The Best Fishing Spots in Louisiana
Louisiana is a top destination for fishing, offering everything from tidal marsh and winding bayou estuarys to nearshore and offshore Gulf waters; anglers can enjoy boat trips or shore and pier outings across diverse habitats. Key species include redfish (red drum), spotted seatrout (speckled trout), flounder, largemouth bass, various catfish, sheepshead, tripletail, seasonal tarpon, and offshore targets like red snapper, grouper and amberjack. Popular approaches range from inshore light-tackle and fly fishing in the marshes and bayous to live-bait and jigging techniques offshore, making it easy for anglers of all skill levels to find productive water and match the hatch.
Top Cities For Fishing
River Fishing
Sea Fishing
Avondale
(15 km to coast)
Bayou Vista
(10 km to coast)
Berwick
(11 km to coast)
Bridge City
(12 km to coast)
Chalmette
(14 km to coast)
Covington
(13 km to coast)
Cut Off
(14 km to coast)
Destrehan
(16 km to coast)
Eden Isle
(0 km to coast)
Elmwood
(9 km to coast)
Franklin
(17 km to coast)
Galliano
(14 km to coast)
Gretna
(16 km to coast)
Harahan
(11 km to coast)
Harvey
(17 km to coast)
Jefferson
(7 km to coast)
Kenner
(6 km to coast)
Lacombe
(6 km to coast)
Laplace
(9 km to coast)
Larose
(20 km to coast)
Luling
(17 km to coast)
Mandeville
(1 km to coast)
Marrero
(17 km to coast)
Meraux
(11 km to coast)
Metairie
(5 km to coast)
Metairie Terrace
(6 km to coast)
Morgan City
(12 km to coast)
New Orleans
(11 km to coast)
Patterson
(11 km to coast)
Reserve
(17 km to coast)
River Ridge
(9 km to coast)
Saint Rose
(15 km to coast)
Slidell
(5 km to coast)
Terrytown
(17 km to coast)
Violet
(12 km to coast)
Waggaman
(14 km to coast)
Westwego
(15 km to coast)
Top Saltwater Fishing Spots
Barataria Bay
A sprawling estuary accessed via Grand Isle and Leeville , Barataria Bay produces steady speckled trout, redfish, and black drum around oyster reefs, islands, and trenasses. Spring and fall are peak for trout on live shrimp under corks, with summer bull reds prowling passes and jetties.
Lake Borgne
A shallow lagoon east of New Orleans , Lake Borgne shines for redfish, speckled trout, and sheepshead along shorelines, rigs, and fortifications. Spring–early summer see trout over shell and current breaks, while cooler months push fish to deeper bayous and MRGO structures; many launch from Hopedale and Shell Beach .
Breton Sound
East of the delta, Breton Sound’s reefs, rigs, and islands hold speckled trout, redfish, and summer tripletail. Spring shrimp runs draw birds and slicks for fast trout drifts, while fall tides push bait to points and cuts; popular launch areas include Hopedale , Shell Beach , and Delacroix .
Calcasieu Lake
Also called “Big Lake,” this estuary near Lake Charles produces heavyweight speckled trout, plentiful redfish, and flounder around reefs, weirs, and shorelines. Spring and early summer see trout gorging on shrimp and pogies, while fall fronts stack fish along drains and points; shore anglers hit public piers and banks, and boaters drift slicks and birds for fast action.
Chandeleur Islands
This remote island chain is famed for sight-casting redfish and big speckled trout over grass flats, sandbars, and surf-side troughs. Late spring through early fall brings clear water and bait-rich conditions for topwater and fly presentations; anglers often stage from Venice or Biloxi and work leeward sides when winds allow.
Grand Isle
Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island blends surf, pier, and nearshore boat opportunities for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and summertime tarpon. Jetties, beaches, and the state park give shore access, while boats probe reefs, rigs, and channels toward Barataria Bay and the nearshore Gulf; spring and fall are prime for trout, with bull reds roaming the passes much of the year.
Vermilion Bay
Fed by the Atchafalaya River , Vermilion Bay’s reefs and bayous hold redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. Summer bait flushes create slick-chasing trout action, while fall tides concentrate reds along marsh drains and points; common access points lie near Intracoastal City and Cypremort Point .
