The Rigolets Fishing
A tidal pass of the Louisiana coast in Orleans Parish, inside the LDWF saltwater line.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 3.0
Sizing up The Rigolets from the coastal maps
Along the coast of Orleans Parish, The Rigolets is a tidal pass named in the federal gazetteer. LDWF counts it as saltwater: inshore limits govern and a Saltwater License is needed. Eden Isle is the nearest town, about 12 miles off.
The LDWF inventory lists 4 launches on or beside it. There are 9 reef sites within a 25-mile run. NOAA keeps 1 water-level station close by. Tide moves through 4 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.
Coastal launches for The Rigolets
- Crawford's Landing on West Pearl River2-lane concrete ramp, public
- East Pearl River Launch2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Middle River Launch1-lane gravel ramp, public
- Indian Village launch on West Pearl River1-lane gravel ramp, private, fee, Private; pay to launch
Other trailer launches by The Rigolets
- Rigolets Bait and Seafood on Lake Saint CatherineLake Saint Catherine, 6 miles west
- Fort Pike State Park Public Launch on Lake Saint CatherineLake Saint Catherine, 7 miles west
- Vinot's Marina on The RigoletsThe Rigolets, 7 miles west
- Pelican Pointe Marina on The RigoletsThe Rigolets, 7 miles west
- Lake Catherine Island Marina on Lake Saint CatherineLake Saint Catherine, 7 miles west
- The Pointe Marina and Grill on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 11 miles northwest
LDWF boat launch inventory (saltwater, brackish and freshwater launches), retrieved October 28, 2026.
Piers and banks on The Rigolets
Bank and pier spots past The Rigolets
- St. Tammany Fishing Pier on Lake Saint Catherinefishing pier, salt or brackish, 11 miles
- Yscloskey Hwy, Shell Beachbank fishing, salt or brackish, 21 miles
- Joe Brown Memorial Park on Joe W. Brown Parkbank fishing, 22 miles
LDWF Banks and Piers layer, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Reef sites mapped near The Rigolets
LDWF maps 9 reef sites near The Rigolets, including 9 inshore.
| Reef | Program | Depth | Size | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Borgne Shell Pad Reef | inshore | 6 miles southeast | ||
| St. Tammany Pier Reef | inshore | 12-ft | 1 acres | 11 miles west |
| North Twin Span Reef | inshore | 10-ft | 4 acres | 13 miles west |
| South Twin Span Reef | inshore | 10-ft | 4 acres | 13 miles west |
| Grand Banks Reef | inshore | 15 miles east | ||
| St. Tammany (east) Reef | inshore | 12-ft | 410 acres | 20 miles west |
| Cabbage Reef | inshore | 23 miles east | ||
| Lake Front Reef | inshore | 13-ft | 4 acres | 23 miles west |
| West Karako Bay Reef | inshore | 23 miles southeast |
LDWF Artificial Reef Program saltwater reef layer and site PDFs (depth and acres as printed), retrieved October 28, 2026.
How much water covers The Rigolets
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 28, 2026); station page for live data.
- The Rigolets, U.S. Highway 90tide predictions, 7 miles
- Chef Menteur, Chef Menteur Passtide predictions, 12 miles
- Bayou BonFouca, Route 433tide predictions, 13 miles
Wind pushes water in and out of The Rigolets as much as tide does, so read the station before a shallow run.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations within 25 and 15 miles, retrieved October 28, 2026.
Tidal passes feeding The Rigolets
- Chef Menteur Pass11 miles southwest
- Unknown Pass5 miles southwest
- Le Petit Pass10 miles southeast
- Mosquito Inlet12 miles southeast
USGS GNIS passes and guts within 12 miles; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Louisiana inshore limits on The Rigolets
| 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 |
At The Rigolets, read the saltwater rows first; freshwater species keep their freshwater limits.
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 The Rigolets beside other coastal water
Among the five nearest coastal pages, Lake Saint Catherine has the most LDWF launches (6).
| Water | Distance | Type | Launches | Piers and banks | Reefs within 25 mi | NOAA stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rigolets | tidal pass | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| Lake Saint Catherine | 7 miles west | coastal lake | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| Lake Borgne | 9 miles south | coastal lake | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Chef Menteur Pass | 11 miles southwest | tidal pass | 6 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Lake Pontchartrain | 30 miles west | coastal lake | 6 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
| Chandeleur Sound | 41 miles southeast | sound | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
LDWF launch, Banks and Piers and reef layers, NOAA CO-OPS stations, USGS GNIS; retrieved October 28, 2026.
Freshwater and towns close to The Rigolets
Louisiana still water close to The Rigolets
- Joe W. Brown Park22 miles
- Brechtel Pond29 miles
- New Orleans City Park30 miles
- Lake Cataouatche42 miles
River and bayou pages near The Rigolets
- Middle River6 miles
- The Rigolets7 miles
- Pearl River9 miles
- Morgan Bayou9 miles
Stores that stock up The Rigolets anglers
- Dick's Sporting Goods Slidellsporting goods store, Slidell, 11 miles
- Dockside Bait & Takelbait and tackle shop, Slidell, 12 miles
- South Shore Bait & Marinabait and tackle shop, New Orleans, 12 miles
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Slidell, 13 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Slidellsporting goods store, Slidell, 16 miles
- Campo's Marinabait and tackle shop, Saint Bernard, 22 miles
Paid trips on The Rigolets
- Captain Greg Henrycharter, New Orleans, (504) 283-5052
- Nawlins Bowfishing chartercharter, New Orleans, (504) 608-1278
- Salty Dog Charterscharter, New Orleans, (504) 481-8216
- Louisiana Redfish Masterfishing guide, New Orleans, (504) 975-7902
- Westbank Fishingfishing guide, New Orleans, (504) 620-4404
- MarshOnTheFlyfly fishing guide, New Orleans, (504) 459-9960
Towns handy to The Rigolets
- Eden Isle12 miles
- Slidell13 miles
- Pearl River17 miles
- New Orleans20 miles
Parish-by-parish pages for The Rigolets
- Orleans Parishseat: New Orleans
Piscifun casting and spinning gear packed for The Rigolets
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Lakes and bayous close to The Rigolets, pictured
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: St. Tammany Parish Government, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Carnaval.com Studios, CC BY 2.0
Quick answers for a trip to The Rigolets
Where is The Rigolets?
Look in Orleans Parish, about 12 miles from Eden Isle.
Can I fish The Rigolets on a basic license?
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.
Can I trailer a bay boat to The Rigolets?
LDWF lists 4 launches (3 public); Crawford's Landing on West Pearl River is one.
What is the speckled trout limit at The Rigolets?
Cobia (ling or lemonfish): 1 daily per person; no more than 2 per vessel; 36" min fork length; Open year-round in state waters.
Where has LDWF dropped structure near The Rigolets?
The reef band lists 9 sites; Lake Borgne Shell Pad Reef is closest.
Is there a NOAA gauge near The Rigolets?
The nearest gauge is Shell Beach.
Can I fish The Rigolets from the bank?
Drive to St. Tammany Fishing Pier on Lake Saint Catherine, roughly 11 miles away.
Which shop on our list serves The Rigolets?
Try Dick's Sporting Goods Slidell, about 11 miles away, for live bait and ice.
Is there a pass close to The Rigolets?
Close passes: Chef Menteur Pass, Unknown Pass, Le Petit Pass and Mosquito Inlet.
Plan a run to The Rigolets
Saltwater license prices and limits sit on one page.