For centuries, Louisianans have been drawn to the wild bayoulands at the “end of the world” in Lafourche Parish—where the marsh and the trailing rivers finally merge with the Gulf. This intricate, watery ecosystem has attracted not only people across time and across cultures, but also an abundance of wildlife, above and beneath the waters. When visitors and locals call Louisiana “Sportsman’s Paradise,” this is what they’re talking about.
The diverse landscapes of Thibodaux, Golden Meadow, Cut Off, Chackbay, and countless other small towns of Lafourche Parish present a bounty of options for the experienced, or aspiring, fisherman.
Inland, the Bayous Lafourche, Dularge, and Bienvenue teem with freshwater species including bluegill, bass, sunfish, and catfish. Though the coveted redfish and speckled trout are saltwater species, they often make their way into these freshwater and brackish bayous and the connecting canals and marshes that surround Hackberry Bay and Catfish Lake. While a boat, even a small one like a pirogue, can get you to the more strategic spots, there’s plenty of reward to be had at shoreline fishing sites on the Bayou Lafourche, the Adley Landry Water Reservoir, the Leeville Boat Launch, or Oakbridge Park’s Levee Canal.
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Fisherwomen friends with their catches of the day
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Largemouth bass, among other freshwater species, populate the inland fishing sites
Heading offshore, you start talking trophies. Saltwater fishing in these areas will put you on course to see some of the coast’s most stunning vistas, where you’ll encounter fish-favorite sites including oyster reefs, sand flats, and oil rigs. Anglers can seek out redfish, as well as flounder and tarpon, in the shallower areas closer to land; but the farther you head out, the more likely you are to bring in the scale-tippers: marlin, tuna, snapper, grouper, and more.
Feel free to head out on your own, but know also that there is plenty of wisdom to be shared in these historic fishing communities. Folks like Captain Jason of Riptide Charters and John “Hawkeye” Aucoin of Hawkeye Fishing Charters have been fishing these waters for decades, and know better than anyone where the honeypots are, and how to make the best of a day on the bayou, or the Gulf.
For those seeking out a different sort of fishing experience, there are also a handful of bowfishing outfits like Captain Dan Bryan’s Big Dog Bowfishing, Marsh Masters Bowfishing, and Midnight Blue Bowfishing Charters ready to take you out at night to experience the thrill of spearing gar, sheepshead, and giant black and red drum.
The waterscapes of Lafourche shed a serene light on sportsman's paradise.
Whether you’re looking for someone knowledgeable to take you out for the simple pleasure of a day out on the water, in the market for a more luxurious set of hosted services, or even an overnight immersive fishing experience—find it all at lacajunbayou.com/things-to-see-and-do/charter-fishing.
