Venice yields a massive variety of species, here’s a handful of our favorites:

‍ ‍ RED DRUM (REDFISH)

Few fish hit with the kind of authority a redfish does. Whether they’re tailing in the shallows or cruising in small wolf packs, it’s rarely a matter of if they’ll eat — it’s which one gets there first. When they pin a fly, it’s decisive. Then comes the power: long, steady runs and that signature surge that sends you straight to your backing. Louisiana redfish are built thick and fight even thicker than those found in other fisheries.

• Louisiana’s nutrient-rich marsh environment grow enormous “BULL REDS” that range from 20 to as much as 50 pounds!

• In Florida and Texas, larger Redfish hide in deeper channels and open ocean. In contrast, the expansive Mississippi River Delta leads to vast stretches of shallow ponds, bayous and tidal flats (just 1-3 feet of water in most places).

• We are sight-fishing for tailing Reds (where you see a corner, or sometimes more, of their tail peeking out of the water, as they feed.

• Look for the telltale V-shaped wake that follows behind massive Bull Reds (and also Gators…)

• You’ll find some in Hopedale, too. However, in Venice, we’re targeting massive schools of Bull Reds, as they push right into the shallows.

‍ ‍ ‍RED SNAPPER

While often more of an off-shore species, you can frequently catch juvenile Red Snapper inshore around the Venice Jetties, oil rigs, and the mouths of the passes.

‍ ‍TARPON

A stop directly on the path of the “Silver King’s” migration. Our timing lands us right at the tail end of their summer pass.

‍ ‍MANGROVE (GRAY) SNAPPER‍ ‍

You’ll find these fish hanging around underground structures throughout the area. A species that you will NOT find in Hopedale, since they don’t like brackish water and you won’t find as many structures underwater for them to hold against.

‍ ‍COBIA (LING)

Another common offshore catch, anglers fishing the passes and mud lumps in Venice may have opportunities at sight-casting to cruising Cobia. Yes, please!

‍ ‍TRIPLETAIL

Look near buoys, crab traps, and any other floating debris, and you may find this species hanging around.

‍ ‍SPANISH MACKEREL

Consistently found in the salty, inshore waters and passes, this species simply follows the food. As baitfish flee for the cover of the passes and inshore marshland, these guys are often close behind.

‍ ‍SPECKLED TROUT

You’ll need to go deep to get this species here. . . . So much water flows into the Gulf of Mexico here from the Mississippi River that it often churns the soft, pillowy mud into stained water.

This species prefers water that is clean, but also salty. So you’ll find plenty offshore, but inshore they’ll hold in the deeper passes and at the mouths of bayous.

‍ ‍FLOUNDER

This species grows exceptionally large here, hanging around inshore and feeding on entire pods of bait as they get flushed out of the Mississippi River.

‍ ALIGATOR GAR

Widely considered the premiere destination to target this giant, prehistoric species. Exceeding 6 feet in length (often), you’ll find them in deeper water channels and bayous. Locals here catch these fish at night, targeting them as they surface to breathe air.

One of North America’s largest freshwater fish species, they are quite distinct. Their long, armored body, broad snout and two rows of teeth, they sure do resemble their namesake.

Make sure to plan ahead though, if you’re hoping to target this fish, you’ll need the proper gear. But don’t worry, guides are happy to provide everything you need for an epic adventure at “the end of the world!”

Click HERE for more info on our Venice Louisiana program.

Visit our TRIP CALENDAR for current availability.

‍ ‍ EARLY- MID OCTOBER

The absolute pinnacle window for inshore fly fishing in Venice hits when the weather cools enough to cause water temps to fall. This thins out the vegetation in the marsh and in turn, then improves the clarity of the water. All comes together as enormous schools of “BULL REDS” make it to the Mississippi River Delta.

Anglers will have endless opportunities for sight-casting at tailing Bull’s weighing over 20-30 pounds throughout the passes and outside edges of the marsh.

As the output levels of the Mississippi drop, large numbers of crustaceans and baitfish move out of the Venice bayous and marshes. Species like Redfish, Speckled Trout and Flounder position at these mouths and just EAT.

Weather is a wild card in ANY saltwater fishery. We’ve chosen this window in careful consultation with our guide crew, because it offers anglers the best opportunity for more moderate weather than the summer months bring in the bayou. The heat and humidity BOTH DROP, and the number of fish goes WAY UP. Need we say more?

For more details, check out our VENICE BROCHURE.

Check our Trip Calendar for current availability.

Anglers fly into Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) and hop into our waiting vans. One stop for booze and then we are off to “The End of the World” for an epic, hospitality-driven fly fishing adventure!

We pop-up our program right in the Venice Marina, which means NO DAILY FISHING SHUTTLES NEEDED. After enjoying breakfast at a relaxed pace, our guide crew will start rolling in to pick angler’s up right on the lower rear deck of our stilted home.

Built to withstand hurricanes and their deadly storm surge and other tidal flooding, locals refer to these buildings as “camp houses” or “camps”. While their year-round resident population is low, there are a lot of folks camping out…. Besides guides, charter captains and their clients, the shoreline of Venice’s marshland is “home base” for all of the inshore and offshore drilling rigs put up by the oil and gas companies.

These rigs and platforms, whether defunct or in use, provide just the spot for some of our target species to hole up:

• Red Drum (Redfish)

• Sheepshead

• Mangrove Snapper (Gray Snapper)

• Black Drum

• Southern Flounder

Our Creel Chef Crew packs lunches for angler’s and their guide’s to enjoy on the water each day. Upon returning to the lodge, guests go right to chilling, while our crew unpacks, cleans and readies everyone’s gear for the next day.

Our Creel Chef’s track down the highest quality local ingredients everywhere we go. Expect an array of seafood - from the same water we are fishing - to make regular appearances on the menu.

Click HERE to learn more about our Venice, Louisiana program!

For current availability, please visit our TRIP CALENDAR.

We hope to see conservation efforts increase worldwide. We are constantly expanding our own involvement with organizations and individuals whose missions and values we align with. Our carefully curated programs are designed to benefit each fishery and community that we visit.

As anglers, conservation of the species we travel around the world to target MUST BE PARAMOUNT. In order to take care of the fish, we need to take better care of our planet. We don’t want to preach, but we all know everyone needs to do their part.

Small efforts amount to big changes in the long run. Think about the consequences of even a partial degree temperature shift in your favorite fishery. . . . It’s a cyclone effect, just grabbing up everything we love in the fly fishing sport, hobby, and lifestyle.

Our Creel Chef Crew packs insulated lunch bags for anglers (and their guides) each day. Thanks to Yeti®, we’ve BANNED single-use plastic water bottles in our pop-up’s. Angler’s receive an insulated Rambler® water bottle to use throughout their trip, with Yeti® silo’s making the perfect pop-up refilling station.

Scientists have warned that adult spawning stocks are declining, due to historic overfishing. Catch and release isn’t optional here; if on a charter, you are not allowed to keep any Redfish AT ALL.

Make sure to always handle fish with care. When photographing, it’s key to ensure they spend as little time out of the water as possible.

Check out these for more info on Redfish conservation efforts in Louisiana:

• Coastal Conservation - Redfish

• AFTCO