How a Fishing Charter Fits into Your Mardi Gras Itinerary

Mardi Gras poses a huge dilemma for vacationers — or locals, for that matter — who also like to fish. The choices are overwhelming here in The Big Easy, especially in spring. World-famous angling is practically a stone’s throw from glitzy casinos, boutique shopping, upscale art galleries, classy hotels hosting murder mysteries, karaoke competitions and the best po’boy shops on the planet. Oh, and did we mention mind-blowing music and parades the likes of which few have seen?

As Hamlet put it, “To fish or to party? That is the question.” Well, why not do both? A fishing charter pairs with Mardi Gras like a cool, crisp Riesling pairs with crawfish etouffee.

The Best of All Worlds

New Orleans is primarily known for four things: jazz, food, fishing and fun. These are all fine pursuits, and they’re not necessarily at odds with each other.

Sportsmen love hitting our serene waters for relaxation. However, many sportsmen also like live music, revelry in the streets, gorging on beignets and imbibing the good stuff. Some anglers are also into history; a first-class WWII museum in town is calling their name. Others wouldn’t mind moseying through the Garden District under the shade of 250-year-old elm trees draped in Spanish moss.

That’s what makes NOLA unique and wonderful. After a leisurely day of fishing and a nice, long nap, the French Quarter beckons. After one too many muffulettas, a streetcar ride is the perfect cure. Before Bourbon Street gets rocking, there are parks and museums and stunning mansions that you won’t want to miss. If you like fishing here but have never toured a swamp teeming with alligators — or a cemetery steeped in voodoo — you might be missing the whole point. In short, there’s no law that says anglers can’t have it all in one trip.

Water, Water Everywhere

Speaking of fishing, you’ve come to the right place. New Orleans offers freshwater, saltwater and brackish water, which is a little of both. There are shallow waters like marshes and bayous. There are lakes, rivers and estuaries. More than half of NOLA’s surface area is covered in water, for crying out loud, and surrounding areas boast even more water (ahem, the Gulf of America).

These diverse waterways lend themselves to all kinds of experiences such as leisurely river excursions, lively party-boat outings, kayaking, bow fishing, fly fishing or even deep-sea fishing.

What You Can Catch

Variety here extends to our fish species as well:

Redfish
Largemouth bass
Bluegill
Black drum
Speckled trout
Flounder
Sheepshead

Where You Can Fish

Given our maze of water, the angling action is nonstop in South Louisiana. The generous bag limits are nothing to sneeze at, and experienced local charter captains seem to have ESP where fish are concerned. It’s scary.

Check out these hot spots and their proximity for charter fishing trips near New Orleans:

Lafitte, less than two miles
St. Bernard Parish, less than five miles
Lake Pontchartrain, a scenic, 30-minute drive over water
Lake Cataouatche, less than 20 miles
Barataria, less than 25 miles
Shell Beach, about 30 miles
Slidell, slightly over 30 miles
Port Sulphur, less than 50 miles
Venice, about 75 miles
Cocodrie, about 85 miles
Grand Isle, around 110 miles

Many fishing charters near New Orleans provide transportation to the boat. If you venture farther from town, remember to plan for travel time on the water. Also, remember that fish are early risers. If you want to land a trophy-quality tuna in Grand Isle, for example, you’d better spend the night down there, since you’ll be shoving off before the sun rises. Your charter captain can recommend lodging.

Reasons to Book a Charter Captain

Fishing around New Orleans without a charter captain is like scaling Everest without a Sherpa. Charter boats are well stocked with fishing necessities and creature comforts. Not only do local charter captains know fish, boats, baits, equipment, water, weather, tides, what to wear, what to bring, how to clean fish, how to stay safe, where the shipwrecks are located, filthy shanty songs, and hurricanes—they also know New Orleans.

They can tell you which bars are tourist traps. They can explain Mardi Gras beads and the pitfalls of finding the baby in a king cake. They can give you a crash course in Cajun French, Louisiana Creole, and local Caribbean dialect.

Besides preventing you from looking foolish, a charter captain can explain local laws and regulations. They might also even give you tips to avoid being arrested for parade-float interference, say, or brazen nudity. That kind of knowledge and professionalism takes years of practical experience. It’s no wonder that we take so much pride in our captains.