Hunting & Fishing
Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise. The Heritage Area offers choice sites for hunting, from American woodcock to alligator, and fresh and saltwater fishing, from crawfish to sea trout.
Hunting
Hunting is a popular seasonal sport enjoyed by hunters on public lands. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) manages about 1.4 million acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Refuges throughout the state, many of which are in the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. These public lands consist of a wide variety of habitat types. LDWF manages these lands and organizes deer hunts with the goals of setting quality examples of Louisiana habitats; insuring viability of these lands' wildlife populations; and providing the opportunity for quality outdoor recreational (and commercial when compatible) experience.
In addition it is not uncommon for a family to have a hunting camp on privately-owned land or on land leased for that specific purpose. Turkey, migratory bird and waterfowl including snipe, woodcock, teal, dove, duck and geese are popular prey, as are resident game and animals such as quail, rabbit, squirrel and deer. Less traditional prey includes bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), pig frogs (Rana grylio), alligator, Alligator snapping turtles, Diamondback terrapins and box turtles.
For hunting education, regulations, & licensing information:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting
Fishing
One third of the state’s public freshwater boat launches can be found in the heritage area. Among the freshwater fish populating lakes and bayous are black, white, yellow and striped bass; bowfin; bream; buffalo; drum; channel, blue and flathead catfish; crappie, paddlefish, shad and sturgeon, all of which are popular with fishermen. The Atchafalaya Basin, the Lake Verret-Palourde Area, the Lake Fausse Point-Dauterive Area, False River and Spanish Lake are favorite fishing destinations.
Recreational crawfishing using set nets or recreational wire traps is a popular seasonal pastime and tied closely with cultural traditions. The several Wildlife Management Areas encourage crawfishing as a family activity.
The several marinas located in the coastal parishes of the heritage area are frequented for seasonal saltwater fishing. Common coastal species include black and red drum, southern flounder, striped mullet, sea trout, cobia, king and Spanish mackerel. Marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tuna, shark, snapper, mutton, triggerfish, amberjack, hogfish, redfish and sea bass are popular offshore finfish species. Other forms of seasonal, recreational saltwater fishing include cast-netting and trawling for shrimp and crab and harvesting oysters. The estuarine environment (the area where salt and fresh water mix) is where oysters grow in abundance. Oysters can be found naturally in dense aggregations called reefs both in the intertidal and sub-tidal environment.
For information on seasons, boat registration, licenses and regulations:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/.
For public boat launches click here
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/where-fish or
www.lmrcc.org/LA Access Points.pdf
For a list of freshwater fishing sites, click here
COASTAL ZONE AREA
Charter Fishing Services
Contact directly for arrangements.
- Blu Dog Charters Charter
7209 Hwy. 182 E, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: (985) 384-2070 - Action Greg's Guide Service
128 Kettle Ln., Houma, LA, 70360
(985) 209-9872 - Airboat Charters
2253 Brady Rd., Theriot, LA 70397
(985) 872-0989 - Avid Angler Fishing Charters
112 Cottonwood Dr., Houma, LA, 70360
(985) 855-5909 - Backwater Charters, LLC
305 Laurel, Houma, LA 70360
(985) 790-3655 - Bayou Guide & Charter Fishing Service
208 Woodburn Dr., Houma, LA, 70364
(985) 851-6015 - Beachcomber Guide Service
9203 Diamond Head Ct., Houma, LA, 70363
(985) 876-4153 - Boo Too Charters
137 Alamo Dr., Houma, LA, 70360
(985) 876-0921 - Boudreaux’s Charter Fishing
8250 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344
(985) 594-4568 - C&B Charter Fishing
6830 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344
(985) 594-2414 - Cajun Fishing & Hunting Charters
118 McAllen Dr., Houma, LA 70360
(985) 857-8552 - Captain Ryan Folse
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Gene Foret
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Mike Ledet's Charters
6830 Hwy. 56, Cocodrie, LA, 70344
(985) 594-2414 - Captain James "Cuda" Scheer
6830 Hwy. 56, Cocodrie, LA, 70344
(985) 876-0425 - Captain Lance “Coon” Schouest, Sr.
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Lance “Lil Coon” Schouest, Jr.
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Lee Schouest
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Joe Schouest, Jr.
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Captain Blaine Townsend
6830 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344
(985) 594-7772 - Coastal Charters
407 Parkwood Ave., Houma, LA, 70360
(985) 232-3684 - CoCo Marina - Charter Fishing
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Cocodrie Charters
7309 A. Hwy 56, Cocodrie, LA, 70344
(985) 594-6200 - Cocodrie Inside Charters
6830 Hwy 56, Cocodrie, LA, 70344
(800) 906-5484 - Custom Charters
102 Parnell Dr., Houma, LA, 70360
(985) 851-3304 - Capt. Tommy Pellegrin.
- Dulac Charters
9228 Park Ave., Houma, LA, 70363
(985) 563-2843 - Light Tackle Charters
Bayou Dularge Rd., Theriot, LA 70397
(985) 688-1715 - Marsh Madness
816 Mire St., Houma, LA, 70364
(985) 688-4495 - SALT Charters
106 Pier 56, Cocodrie, LA 70344
(888) 648-2626 - Sea Creature Fishing Charters
107 Trosclair Ln., Dulac, LA, 70353
(985) 563-2531 - Sportsman's Paradise
6830 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344
(985) 594-2414 - Top Water Charters
7725 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344
(985) 594-9074 - Capt. Bryce Michel: (985) 855-0707 • topwaterlodge.com
- Capt. John Pellegrin: (985) 852-9560 • topwaterlodge.com
- Capt. Joey Seeber: (985) 804-7637 • topwaterlodge.com
- Capt. Chad Chaisson: (985) 688-4536 • topwaterlodge.com
- Capt. Coby Esponge: (985) 804-1518 • topwaterlodge.com
- Capt. Rob Chauvin: (504) 253-0493 • topwaterlodge.com
Marinas
- Bayou Black Marina
251 Marina Dr., Gibson, LA, 70356 • (985) 575-2315 - Boudreaux’s Marina Dulac & Cocodrie
8250 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344 • (985) 594-4568 • boudreauxsmarina.com - Coco Marina
106 Pier 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344 • (800) 648-2626 • cocomarina.com - Cocodrie Clubhouse
8239 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344 • (985) 594-6765 - Downtown Marina
Houma, LA 70361 • (985)873-6428 • tpcg.org/eco_dev/marina.asp - Falgout Canal Landing
1868 Doctor Beatrous Rd., Theriot, LA, 70397 • (985) 872-1636 - Harbor Light Marina
8239 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344 • (985) 594-7208 - Pointe Aux Chenes Marina
4266 Hwy. 665, Montegut, LA, 70377 • (985) 594-4654 - Sportsman’s Paradise
6830 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344 • (985) 594-2414 - T-Irv’s Marina
9499 Grand Caillou Rd,, Dulac, LA, 70353 • (985) 563-4295
