Pass Manchac Fishing
A tidal pass of the Louisiana coast in St. John the Baptist Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Lake Maurepas: cemaxx, CC BY-SA 2.0
The coastal picture of Pass Manchac
The national gazetteer lists Pass Manchac as a tidal pass in St. John the Baptist Parish. Being within the LDWF saltwater zone, it follows the saltwater creel limits. Ponchatoula, some 13 miles away, is the nearest town.
LDWF records 9 launches that open onto it. Within 25 miles lie 10 reef sites from the LDWF Artificial Reef Program. It is covered by 1 water-level station.
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 Pass Manchac
- Hwy 22 launch on Tchefuncte River2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Madisonville Ramp on Tchefuncte River3-lane concrete ramp, public
- Manchac Boat Launch on North Pass2-lane concrete ramp, public
- North Pass Launch1-lane gravel ramp, public
- Pass Manchac Ramp on North Pass3-lane concrete ramp, public
- Bedico Creek launch1-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Lee's Landing on Tangipahoa River2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
- Madisonville at Lake Front on Tchefuncte River3-lane concrete ramp, private, Private; yearly permit required from gas station …
- Marina Del Ray on Tchefuncte River2-lane concrete ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
More LDWF launches a short tow from Pass Manchac
- Ruddock Boat Launch on Lake MaurepasLake Maurepas, 10 miles southwest
- Three Rivers on Tchefuncte RiverTchefuncte River, 15 miles northeast
- Mandeville Harbor on Bayou CastineBayou Castine, 15 miles east
- Azalea Estates launch on Tchefuncte RiverTchefuncte River, 16 miles northeast
- 4th Street launch on Tchefuncte RiverTchefuncte River, 16 miles northeast
- Williams Boulevard Boat Ramp on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 18 miles south
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Walk-up spots LDWF lists on Pass Manchac
Piers LDWF maps near Pass Manchac
- Fairview State Parkbank fishing, 13 miles
- Sunset Point Fishing Pierfishing pier, salt or brackish, 14 miles
- Fountainbleu State Parkfishing pier, 16 miles
- Zemurray Parkcommunity fishing site, Get Out & Fish site, 17 miles
- Bogue Falaya Wayside Park and Pavilionfishing site, 18 miles
LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
LDWF reefs within a run of Pass Manchac
Reef program crews built 10 sites within 25 miles of Pass Manchac, 10 of them inshore.
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Tammany (west) Reef | inshore | 13-ft | 410 acres | 9 miles east |
| St. Charles Reef | inshore | 14-ft | 411 acres | 11 miles south |
| North Shore Reef | inshore | 14-ft | 382 acres | 14 miles east |
| St. John Reef | inshore | 9-ft | 10 acres | 15 miles southwest |
| South Shore Reef | inshore | 13-ft | 384 acres | 16 miles south |
| Laketown Reef | inshore | 6-ft | 4 acres | 18 miles south |
| Orleans Reef | inshore | 15-ft | 411 acres | 18 miles southeast |
| West End Pier Reef | inshore | 10-ft | 10 acres | 21 miles southeast |
| St. Tammany (east) Reef | inshore | 12-ft | 410 acres | 22 miles east |
| Lake Front Reef | inshore | 13-ft | 4 acres | 25 miles southeast |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
NOAA stations around Pass Manchac
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 28, 2026); station page for live data.
- Tchefuncta River, Lake Pontchartraintide predictions, 10 miles
Tide ranges here are modest; wind and river stage decide how much water covers Pass Manchac.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Daily creel on Pass Manchac
| 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 Pass Manchac 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 Pass Manchac stacks up along the coast
Lake Pontchartrain leads these neighbours with 6 launches.
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Manchac | tidal pass | 9 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| Lake Maurepas | 12 miles west | coastal lake | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Lake Pontchartrain | 13 miles southeast | coastal lake | 6 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
| Chef Menteur Pass | 36 miles southeast | tidal pass | 6 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Lake Saint Catherine | 36 miles east | coastal lake | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| The Rigolets | 42 miles east | tidal pass | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
LDWF launch, Banks and Piers and reef layers, NOAA CO-OPS stations, USGS GNIS; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Lakes, bayous and towns around Pass Manchac
Louisiana lakes a short drive from Pass Manchac
- Zemurray Lake17 miles
- Bonnet Carre Spillway19 miles
- New Orleans City Park23 miles
- Joe W. Brown Park27 miles
Current-carrying bayous near Pass Manchac
- North Pass6 miles
- Tangipahoa River8 miles
- Bedico Creek8 miles
- Tchefuncte River12 miles
Louisiana tackle counters close to Pass Manchac
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Covingtonsporting goods store, Covington, 15 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Hammondsporting goods store, Hammond, 16 miles
- Riverside Marine And Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Mandeville, 18 miles
- Archery & Fishing Unlimited-Sportsworldbait and tackle shop, Hammond, 20 miles
- Black Lake Club Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Maurepas, 20 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Metairiesporting goods store, Metairie, 20 miles
Places to sleep near Pass Manchac
- Ponchatoula13 miles
- Mandeville13 miles
- Killian17 miles
- Hammond17 miles
Parish guides covering Pass Manchac
- St. John the Baptist Parishseat: Edgard
A Piscifun outfit to take down to Pass Manchac
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Pictures of fishing water by Pass Manchac
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Photo: abbeyprivate, Public domain
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 3.0
Questions people ask LDWF about Pass Manchac, answered here
How do I spot Pass Manchac on a coastal parish map?
Head for St. John the Baptist Parish, about 13 miles from Ponchatoula.
Which LDWF license do I carry on Pass Manchac?
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 Pass Manchac?
Back down at Hwy 22 launch on Tchefuncte River, one of 9 launches.
Does Pass Manchac 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 Pass Manchac?
Yes; 10 sites reef sites lie within 25 miles, the closest St. Tammany (west) Reef.
Which station covers Pass Manchac?
New Canal Station reports nearby.
Where can I fish Pass Manchac without a bay boat?
Try Fairview State Park, about 13 miles away.
Which tackle counter on our Louisiana list sits nearest Pass Manchac?
Academy Sports + Outdoors Covington is the nearest tackle stop we list, about 15 miles away.
Hook up the bay boat for Pass Manchac
Buy the saltwater license online before the trip.