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Caddo Lake
A cypress-studded lake on the Texas border, Caddo features quality largemouth bass, crappie, and chain pickerel. Spring prespawn around timber and canals is prime, summer shade and channel edges hold fish, and fall shad chases spark schooling; launches dot the Louisiana side near Oil City and Hosston .
Caney Lake
A trophy-bass destination in Jackson Parish, Caney produces big largemouth bass, plus quality crappie and striped bass hybrids. Spring sees bass staging on grass and points, summer offshore structure and deep humps shine, and fall bait migrations bring topwater flurries; public launches ring the lake near Chatham .
Lake D'Arbonne
A northern Louisiana reservoir renowned for slab crappie, healthy largemouth bass, and strong catfish. Spring spawning fish pack creek arms and timber, summer patterns shift to channel ledges and bridges, and fall brings steady bites on shad-imitating lures; access hubs include Farmerville and multiple state park ramps.
Lake Des Allemands
This cypress-filled lake west of New Orleans is famed for crappie (sac-a-lait), solid largemouth bass, and catfish. Spring crappie stack on brush and canals, summer bass relate to grass and drains, and fall winds move bait along the banks; numerous canals and bayous provide protected fishing even on breezy days.
Toledo Bend Reservoir
A nationally renowned bass factory on the Texas line, Toledo Bend offers giant largemouth bass, slab crappie (sac-a-lait), and strong catfish action. Spring prespawn/staging fish load up on points and grass edges, summer structure bites develop on humps and ledges, and fall shad migrations ignite schooling activity; numerous marinas and parks provide easy access.
Mississippi River
The big river supports strong blue catfish, flathead, and channel catfish bites around wing dikes, eddies, and deep bends, with seasonal striped bass and white bass in certain reaches. Summer night fishing excels for cats, while spring high flows push fish to current breaks; numerous levee-access points and ramps run from Baton Rouge to New Orleans .
Top Saltwater & Freshwater Spots
Atchafalaya River
Flowing through expansive swamps and delta, the Atchafalaya yields largemouth bass, crappie, blue catfish, and in lower brackish reaches redfish and speckled trout. Spring high water pushes fish into backwater canals and bayous, while summer/fall current seams, laydowns, and cuts shine; hubs like Patterson and Morgan City offer ramps into the maze.
Delacroix
A prime launch-point community into the marsh east of New Orleans , Delacroix offers consistent redfish, speckled trout, and black drum. Spring shrimp runs fuel trout under corks in outer bays, summer sight-fishing for reds excels on grass flats, and fall fronts concentrate fish in bayous and trenasses leading toward Breton Sound .
Hopedale
Gateway to Breton Sound and Lake Borgne , Hopedale delivers steady speckled trout, redfish, and sheepshead catches. Spring and early summer see trout over oyster reefs and wellheads, while fall’s stronger tides push reds to cuts and drains; marinas and ramps make it easy to reach productive marshes.
Lake Maurepas
Connected to Lake Pontchartrain , this shallow basin offers redfish and speckled trout in brackish phases plus bass and catfish in fresher periods. Spring and fall winds push bait along shorelines and cuts, while summer mornings favor topwater over grass and wood; access via passes and rivers around Manchac .
Lake Pontchartrain
This vast brackish lake is famous for trophy speckled trout along the bridges and riprap, plus redfish, sheepshead, and seasonal flounder. Spring and fall bring strong trout runs around the Causeway and trestles, while summer topwater action ignites along shorelines; access points span from Mandeville to New Orleans , with boaters working tidal rips on shell and rock structure.
Sabine Lake
Straddling the Texas border, this estuary offers speckled trout, redfish, and seasonal flounder, with birds and slicks revealing feeding schools. Spring shrimp migrations and fall fronts fuel reliable bites; shore access near Holly Beach and boat ramps around Sabine Pass make it versatile.
Venice
Known as the “Fishing Capital of the World,” Venice offers year-round action for redfish, speckled trout, and in offshore seasons yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and mahi. Anglers work the marsh edges and passes of the Mississippi River Delta , with nearby zones like Breton Sound and the Chandeleur Islands firing in spring–fall; bull reds crush topwater in late summer, while cooler months concentrate trout on deeper ledges and cuts.