Barataria Pass Fishing
A tidal pass of the Louisiana coast in Jefferson Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for tarponPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Barataria Bay: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, CC BY 2.0
Barataria Pass at a glance for inshore anglers
USGS names Barataria Pass as a tidal pass of Jefferson Parish. It lies inside the LDWF saltwater line, so saltwater limits and the Saltwater License apply. Plan on about 6 miles to Grand Isle, the closest town.
It has 4 launches in the LDWF list. Walk-up fishing comes from 7 pier and bank sites. LDWF reef maps put 11 reef sites inside 25 miles. Tide and level data come from 2 water-level stations nearby. There are 3 named passes 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.
What the records say bites at Barataria Pass
Each chip has a record or LDWF source tied to Barataria Pass.
LOWA state records and LDWF data; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Putting a bay boat onto Barataria Pass from a bayou launch
- Bridge Side Marina on Barataria Pass2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Grand Isle Kayak Launch on Barataria Passboat launch public
- Sand Dollar Marina on Barataria Pass2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Wakeside Marina on Barataria Passconcrete ramp public
If the Barataria Pass launch is crowded
- Leeville Public Launch on Bayou LafourcheBayou Lafourche, 16 miles west
- Moran's Marina on Timbalier BayTimbalier Bay, 16 miles southwest
- Boudreaux's Waterfront Motel launch on Lake RaccourciLake Raccourci, 16 miles west
- Topwater Marina on Bayou LafourcheBayou Lafourche, 16 miles west
- Port Fourchon Marina on Timbalier BayTimbalier Bay, 16 miles southwest
- Melancon's Launch on Timbalier BayTimbalier Bay, 18 miles southwest
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
For the tarpon herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Bank sites LDWF maps on Barataria Pass
- Elmer's Island on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, Marsh and beach access, Sunrise-sunset
- Grand Isle State Park on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, Pier, beach access, restrooms, Apr-Sept, 6am-7pm …
- Caminada Pass West Pier on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, Pier, restrooms, Year-round
- Caminada Pass East Pier on Barataria Passfishing pier, salt or brackish, Pier, Year-round
- Grand Isle Public Beach Access on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, Beach access, parking, Year-round
- King Tarpon Park on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, Beach access, parking, Year-round
- LA Hwy 1 on Barataria Passbank fishing, salt or brackish, Roadside bank access, Year-round
More walk-up fishing around Barataria Pass
- Leeville Boat Launch on Lake Raccourcibank fishing, salt or brackish, 16 miles
- Melancon's Public Boat Launch on Timbalier Baybank fishing, salt or brackish, 18 miles
- Port Fourchon Bridge on Timbalier Baybank fishing, salt or brackish, 18 miles
- Port Sulphur Fishing Pier on Bastian Bayfishing pier, salt or brackish, 21 miles
- Myrtle Grove Marinabank fishing, salt or brackish, 25 miles
LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Artificial reefs close to Barataria Pass
Within a 25-mile run of Barataria Pass sit 11 LDWF reefs (4 inshore).
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Island Reef | inshore | 9-ft | 50 acres | 3 miles north |
| Hotel Sid Reef | inshore | 4 miles north | ||
| Grand Isle 9 Reef | nearshore | 50-ft | 665 acres | 7 miles southeast |
| Bay Ronquille Reef | inshore | 27 acres | 8 miles northeast | |
| Hackberry Reef | inshore | 11 miles north | ||
| West Delta 35 Reef | nearshore | 13 miles southeast | ||
| Bay Marchand 3 Reef | nearshore | 42-ft | 10 acres | 20 miles southwest |
| Grand Isle 47 Reef | nearshore | 23 miles south | ||
| West Delta 69 Reef | offshore | 135-ft | 23 acres | 23 miles south |
| West Delta 70 Reef | offshore | 144-ft | 239 acres | 24 miles south |
| West Delta 23 Reef | nearshore | 25 miles east |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Water level gauges by Barataria Pass
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 28, 2026); station page for live data.
