Barataria Bay Fishing
A bay of the Louisiana coast in Plaquemines Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for tarponPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto: Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience, CC BY-SA 2.0
First facts on Barataria Bay for a saltwater trip
Barataria Bay is a bay on the Louisiana coast, mapped by USGS in Plaquemines Parish. Saltwater limits hold here, since it sits inside the LDWF line. Roughly 12 miles separates it from Grand Isle.
6 reef sites from the LDWF reef program sit within 25 miles. 2 water-level stations from NOAA sit within 25 miles. 4 named passes lie within 12 miles.
USGS Geographic Names Information System (feature class and point), LDWF saltwater line, LDWF launch and Banks and Piers layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Launches that run out to Barataria Bay
There is no inventory launch at Barataria Bay, so plan a run from a nearby one.
Launches within a short drive of Barataria Bay
- Sand Dollar Marina on Barataria PassBarataria Pass, 8 miles south
- Grand Isle Kayak Launch on Barataria PassBarataria Pass, 10 miles southwest
- Wakeside Marina on Barataria PassBarataria Pass, 13 miles southwest
- Bayou Log Cabins1-lane concrete ramp, public, 13 miles north
- Bridge Side Marina on Barataria PassBarataria Pass, 13 miles southwest
- Happy Jack's Marina on Grand BayouGrand Bayou, 16 miles northeast
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Pier fishing on Barataria Bay
Other piers and banks a drive from Barataria Bay
- Grand Isle State Park on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, 8 miles
- King Tarpon Park on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, 9 miles
- Caminada Pass West Pier on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, 13 miles
- Caminada Pass East Pier on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, 13 miles
- Grand Isle Public Beach Access on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, 13 miles
LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
For the tarpon herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Sunken structure around Barataria Bay
6 reef sites lie within 25 miles of Barataria Bay; 4 are inshore reefs.
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Sid Reef | inshore | 4 miles southwest | ||
| Independence Island Reef | inshore | 9-ft | 50 acres | 5 miles south |
| Hackberry Reef | inshore | 6 miles northwest | ||
| Bay Ronquille Reef | inshore | 27 acres | 6 miles southeast | |
| Grand Isle 9 Reef | nearshore | 50-ft | 665 acres | 13 miles south |
| West Delta 35 Reef | nearshore | 19 miles southeast |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Tide predictions for Barataria Bay
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 28, 2026); station page for live data.
- Manillatide predictions, 4 miles
- Independence Islandtide predictions, 4 miles
- Mendicant Island, Barataria Baytide predictions, 5 miles
- TEXACO DOCK, HACKBERRY BAYtide predictions, 6 miles
Water on Barataria Bay answers to wind and river as much as tide; the stations above show what is happening now.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Passes a short run from Barataria Bay
- Barataria Pass7 miles south
- Creole Pass6 miles west
- Pass Abel6 miles south
- Quatre Bayou Pass7 miles southeast
USGS GNIS passes and guts within 12 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Fishing towns that serve Barataria Bay
- Port SulphurPlaquemines Parish, 16 miles
- Grand IsleJefferson Parish, 10 miles
USGS GNIS coastal towns and fishing ports within 20 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
The saltwater pamphlet rules for Barataria Bay
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Cobia (ling or lemonfish) | 1 daily per person; no more than 2 per vessel; 36" min fork length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Black drum | 5 daily per person – bag and possession; no more than one over 27" max total length; 16" min total length; 27" max total length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Red drum (redfish) | 4 daily per person – bag; none over 27" max total length; 18" min total length; 27" max total length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Southern flounder | 10 daily per person | Open year-round except no possession allowed from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30 |
| Spanish mackerel | 15 daily per person; 12" min fork length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Striped mullet | 100 lbs. daily | Open year-round in state waters |
| Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) | 15 daily per person with no more than 2 over 20" max total length; 13" min total length; 20" max total length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Sheepshead | No daily limit | Open year-round in state waters |
| Tripletail | 5 daily per person; 18" min total length | Open year-round in state waters |
| Black bass (largemouth and spotted) | 10 daily | Open year-round |
| Striped or hybrid striped bass (or any combination thereof) | 5 daily; no more than two over 30" total length | Open year-round |
| White bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Yellow bass | 50 daily | Open year-round |
| Sunfish (bream) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crappie (black and white) | 50 daily; 100 fish possession limit | Open year-round |
| Bowfin (choupique) | No daily limit; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
For Barataria Bay, the saltwater statewide rows lead; freshwater rows follow for fish caught in the brackish marsh.
