Visitors

Grand Isle Alive

Pack your fishing poles and cameras and come enjoy Grand Isle, Louisiana! The camps, motels, marinas, walking trails, restaurants, and Butterfly Dome, are open waiting to host you.
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Hunting & Fishing

Jefferson, much like most of Louisiana, knows how to fish and hunt. Whether you plan to cast from a pier in a quiet country setting or share the day with fellow fishermen, you can experience some of the best fishing in Louisiana. A Sportsman's Paradise with abundant wildlife, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have refuges protected for hunting enthusiasts. Recreational fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased online by visiting https://www2.la.wildlifelicense.com/start.php or by telephone using Visa or MasterCard. Call toll free 1-888-765-2602. An authorization number for immediate use will be provided and licenses will be mailed to the licensee. A service fee is charged.

The Barataria Preserve of the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve; is located just outside suburban Marrero on the west bank of the Mississippi River. The Preserve offers a taste of Louisiana's wetlands. Enjoy the serene setting as you fish for catfish, trout, and perch. Fishing is allowed in the preserve with a permit in posted areas.

This 30,000 acre park in Crown Point, LA also offers deer hunting archery and shotgun dates. Small game (squirrel, nutria and rabbit), migratory game birds and waterfowl dates are also available. Full National Park Service dates, rules and regulations are available on their website, www.nps.gov/jela. Additional permit required. Contact Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve at (504) 589-2330 for information.

Nestled in suburban Metairie, you can escape to the serenity of Lafreniere Park. The 20 acre lagoon winding through the park is home to several species of fish. Fishing is allowed in all areas of the park except the Marsh Island, its walkway and the bridges. For information and guidelines, please contact Lafreniere Park Ranger at 504-838-4389.

Lafitte, located in the Barataria region, is rich in culture and plentiful in waterways. One can fish by boat, private charter or atop Lafitte's public fishing pier. This region is still the point of departure for fishermen and their trawling nets filled with shrimp, crab and oysters. Home to several marinas, fishing camps and charter fishing companies, Lafitte is a fisherman's paradise.

Westwego's adjacent 580-acre Bayou Segnette State Park is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. From the boat launch, you may explore many areas not readily accessible by land routes. Both salt and freshwater fishing are available including bass, catfish, bream, perch, redfish and trout.

At the southern tip of Jefferson you'll find Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island, Grand Isle. The Grand Isle State Park features a 400-foot long public fishing pier with a nearby fish-cleaning station. Reports of over 280 species of fish live in the waters around the island. With several marinas, boat charters are readily available for your fishing excursion. Speckled trout can be caught by surf fishers year round, especially in the spring and summer. Redfish venture into the range of the surf fishermen in the fall and winter. Each summer Grand Isle hosts a multitude of fishing rodeos including the nation's oldest, the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo. Held over the last weekend in July each year, the Tarpon Rodeo invites you to enjoy the competition, live entertainment and activities.

Lake Pontchartrain, the second largest salt-water lake in the United States, is actually an estuary which connects with the Gulf of Mexico. Two sites to fish or launch are found in Jefferson, Laketown fishing pier and boat launch in Kenner and the Bonnbel boat launch and fishing pier in Metairie.