Chandeleur Sound Fishing
A sound of the Louisiana coast in St. Bernard Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Breton Sound: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, CC BY 2.0
Chandeleur Sound at a glance for inshore anglers
USGS names Chandeleur Sound as a sound of St. Bernard Parish. It lies inside the LDWF saltwater line, so saltwater limits and the Saltwater License apply. Plan on about 52 miles to Poydras, the closest town.
LDWF reef maps put 2 reef sites inside 25 miles.
USGS Geographic Names Information System (feature class and point), LDWF saltwater line, LDWF launch and Banks and Piers layers; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Putting a bay boat onto Chandeleur Sound from a bayou launch
LDWF lists no launch on Chandeleur Sound directly.
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Artificial reefs close to Chandeleur Sound
Within a 25-mile run of Chandeleur Sound sit 2 LDWF reefs (2 inshore).
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Karako Bay Reef | inshore | 18 miles northwest | ||
| Cabbage Reef | inshore | 23 miles northwest |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Water level gauges by Chandeleur Sound
- Comfort Islandtide predictions, 15 miles
Louisiana marsh tides are small and wind often moves more water than the moon; check the station before running shallow flats on Chandeleur Sound.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
What may go in the ice chest from Chandeleur Sound
| 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 Chandeleur Sound; 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.
For the redfish herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Sizing up Chandeleur Sound against nearby salt water
Of the waters listed, Lake Saint Catherine has the most launches: 6.
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandeleur Sound | sound | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Breton Sound | 28 miles southwest | sound | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Lake Borgne | 37 miles west | coastal lake | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| The Rigolets | 41 miles northwest | tidal pass | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Lake Saint Catherine | 46 miles northwest | coastal lake | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| Chef Menteur Pass | 47 miles west | tidal pass | 6 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
LDWF launch, Banks and Piers and reef layers, NOAA CO-OPS stations, USGS GNIS; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Other water within a drive of Chandeleur Sound
Louisiana bait stops around Chandeleur Sound
- Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Chalmette
- Gulf Outlet Marinamarina, Chalmette
- Gulf Outlet Marina Boat Launchmarina, Chalmette
- Hook And Line Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Chalmette
- Marina Motel Chalmettebait and tackle shop, Chalmette
- Meraux Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Meraux
Guide services around Chandeleur Sound
- Captain Charlie's Bayou Charterscharter, Saint Bernard, (504) 278-3474
- Hook Dat Fishing Charterscharter, Saint Bernard, (504) 475-2816
- Redfish Dynastycharter, Saint Bernard, (850) 509-1376
- Reel Southern Fishing Charterscharter, Saint Bernard, (504) 250-7296
- Southbound Fishing Charters LLCcharter, St. Bernard, (225) 421-3094
- Whiskey Bayou Charterscharter, Saint Bernard, (504) 265-3405
Parishes along Chandeleur Sound
- St. Bernard Parishseat: Chalmette
Bayou-tough Piscifun reels for a day on Chandeleur Sound
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A picture guide to fish at Chandeleur Sound
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain
Photo: albertoalcala, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos, CC BY 2.0
Before the drive to Chandeleur Sound, the common questions
Where does Chandeleur Sound sit in Louisiana?
It lies in St. Bernard Parish, about 52 miles from Poydras.
What license does a visitor need on Chandeleur Sound?
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 Chandeleur Sound?
No close launch is on file.
Which 2026 rules apply on Chandeleur Sound?
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 Chandeleur Sound?
2 sites, starting with West Karako Bay Reef.
Where can I check the tide at Chandeleur Sound?
Comfort Island gives tide predictions.
Can I wade Chandeleur Sound?
Shore access is not mapped nearby.
Is there a bait stand on the way to Chandeleur Sound?
Bait Inc in the same parish, is the first bait counter on our Louisiana list.
Pick a calm day for Chandeleur Sound
Fees, seasons and exceptions are on the saltwater page.