Fishing

Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area is located in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, approximately 15 miles southeast of Houma. This area, which is owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, includes about 35,000 acres.

Access to the interior is typically limited to boat travel due to the lack of roads. Boat launches into the interior of the area are available on the Island Road and on Highway 665, south of the Headquarters area. The terrain is mostly marsh, varying from intermediate to brackish, interspersed with numerous ponds, bayous, and canals. The only timber stands are located on the Point Farm Unit of the area, or areas adjacent to natural bayous and older oil and gas canals.

Management practices employed to increase productivity of the marshes for furbearers, waterfowl, alligators, and fish are mainly directed towards water control through the use of variable crested weirs and levees.

Game species include waterfowl, deer, rabbit, squirrels, rails, gallinules, and snipe. Furbearing animals present are mink, nutria, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, and otter. The Department holds annual lottery hunts for waterfowl for the physically challenged hunters and for deer for youth hunters.

Inland saltwater fish species, crabs, and shrimp (shrimp may only be caught with cast net) are available to the recreational fisherman. Fishing is excellent due to the proximity to the Timbalier and Terrebonne Bay watersheds. Freshwater fish may be caught in the more northern portions of the area.

Non-consumptive forms of recreation available include boating, nature study, camping (a tent-camp ground is available along Highway 665, north of the Headquarters area), and picnicking. More information can be obtained by calling 985-594-5494.

Pearl River Wildlife Management Area is located approximately six miles east of Slidell and approximately one mile east of the town of Pearl River. Access is available via car from old Highway 11 and by boat. Several ramps are located along US Highway 90; concrete ramps have been constructed at Davis and Crawford Landings, and a commercial ramp is located at Old Indian Village. The ramps along US Highway 90 and those at Davis and Crawford Landings have ample parking space.

Pearl River totals 35,031 acres and is owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The terrain is flat, drainage is poor, and the area is subject to annual flooding. The forest cover varies from an all age hardwood stand in the northern 60 percent, to cypress tupelo in the next 25 percent and an intermediate type marsh in the southern 15 percent. The mixed hardwoods are made up of water oak, nuttall oak, cow oak, obtusa oak, overcup oak, live oak, bitter pecan, hickory, beech, magnolia, sweetgum, and elm. The overstory varies from moderately open to closed. Timber stand improvement has begun to improve and enhance habitat conditions.

There are numerous streams and bayous on the area which provide fishing, canoeing, boating, crawfishing, and waterfowl hunting opportunities. These are accessible only from the boat ramps previously mentioned. Several ponds are located on the northern end of the area along I-59.

Game species hunted are deer, squirrels, rabbits, feral hogs, turkeys, waterfowl and woodcock. Trapping is allowed for furbearers and the species available are beaver, nutria, mink, opossum, raccoon, and bobcat. An alligator season is open in September on a permit basis.

The bald eagle occurs along the streams and lakes in the fall and winter and the golden eagle can be seen occasionally. Swallowtail kites and Ospreys are frequently seen.

Camping is available only at the Crawford Landing. A rifle range has been constructed on the area and is available for public use at specified times. When the river gauge at Pearl River, LA, reaches 16.5 feet, old Highway 11 and all hunting, except waterfowl, will be closed.

Additional information may be obtained from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 42371 Phyllis Ann Rd. Hammond, LA  70403 985-543-4777.

Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area is located in southern Plaquemines Parish at the mouth of the Mississippi River, approximately 10 miles south of Venice, and is accessible only by boat. The nearest public launches are in Venice. This area is owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and encompasses some 115,000 acres.

The area is characterized by river channels with attendant channel banks, natural bayous, and man-made canals which are interspersed with intermediate and fresh marshes. Hurricane damage and subsidence have contributed to a major demise of vegetated marsh areas resulting in formation of large ponds. Habitat development is primarily directed toward diverting sediment-laden waters into open bay systems (i.e., creating delta crevasses), which promotes delta growth.

Waterfowl and other migratory game bird hunting, rabbit hunting, and archery hunting for deer are permitted on Pass-a-Loutre.

A trapping program is conducted annually to control surplus furbearing animals and alligators.

There is excellent fishing in the freshwater areas as well as the more saline waters. Fish species present are typical inland saltwater varieties near the gulf and along river channels. Freshwater species including bass, bream, catfish, crappie, warmouth, drum, and garfish can be caught in the interior marsh ponds. Salt water species include redfish, speckled trout and flounder.

Other forms of recreation available include boating, picnicking, nature study, crabbing, and camping. There are 5 designated tent-camping areas on the area and 3 areas which have been designated to allow the mooring of recreational houseboats. Prior to mooring; however, houseboats must receive a permit from the Department. More information can be obtained by calling 337-373-0032.