Kayaking for Redfish in Plaquemines Parish
Who says you need a high-powered boat in the bayou? With the right guides, you can get to the best fishing spots in Louisiana with little more than a rod, bait and a paddle.
When it comes to fishing in South Louisiana, it helps to know the lingo. “Reds” are redfish and “specks” are speckled trout, and if you’re out on the water with an expert charter boat guide, you may find yourself saying those words a lot.
That was the case when a fisherman met with Captain Brian Sherman of Kayak Venice, after driving 60 miles from New Orleans to the tiny fishing village of Buras.
“I got a red on,” the fisherman called from their kayak — one of a small fleet of paddle-powered boats Captain Brian owns. He and his son, Nolan had been catching small fry all morning. By 11 a.m., the bigger ones had woken, and they were hungry.
Within an hour, the captain and Nolan had each reeled in reds big enough to feed a small family. Anglers in other parts of the country might recall a haul like this as their biggest fishing day of the year, but this is a typical scene in Venice. In the brackish marshes of Plaquemines Parish, however, this might not even rank as the biggest fishing day of the week.
Credit that to Captain Brian’s expertise and the unique opportunities that kayak fishing offers. This is fishing at its simplest: No motors to crank, no waiting in line at the boat launch, no expensive equipment to repair. Kayak fishing is also ideal for fishermen in a hurry: Within 10 minutes of meeting Captain Brian, fishermen are deep in saltgrass, with the sounds of the highway quickly disappearing.
Kayak fishing also lets anglers get closer to the action than most motorboats can offer — and even if they could, they’d likely scare away the fish. Paddling into an alcove of downed trees, fishermen can get right on top of the spots where the big ones are biting.
By late afternoon, the sun is beginning to fall behind the cypress trees — this is the kind of landscape scenery you’ll see on postcards throughout South Louisiana gift shops. Back at his fishing lodge, Captain Brian filets the redfish and speckled trout within what seems like seconds. Battered, fried and served with fresh oysters, it’s easy to imagine these dishes being served at fine dining restaurants in New Orleans. It’s hard to imagine a better way to celebrate a long day of kayaking and casting than sitting down to a supper you just caught.
Book your trip today with Kayak Venice LA.
