Shore Fishing in Louisiana: Locations, Tips and More
Not all Louisiana fishing requires a boat. Throughout Louisiana, there are many great river and lake fishing spots that provide fantastic onshore fishing opportunities.
Here are a few suggestions to get started.
Freshwater Shore Fishing Locations in Southern Louisiana:
Bayou Black near Houma- Bayou Black, located 15 minutes south of Houma off Highway 90, is one of the southernmost places to catch bass in the state. Marsh bass in Bayou Black are some of the earliest spawning bass in Louisiana, because this area warms up much more quickly than waters in other parts of the state. Head to the Bayou Black Marina for maps and last minute gear needs.
Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans- Lake Pontchartrain sits in between the northern edge of New Orleans and the southern side of Mandeville. It is a large, wild body of water than can be known for its rough windy conditions, but it’s also known for the amazing fish you can hook in its waters. Best tips for shore fisherman are to look for the clearest and cleanest waters and stay close to the marshy areas when the wind is high. The south shore, at the foot of the Highway 10 Bridge, is a great spot to hook reds, drums and trout.
Tangipahoa River near Ponchatoula – This Tangipahoa River originates in Mississippi and runs south 122 miles into southeast Louisiana with its mouth emptying into the northwest region of Lake Pontchartrain. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including largemouth bass, small mouth bass and bluegill. So grab your favorite fly rod and reel, and head out to Tangipahoa River. Alternate names for this stream include Tangipaho River, Tandgi-pao River and Rio Tanchipaho.
Bogue Chitto State Park, near Franklinton in Northshore area, is a beautiful spot for fishing along the sandy beaches created by the Bogue Chitto River that runs through the entire park. Along with fishing, the Bogue Chitto River is very popular for kayaking and canoeing. There are 11 lakes in the park to fish with many stocked with bass, perch, brim, catfish and more. The diversity of wildlife and recreation options of the Northshore/St. Tammany area is a great excuse to play longer after you’ve caught the big grand daddy of them all! Bring the family on this fishing trip.
Freshwater Shore Fishing Locations in Northern Louisiana:
Cross Lake, Shreveport - The calm green waters of Cross Lake in Shreveport are home to hundreds of acres of water perfect for catching the famous Louisiana largemouth black bass. Fishing around the Ford Park area on the south side of the lake has a public fishing pier. Head to any of the local bait shops to grab the gear and get ready for a day of fishing.
Caddo Lake is in the northwest corner of the state, north of Shreveport in Mooringsport. Caddo’s expansive waters were dammed for flood control in the early 1900’s. The public pier or the historic drawbridge in Mooringsport are great places to start fishing for largemouth bass. They are the most popular sport fish at Caddo Lake with good numbers of trophy-size bass (over 8 pounds) with March being the high season. The lake also supports quality white perch (aka crappie, sac-à-lait), white bass, and sunfish fisheries. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are present and provide good seasonal fishing opportunities.
We are highlighting freshwater locations in this article but there is one saltwater location you won’t want to miss! Grand Isle State Park is the only state-owned and operated beach on Louisiana’s Gulf coast. Local biologists believe the waters of Grand Isle hold over 280 different species of fishes. The easiest location is the fishing pier, which extends into the Gulf and attracts both day and nighttime anglers. There is a small usage fee and after a successful fishing excursion, take advantage of the fish-cleaning site near the bathhouse. The old fishing bridge offers plentiful crabbing and fishing for species like croaker, white trout, Spanish mackerel, sea perch, drum, and sheepshead that feed around the wooden piling legs. Learn about Surf Fishing.
