Fishing in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Parish seat: Lafayette. Population 241,753.
- 3bank and pier sites
- 3launches
- 2river and bayou pages
Pick for white crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Martin: Megan Romer, CC BY 2.0
Water and access across Lafayette Parish
The parish seat of Lafayette Parish is Lafayette; the 2020 Census counted 241,753 residents parish-wide. On this site it falls under Southwest Louisiana, a map grouping rather than an LDWF region.
Launching comes down to 3 boat launches on the LDWF list, 3 of them public. Without a boat there are 3 bank or pier sites; LDWF notes a pier at 1.
Census 2020 population; LDWF Inland Waterbodies, boat launch inventory, Banks and Piers and artificial reef layers; GNIS coastal names; retrieved October 2026.
Lafayette Parish fishing access on one map
LDWF boat launch inventory and Banks and Piers layer, LDWF lake points, NHD river midpoints and GNIS coastal points. Checked October 2026.
The managed lakes of Lafayette Parish, biggest first
Few lake pages sit inside Lafayette Parish, so the closest ones past its line follow, measured from Lafayette.
| Lake | From Lafayette | Acres | Launches | Depth | Fish LDWF names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Martin | 7 miles east | 800 | 1 | largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill | |
| Spanish Lake | 14 miles southeast | 1,260 | 1 | 4.8 ft average | largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill |
| Henderson Lake | 21 miles northeast | 5,000 | 12 | 7 ft average | largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie |
| Fausse Point, Dauterive and Catahoula Complex | 25 miles east | 17,000 | 3 | largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill | |
| Atchafalaya Basin | 27 miles east | 833,000 | 40 | largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie | |
| Dubuisson Lake | 37 miles north | 200 | 2 | largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans (published size, average depth, popular species), LOWA records and LDWF stocking releases; retrieved October 2026.
For the white crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The species lineup around Lafayette Parish
Water pages inside 50 miles of Lafayette were counted by fish named; largemouth bass comes first.
Species named in LDWF popular-species text, the LOWA state record list and LDWF stocking releases, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a survey.
Channels and streams running through Lafayette Parish
- Vermilion River5 LDWF-listed launches, 2 bank or pier sites, 66 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Bayou Queue de Tortue1 LDWF-listed launch, 58 mi of main channel in Louisiana
Streamgages of Lafayette Parish
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River At Surrey St. At Lafayette, La | 908 cfs, 5.41 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:15 am |
| Vermillion Rvr N. Of I-10 At Lafayette, La | 197 cfs, 5.10 ft gage height | Oct 25 1:45 am Not updated since Oct 25, 2024. |
| Vermilion River Near Lafayette, La | 3.24 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
| Vermilion River At Hwy 733 Near Lafayette, La | 3.93 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:00 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 12:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines and lengths, Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers list, LDWF launches and USGS gauges; retrieved October 2026.
Winter trout and stocked bass in Lafayette Parish
Girard Park belong to LDWF's Get Out and Fish ponds, which receive hatchery trout and catfish.
LDWF hatchery stocking releases (spring 2024 and 2025 per-water tables, single stockings to 2026); LDWF publishes no per-row dates; Get Out and Fish sites from the LDWF Banks and Piers layer.
Public and private launches of Lafayette Parish
- Vermilion River (north)Vermilion River, 2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee
- Vermilion River (north), Lafayette ParishVermilion River, 2-lane concrete ramp, public
- Vermilion River (north), Lafayette ParishVermilion River, 2-lane concrete ramp, public, fee
Bank and pier sites in Lafayette Parish (3)
- Acadiana Cultural Center Ponds on Vermilion Riverbank fishing
- Girard Parkbank fishing, Get Out & Fish site
- Spreafico Lake, Beaver Park on Vermilion Riverfishing pier
LDWF boat launch inventory (BoatRamps05152025), coastal launches and Banks and Piers layer; retrieved October 2026.