- Barataria Passtide predictions, under a mile
- EAST POINT, GRAND ISLEtide predictions, under a mile
- Independence Islandtide predictions, 3 miles
- Mendicant Island, Barataria Baytide predictions, 4 miles
Louisiana marsh tides are small and wind often moves more water than the moon; check the station before running shallow flats on Barataria Pass.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Passes and cuts by Barataria Pass
- Creole Pass9 miles northwest
- Pass Abel3 miles northeast
- Quatre Bayou Pass7 miles northeast
USGS GNIS passes and guts within 12 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Ports a run from Barataria Pass
- Port FourchonLafourche Parish, 19 miles
- Grand IsleJefferson Parish, 3 miles
USGS GNIS coastal towns and fishing ports within 20 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
What may go in the ice chest from Barataria Pass
| 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 |
Saltwater limits head the table for Barataria Pass; the freshwater rows still apply to freshwater species.
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.
Heaviest Louisiana fish taken at Barataria Pass
| Species | Division | Weight | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHARK, BLACKTIP | Fly Fishing | 11.88 lb | David L. Coignet | August. 2000 |
| TROUT, WHITE | Fly Fishing | 0.58 lb | Stuart Breaux | October. 2009 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association state fish records (rank 1 entries; LDWF keeps no record list), retrieved October 28, 2026. All Louisiana records.
Sizing up Barataria Pass against nearby salt water
Of the waters listed, Bastian Bay has the most launches: 5.
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barataria Pass | tidal pass | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 | |
| Barataria Bay | 7 miles north | bay | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Bastian Bay | 18 miles east | bay | 5 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| Lake Raccourci | 24 miles west | bay | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Timbalier Bay | 25 miles west | bay | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Lake Felicity | 29 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.
Other water within a drive of Barataria Pass
Lakes worth a look after Barataria Pass
- Lake Salvador37 miles
- Lake Cataouatche42 miles
- Brechtel Pond44 miles
- Lake Fields and Lake Long Complex46 miles
Streams near Barataria Pass
- Bayou Des Amoreux29 miles
Louisiana bait stops around Barataria Pass
- Gail's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Golden Meadow, 16 miles
- Captian Watson’s Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Port Sulphur, 21 miles
- Delta Marinabait and tackle shop, Buras, 22 miles
- South Lafourche Tackle & Hunting Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Cut Off, 27 miles
- Bridge Side Marinabait and tackle shop, Grand Isle
- Grand Isle Marinamarina, Grand Isle
Guide services around Barataria Pass
- AC Bayou Fishing Charterscharter, Marrero, (504) 427-2180
- BOURGEOIS FISHING CHARTERScharter, Barataria, (504) 341-5614
- Bayou Country Charterscharter, Barataria, (504) 881-6016
- Bentrod Fishing Charterscharter, Grand Isle, (985) 258-9278
- Big Dog Fishing Charterscharter, Barataria, (504) 416-6260
- Bowfishingcharter, Metairie, (504) 269-3474
- Brock's Charter Fishingcharter, Barataria, (504) 224-0256
- Cajun Girls Charterscharter, Barataria, (504) 570-9218
Where to stay for Barataria Pass
- Grand Isle6 miles
- Golden Meadow21 miles
- Galliano25 miles
- Cut Off28 miles
Parishes along Barataria Pass
- Jefferson Parishseat: Gretna
Bayou-tough Piscifun reels for a day on Barataria Pass
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A picture guide to fish at Barataria Pass
Photo: Amada44, CC BY 3.0
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain
Photo: albertoalcala, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Rennair, CC BY-SA 4.0
Before the drive to Barataria Pass, the common questions
Where does Barataria Pass sit in Louisiana?
It lies in Jefferson Parish, about 6 miles from Grand Isle.
What license does a visitor need on Barataria Pass?
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.
Which bayou launch runs out to Barataria Pass?
4 launches; start with Bridge Side Marina on Barataria Pass.
Which 2026 rules apply on Barataria Pass?
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 reefs around Barataria Pass?
11 sites, starting with Independence Island Reef.
Where can I check the tide at Barataria Pass?
NOAA Grand Isle covers it.
Can I wade Barataria Pass?
Yes: 7 pier and bank sites, including Elmer's Island on Barataria Pass.
Is there a bait stand on the way to Barataria Pass?
Gail's Bait Shop, about 16 miles away, is the first bait counter on our Louisiana list.
What passes feed Barataria Pass?
Tide runs through Creole Pass, Pass Abel and Quatre Bayou Pass.
Has Barataria Pass produced a Louisiana record?
SHARK, BLACKTIP, 11.88 lb, by David L. Coignet (August. 2000).
Pick a calm day for Barataria Pass
Fees, seasons and exceptions are on the saltwater page.