Lake Pelto Fishing
A coastal lake of the Louisiana coast in Terrebonne Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Timbalier Bay: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
The coastal picture of Lake Pelto
The national gazetteer lists Lake Pelto as a coastal lake in Terrebonne Parish. Being within the LDWF saltwater zone, it follows the saltwater creel limits. Chauvin, some 25 miles away, is the nearest town.
Within 25 miles lie 8 reef sites from the LDWF Artificial Reef Program. 11 named passes feed water 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.
Launch choices for Lake Pelto
The LDWF inventory has no launch on Lake Pelto; nearby launches are mapped.
More LDWF launches a short tow from Lake Pelto
- Harbor Light Marina on Lake BarreLake Barre, 11 miles north
- Wine Island Pass Marina on Lake BarreLake Barre, 11 miles north
- CoCo Marina on Lake BarreLake Barre, 11 miles north
- Tradewinds Marina on Bayou TerrebonneBayou Terrebonne, 13 miles north
- Four Point Landing2-lane concrete ramp, private, 15 miles north
- Kozy Kampers launch on Lake TambourLake Tambour, 17 miles north
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
LDWF reefs within a run of Lake Pelto
Reef program crews built 8 sites within 25 miles of Lake Pelto, 4 of them inshore.
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Island Reef | inshore | 9-ft | 69 acres | 3 miles southwest |
| Bodwin's Point Reef | inshore | 3 miles southwest | ||
| Point Mast Reef | inshore | 9-ft | 50 acres | 4 miles east |
| Ship Shoal 94 Reef | nearshore | 28-ft | 100 acres | 18 miles southwest |
| South Timbalier 51 Reef | nearshore | 19 miles southeast | ||
| Ship Shoal 26 Reef | nearshore | 8-ft | 187 acres | 21 miles west |
| Pelican Island Reef | inshore | 22 miles east | ||
| South Timbalier 77-2 Reef | nearshore | 23 miles south |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
NOAA stations around Lake Pelto
- E. ISLE DERNIERES, LAKE PELTOtide predictions, 4 miles
- Caillou Bocatide predictions, 7 miles
- Wine Island, Terrebonne Baytide predictions, 7 miles
- Timbalier Island, Timbalier Baytide predictions, 11 miles
Tide ranges here are modest; wind and river stage decide how much water covers Lake Pelto.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Named passes within reach of Lake Pelto
- Cat Island Pass8 miles east
- Old Camp Pass2 miles southwest
- Pass des Illes9 miles northwest
- Pass des Ilettes9 miles west
- Pass la Poule4 miles northeast
- Petit Pass des Ilettes8 miles northwest
- Sainte Elaine Pass5 miles north
- Wine Island Pass4 miles east
- Pass Wilson9 miles west
- Whiskey Pass6 miles southwest
- Grand Pass des Ilettes9 miles west
USGS GNIS passes and guts within 12 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Where boats tie up near Lake Pelto
- CocodrieTerrebonne Parish, 11 miles
USGS GNIS coastal towns and fishing ports within 20 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Daily creel on Lake Pelto
| 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 |
Redfish, trout and flounder rules for Lake Pelto lead the table; freshwater species follow.
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 How Lake Pelto stacks up along the coast
Lake Tambour leads these neighbours with 11 launches.
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pelto | coastal lake | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Terrebonne Bay | 9 miles east | bay | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Lake Barre | 16 miles northeast | coastal lake | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Caillou Bay | 16 miles west | bay | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Lake Tambour | 21 miles northeast | coastal lake | 11 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Lake Felicity | 21 miles northeast | bay | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
LDWF launch, Banks and Piers and reef layers, NOAA CO-OPS stations, USGS GNIS; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Lakes, bayous and towns around Lake Pelto
Louisiana lakes a short drive from Lake Pelto
- Lake Fields and Lake Long Complex39 miles
- Lake Boeuf49 miles
Current-carrying bayous near Lake Pelto
- Falgout Canal Bayou23 miles
- Bayou Terrebonne27 miles
Louisiana tackle counters close to Lake Pelto
- Montegut Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Montegut, 28 miles
- Diversified Marinemarina, Bourg
- Harborlight Marinamarina, Chauvin
- Kajunboatingandfishing.combait and tackle shop, Chauvin
- Tradewinds Marina & Lodgingmarina, Chauvin
- Four Point Landingmarina, Dulac
Louisiana guides and captains for Lake Pelto
- Bayou Guide Service Fish & Charterscharter, Houma, (985) 851-6015
- Cajun Fishing and Hunting Charterscharter, Houma, (985) 870-5909
- Coastal Charter Servicescharter, Chauvin, (985) 856-6494
- Cocodrie Anglerscharter, Chauvin, (985) 856-0700
- Cocodrie Charterscharter, Chauvin, (985) 594-6200
- Ellender Charterscharter, Theriot, (985) 224-3388
- Houma Oilman's Fishing Tournamentcharter, Houma, (985) 223-3849
- Impulse Fishing Charters, LLCcharter, Theriot, (225) 776-9820
Places to sleep near Lake Pelto
- Chauvin25 miles
- Golden Meadow33 miles
- Houma34 miles
- Galliano34 miles
Parish guides covering Lake Pelto
- Terrebonne Parishseat: Houma
A Piscifun outfit to take down to Lake Pelto
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pictures of fishing water by Lake Pelto
Photo: NOAA Photo Library, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Angelika Lindner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: NOAA Restoration Center, Erik Zobrist, Public domain
Questions people ask LDWF about Lake Pelto, answered here
How do I spot Lake Pelto on a coastal parish map?
Head for Terrebonne Parish, about 25 miles from Chauvin.
Which LDWF license do I carry on Lake Pelto?
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 LDWF launch puts me closest to Lake Pelto?
Closest launch: Harbor Light Marina on Lake Barre, 11 miles.
Does Lake Pelto have special rules?
Cobia (ling or lemonfish): 1 daily per person; no more than 2 per vessel; 36" min fork length; Open year-round in state waters.
Which LDWF reef lies nearest Lake Pelto?
Yes; 8 sites reef sites lie within 25 miles, the closest Bird Island Reef.
Which station covers Lake Pelto?
The E. ISLE DERNIERES, LAKE PELTO station predicts tides.
Where can I fish Lake Pelto without a bay boat?
No shore site within 25 miles.
Which tackle counter on our Louisiana list sits nearest Lake Pelto?
Montegut Bait & Tackle is the nearest tackle stop we list, about 28 miles away.
Where is moving water near Lake Pelto?
Passes nearby: Cat Island Pass, Old Camp Pass, Pass des Illes, Pass des Ilettes and Pass la Poule.
Hook up the bay boat for Lake Pelto
Buy the saltwater license online before the trip.