Places, Tackle, Gear & More
I fish the Louisiana marsh every chance I get. At the very least, I take a week-long trip each year. Chasing reds, getting muddy, and eating like a king. South Louisiana is my favorite place to fish, and if I could turn that into a full-time job (with benefits), I’d do it tomorrow.
When preparing for my trips, I make sure to pack the best inshore fishing rods to ensure a successful outing.
Since my mystery series is set down here in the marsh, I figured I’d share some photos of the real places behind the stories. And while I’m at it, I’ve added a few favorite fishing spots, the tackle I actually use, and some gear I’d recommend to anyone heading out into the bayou.
Cocodrie – Lapeyrouse
If you ever make it down to Cocodrie, do yourself a favor and stop at Lapeyrouse Seafood, Bar, Grocery & Campground.
They’ve got everything you need for a good trip: RV spots, a solid boat launch, bait, cold drinks – you name it. And don’t leave without picking up some shrimp. Yeah, bait shrimp for the trip, but also shrimp to take home and eat. They get them coming out of the marsh through, Robinson Canal, Lake Quitman & Lake Boudreaux. You’re not gonna find better shrimp anywhere.
You’ll see other folks along the highway selling shrimp and bait and they’re running boats in the same places. The only problem is that you won’t want shrimp from anywhere else!
Delacroix
October and after a couple of days, we figured it out. We caught redfish and trout after trout after trout. One day I caught more trout than I could count, landed a 17-pound red, and even hooked an alligator. I thought I’d snagged a log, but it was moving. It surfaced right next to the boat, looked at me, and did the courtesy of a self-release. If you head that way, check out The Delacroix Lodge. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean, well-kept, and perfect for a fishing trip. Boat slips are right across the street. I’ll be going there again.
Marsh Man Masson – YouTube
If you haven’t already, check out Todd “Marsh Man” Masson’s YouTube channel. His videos are really good. You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
One of his videos turned me on to Zimmer Swimmers from Z’s Tackle, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve caught a ton of fish on them. Honestly, most colors will get hit, but I’ve had the best luck with Cali 420 and Chicken on a Chain. I also really like the Deathgrip jigheads.
Padre Island National Seashore (PINS)
PINS is over 50 miles of undeveloped, drivable beach. It’s one of the few places you can spend a day fishing or camping with no one else in sight. A lot of it requires 4WD, especially if you’re out there solo. I’ve been stuck in the sand a couple times, but I’ve always managed to self-recover.
I use recovery gear from RHINO USA, including traction boards and a folding survival shovel, and both of them fit perfectly inside an Apache gun case from Harbor Freight. I swear it’s like that case was made for the setup. I’ve got the case mounted on my bed rack, and it’s ready to go anytime.
For surf fishing, I use a 9’ rod with a Penn Pursuit IV 6000 series reel. I can throw a 3oz weight past the second trough.