What an angler may keep in Lafayette Parish
Unless LDWF names a water, Lafayette Parish lakes, bayous and bays follow the statewide rows below. Plan on $17 as a Louisiana resident or $68 from out of state for the Basic Fishing License.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Buffalo fish (or their hybrids) | 25 daily; 16" MLL | Open year-round |
| Catfish (blue, channel and flathead) | 100 daily in the aggregate. An angler may possess up to 25 undersized catfish of the three species combined.; Blue Catfish: 12" MLL; Channel Catfish: 11" MLL; Flathead Catfish: 14" MLL | Open year-round |
| Freshwater drum (gaspergou) | 25 daily; 12" MLL | Open year-round |
| Paddlefish | 2 daily (fish cannot be retained alive & cannot be harvested by snagging methods); 30" max lower jaw fork length | Open year-round |
| Shad | 50 pounds daily | Open year-round |
| Sturgeon | No legal harvest or possession | Closed (no legal harvest or possession) |
| Other freshwater fish (all species of bream and garfish) | No daily limit | Open year-round |
| Crawfish | 150 pounds daily | Open year-round |
| Rainbow trout (Get Out & Fish! community ponds) | five fish per person (daily limit) | Stocked mid-January to early February, pending a decrease in water temperatures |
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 freshwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Big-fish records out of Lafayette Parish
The LOWA list names nothing in Lafayette Parish; these waters within 70 miles do.
| Species | Weight (lb) | Division | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Flathead | 95.0 | Rod & Reel | Atchafalaya Basin | July 2007 |
| Catfish, Blue | 114.00 | Rod & Reel | Mississippi River | March 2014 |
| Pickerel, Chain | 1.64 | Fly Fishing | Cocodrie Lake | Octoberober 2019 |
| Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) | 2.34 | Fly Fishing | Comite River | August. 2009 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) state fish records list, records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026; LDWF keeps no record list.
Where Lafayette Parish anglers buy shrimp and line
Where Lafayette Parish anglers buy gear
- Eagle Fishing Tools & Servicebait and tackle shop, Lafayette
- Swampland Tackle & Custom Rodsbait and tackle shop, Lafayette
- Wellbore Fishing & Rentalbait and tackle shop, Broussard
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 4232 Ambassador Caffery Parkwaysporting goods store, Lafayette
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 3001 Louisiana Avenuesporting goods store, Lafayette
- Dick's Sporting Goods Lafayettesporting goods store, Lafayette
Guided trips from Lafayette Parish
- Duce Fishing Rodscharter, Broussard, (337) 330-2984
- South Louisiana Redfishingcharter, Lafayette, (337) 412-5950
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide and charter listings (parish of business); retrieved October 2026.
A handful of miles from Lafayette Parish
Town guides inside Lafayette Parish
- Lafayettepop. 121,374
- Youngsvillepop. 15,929
- Broussardpop. 13,417
- Carencropop. 9,272
- Scottpop. 8,119
- Miltonpop. 2,590
- Dusonpop. 1,326
Parishes ringing Lafayette Parish
- Acadia Parish22 miles west
- St. Landry Parish26 miles north
- St. Martin Parish28 miles east
- Vermilion Parish32 miles southwest
Reels and line from Piscifun ahead of Lafayette Parish
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Pictures of fishing water by Lafayette Parish
Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DD, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tobin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hunting in Lafayette Parish
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Lafayette Parish are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Answers for anyone fishing Lafayette Parish
Where can a trailered boat go in across Lafayette Parish?
There are 3 launches, and 3 carry the public label.
Which water in Lafayette Parish is the biggest?
No lake page lies inside; Lake Martin, 7 miles away, is the nearest.
What ends up in the ice chest around Lafayette Parish?
Largemouth bass lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, followed by white crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Which Lafayette Parish stores carry soft plastics and line?
6 listings, such as Eagle Fishing Tools & Service.
Which charter businesses keep an office in Lafayette Parish?
2 guides and charters give this parish as home.
Which Louisiana town runs the business of Lafayette Parish?
Parish offices are in Lafayette.
What does LDWF charge to fish Lafayette Parish?
Plan on $17 as a Louisiana resident or $68 from out of state for the Basic Fishing License.
Which parishes border Lafayette Parish?
Acadia Parish, St. Landry Parish and St. Martin Parish lie closest.
Where can kids fish stocked water in Lafayette Parish?
Girard Park, part of the LDWF Get Out and Fish program.
Spend a morning fishing Lafayette Parish
Launch pages give lanes, fees and directions.