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents.
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 19 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF saltwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Event days on Barataria Bay
Open the tournament page for Barataria Bay events.
Barataria Bay next to the closest bays and passes
By launch count, Bastian Bay tops the table at 5.
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barataria Bay | bay | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| Barataria Pass | 7 miles south | tidal pass | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 |
| Bastian Bay | 18 miles east | bay | 5 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| Lake Raccourci | 27 miles west | bay | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Timbalier Bay | 29 miles southwest | bay | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Lake Felicity | 31 miles west | bay | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
LDWF launch, Banks and Piers and reef layers, NOAA CO-OPS stations, USGS GNIS; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Where else to fish near Barataria Bay
Other LDWF lakes near Barataria Bay
- Lake Salvador31 miles
- Lake Cataouatche36 miles
- Brechtel Pond38 miles
- Lake Fields and Lake Long Complex43 miles
Bayous a short run from Barataria Bay
- Bayou Cutler24 miles
- Bayou Des Amoreux24 miles
Bait shops along the drive to Barataria Bay
- Captian Watson’s Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Port Sulphur, 16 miles
- Gail's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Golden Meadow, 18 miles
- Delta Marinabait and tackle shop, Buras, 20 miles
- South Lafourche Tackle & Hunting Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Cut Off, 25 miles
- Barataria Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Belle Chasse
- Venice Marina Inc, 9262 Highway 23marina, Belle Chasse
Who guides on Barataria Bay
- Born to Fish Charterscharter, Buras, (504) 908-3108
- Cajun Culture Fishing Adventurescharter, Buras, (504) 872-2204
- Carpe Diem Fishingcharter, Buras, (228) 493-2913
- Champion Fishing Charterscharter, Venice, (318) 730-4410
- Deep Delta Bowfishingcharter, Port Sulphur, (504) 656-0006
- Fish Intimidator Pro Guide Service Inccharter, Buras, (504) 416-6731
- Kingdom Charterscharter, Buras, (504) 756-9254
- Louisiana Tuna Charterscharter, Venice, (504) 814-4290
Louisiana towns with a room near Barataria Bay
- Grand Isle12 miles
- Golden Meadow20 miles
- Galliano23 miles
- Cut Off26 miles
Which parishes take in Barataria Bay
- Plaquemines Parishseat: Pointe à la Hache
Piscifun gear lined up for the bayou run to Barataria Bay
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Cypress, marsh and open water by Barataria Bay, in photos
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Barataria Bay: questions a Louisiana angler asks before launching
Which Louisiana town sits nearest Barataria Bay?
USGS places it in Plaquemines Parish, about 12 miles from Grand Isle.
Is Barataria Bay salt or fresh water for licensing?
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents.
How many LDWF-listed launches reach Barataria Bay?
Use Sand Dollar Marina on Barataria Pass, some 8 miles away.
What are the redfish limits on Barataria Bay?
Cobia (ling or lemonfish): 1 daily per person; no more than 2 per vessel; 36" min fork length; Open year-round in state waters.
Has LDWF built artificial reefs near Barataria Bay?
LDWF lists 6 sites nearby, Hotel Sid Reef first.
What did the latest water level near Barataria Bay show?
Check Grand Isle; its dated reading is above.
Which LDWF pier sits nearest Barataria Bay?
Nothing on it directly; the nearest listed is Grand Isle State Park on Barataria Pass, about 8 miles away.
Where do Barataria Bay regulars fill the bait bucket?
Captian Watson’s Live Bait, about 16 miles away, tops our Louisiana shop list.
Where does tide move near Barataria Bay?
Look to Barataria Pass, Creole Pass, Pass Abel and Quatre Bayou Pass.
Head down the bayou road to Barataria Bay
Read the redfish and trout limits before filling the ice chest.