Find a Fishing Buddy in New Orleans
Louisiana
New Orleans is the gateway to the best redfish fishing on the planet. The vast Louisiana marsh south and east of the city — Delacroix, Hopedale, Lafitte, and the Biloxi Marsh — is a maze of ponds and bayous stacked with redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and flounder, and the winter bull-red sight-fishing here is world famous. Push farther south to Venice and the mouth of the Mississippi and you reach some of the best offshore tuna and blue-water fishing in the Gulf. MyFishingBuds connects New Orleans-area anglers so you can share a boat in the marsh, split a Venice offshore run, or find a partner who knows the way through the bayous.
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When to fish New Orleans
The marsh fishes year-round. Fall and winter (October through February) are the marquee redfish months — cooler, clearer water pushes reds into the ponds where you can sight-fish them, including trophy bull reds. Speckled trout fish best in the spring and summer around the outer bays and passes. Summer is offshore season out of Venice — yellowfin tuna at the rigs, plus mahi, wahoo, and marlin. Louisiana's marsh can be affected by wind and river levels more than tide, so a local buddy who reads the conditions is a real advantage.
→ Today's best fishing times in New Orleans (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Redfish (Red Drum)
- 🎣 Speckled Trout
- 🎣 Black Drum
- 🎣 Flounder
- 🎣 Yellowfin Tuna (offshore)
Where to fish
- 📍 Delacroix marsh
- 📍 Hopedale / Biloxi Marsh
- 📍 Lafitte
- 📍 Lake Pontchartrain
- 📍 Venice (offshore, ~1.5 hr S)
Local tips for New Orleans
Delacroix, Hopedale, and Lafitte are the classic marsh launches — all within an hour of the city and all loaded with redfish. The marsh is a maze, so a buddy who knows the ponds and cuts (and has them in a GPS) is worth more than any electronics. Lake Pontchartrain, right at the city, holds trout around the bridges and the Causeway and reds along the shorelines — a good close-in option. For offshore, Venice is the run to make, but it is a serious trip: pair up with someone who has done the tuna rigs.
🪪 Louisiana fishing license
Anglers fishing in New Orleans need a valid Louisiana fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Louisiana license prices →New Orleans fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license to fish in New Orleans?▾
Yes. Louisiana requires a basic fishing license plus a saltwater license for anglers 18 and older to fish the marsh, lakes, and Gulf. See our Louisiana license guide for current resident and non-resident prices and the license types.
When is the best redfish fishing near New Orleans?▾
Fall and winter (October through February), when cooler, clearer water pushes redfish into the marsh ponds where they can be sight-fished. This is when the famous trophy bull-red fishery peaks. Redfish are catchable year-round, but the cool-season sight fishing is the standout.
Is New Orleans really the best place to catch redfish?▾
The Louisiana marsh around New Orleans is widely considered the best redfish fishery in the world — enormous amounts of productive habitat, huge numbers of fish, and a winter sight-fishing season for bull reds that draws anglers from everywhere. A local partner who knows the marsh accelerates the learning curve dramatically.
Can I fish offshore from New Orleans?▾
Yes — Venice, about 1.5 hours south at the mouth of the Mississippi, is one of the premier offshore ports in the Gulf, known for yellowfin tuna at the rigs plus mahi, wahoo, and billfish in summer. It is a long, gear-heavy trip best done with an experienced captain or a well-equipped buddy.
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