Captain Dan Bryan—known as “Big Dog”—has more than thirty years’ experience guiding fishermen (and -women) through the marshes and coastal waters of Lafourche Parish in search of a spectacular catch. To guides like Captain Dan, who have spent decades on these waters, some aspects of the job simply become second nature, scanning their surroundings for telltale signs other, less experienced anglers might miss.
“We look for the clarity of the water, we look for bait moving, we look for water moving out of certain areas,” he explained. “Before we leave the house, we’ve already looked at the Weather Channel and we looked at our tide charts to see when the high tide is, or the low tide is.”
Captain Dan helms Big Dog Bowfishing out of Leeville, just one of the many outfitters offering avid fishermen the opportunity to catch a limit in Lafourche Parish. Big Dog’s airboat tours leave at sunset to skim across the saltwater marshes after dark, using powerful spotlights and specialized bowfishing equipment to zero in on redfish, flounder, sheepshead, drum, alligator gar, and other target species.
Often, the difference between an unforgettable catch and an empty ice chest comes down to “reading the water”—finding spots where water is draining from one pond into another, and tracking the tides (most marsh and open-water species feed on a moving tide).
And unlike in other parts of the state, where different species might tend to congregate in specific areas, Captain Dan maintains that there “really isn’t a certain spot” where the fishing’s best in the marshes.
“Outgoing tide is always better than incoming, but they both work,” he pointed out. “You don’t want to fish on a slack tide, because fish aren’t biting. That’s their siesta. And you watch the weather, the barometric pressure and such things as that, to maximize your catch for the day.”
Bowfishermen with their catches of the night
Often, the difference between an unforgettable catch and an empty ice chest comes down to “reading the water”—finding spots where water is draining from one pond into another and tracking the tides (most marsh and open-water species feed on a moving tide). Captain Dan notes that inshore marsh waters serve as a nursery for myriad prey species, including shrimp, crabs, and baitfish. “So it’s a lot easier to find bait and food in the marsh than it is in open waters,” he says. Details like these might be difficult for a visitor to parse, and that’s why Captain Dan and his team of local, licensed guides are in the right position to make all the difference.
Sportsmen set up camp at Marsh Masters RV Park to fish from sunrise to sunset … and beyond.
If bowfishing doesn’t sound like the right fit, Leeville offers plenty more waterside hotspots for more traditional hook-and-line fishing, and crabbing, too. Sportsmen looking for an extended stay could check out Marsh Masters RV Park, which features 25 RV spots, 28 boat slips, a private boat launch, and a fishing dock (also managed by Captain Dan). Then there’s Leeville Fishing Pier, directly across from the Leeville public boat launch—ideal for saltwater fishing and offers great views, too.
For more information about charter fishing services and locations in Lafourche Parish, visit Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.
.jpg)
