pass A Loutre, Southeast Pass, Dennis Pass and South Pass, and bays east of South Pass such as Blind Bay, Redfish Bay and Garden Island Bay. Nearby, the Empire jetties and the beaches of Shell Island Bay also hold trout and reds.

Grand Isle

Grand Isle is Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island, at the end of Highway 1, with seven miles of beachfront and, by the parish’s count, over 280 species of fish. You can fish the surf, two main piers (one at Grand Isle State Park and the “Old Fishing Bridge” by the Caminada Bridge), the nearby marsh by kayak, or go offshore with one of the island’s many charters.

Grand Isle hosts the International Tarpon Rodeo each July. Established in 1928, it bills itself as the oldest fishing tournament in the United States. A redfish rodeo is held on Labor Day weekend, and the Ride the Bull kayak tournament comes each April.

Lafitte and Barataria

Jean Lafitte is a fishing village on Bayou Barataria in the Barataria Basin, about 30 minutes from New Orleans. Inland saltwater fishing here centers on redfish and speckled trout, and the Lafitte Public Fishing Pier gives you a place to cast without a boat. The town visitor center can point you to charter companies and lodging.

Breton Sound and the east side

East of Plaquemines Parish and south of St. Bernard Parish, Breton Sound is dotted with islands that fish well through the summer. Belle Island, Iron Banks and Stone Island are popular early-morning topwater spots, though they get crowded on weekends. The state tourism office also lists Hopedale Marina as a starting point for saltwater trips.

Cocodrie

Cocodrie sits at the end of the road south of Houma, at the edge of freshwater country. It is close to miles of marsh and beaches that hold speckled trout and red drum, and a string of barrier islands to the south draws flounder and snapper in from the Gulf. Thanks to the mild climate, fishing goes on year-round. Tradewinds Marina and Lodge offers rooms, a bait shop, charters and a restaurant.

Charters and guides

Most visiting anglers fish with a guide, and Louisiana makes it easy to check one out. LDWF keeps a searchable list of saltwater charter captains with an active Charter Boat Fishing Guide License, and it points anglers to the Louisiana Charter Boat Association for more names. Licensed guides must carry proof of liability insurance on the water.

When you book, ask:

• Is the trip inshore, offshore or a combination, and how long is the run?
• Is the 3-day Charter Passenger Saltwater license enough for you, or do you need your own Basic and Saltwater licenses?
• What fish can you keep, and will the crew clean and pack your catch?

For more, see our guide to choosing a fishing charter.

Where to stay

Venice has cabins, houses, a motel and slips and houseboats at Venice Marina, plus on-site lodging at the marinas. Grand Isle has motels, camps and cabins, and Grand Isle State Park offers RV sites and tent camping on the beach. In Cocodrie, Tradewinds Marina and Lodge puts you at the dock. Lafitte is close enough to New Orleans that you can stay in the city and drive down each morning.

Beyond fishing

Grand Isle State Park has a swimming beach, trails and good birding, and the island is a stop for thousands of migrating birds each spring. Near Lafitte, the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve has more than eight miles of boardwalk and trails through swamp and forest, and the town has a wetland boardwalk and a local museum. In Venice, you can visit the Southernmost Point in Louisiana. New Orleans, a short drive away, rounds out the trip for non-anglers.

Trip costs

Guide fees are the main cost of a Louisiana trip. Expect offshore rig trips, with their longer runs, to cost more than a day in the marsh. Lodging in the fishing towns runs to motels, camps, cabins and marina rooms. Grand Isle State Park charges a small per-person entry fee, and camping is an inexpensive option if you are comfortable with it. License costs depend on whether you buy a charter passenger license or the full Basic and Saltwater licenses; LDWF lists current fees.

Getting there and around

Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and rent a car. Venice is reached by Louisiana Highway 23 south through Belle Chasse. Grand Isle is just over an hour and a half from New Orleans at the end of Highway 1, and drivers heading south pay a bridge toll. Lafitte is about 30 minutes from the city on Highway 45. Cocodrie is south of Houma.

Hurricane season is a real planning factor. The Atlantic hurricane season, which covers the Gulf, runs from June 1 to November 30. Storms can wash out trips and close the roads to the coast, so book with flexible terms if you can and watch forecasts closely. Summers are hot and humid, with July highs near 89°F in Venice, while winters are mild. Our trip safety and weather guide has more.

Licenses and rules

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries sells licenses and sets the rules. Anglers 18 and older need a Basic Fishing License, plus a Saltwater License for fishing south of the state’s saltwater line. LDWF advises buying the saltwater license if you will fish anywhere in south Louisiana and might catch saltwater species. A 3-day Charter Passenger Saltwater license covers fishing from a charter vessel with a licensed guide on board.

If you run your own boat offshore, Louisiana requires a free Recreational Offshore Landing Permit to keep species such as tuna, snapper, grouper, cobia, wahoo and dolphinfish, and private recreational vessels fishing for tuna and billfish need a federal HMS Angling Permit. Charter clients are covered by the captain’s Charter ROLP.

Limits and seasons change, sometimes mid-year. Check LDWF’s seasons and regulations page before every trip. For general background, see our fishing licenses guide.