Fishing near Baton Rouge, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish, population 227,470.
- 3 milesto nearest paged water
- 5launches nearby
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What a base in Baton Rouge puts in reach
Census figures for 2020 put 227,470 residents in the city of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish. No paged water is closer than University Lakes, around 3 miles toward the southwest. A 3 miles tow reaches Stanford Beach (BREC Milford Wampold Memorial Park) on University Lakes, the nearest launch.
For pier or bank fishing, Oak Villa Park (BREC) lies 3 miles away. About 7 miles away, BREC's Burbank Park gets Get Out and Fish stockings.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Baton Rouge; miles are straight lines.
Still water around Baton Rouge, nearest first
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Depth | Fish LDWF names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Lakes | 3 miles southwest | 275 | 1 | 2.1 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans (published size, average depth, popular species); retrieved October 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Creeks and channels a short drive from Baton Rouge
- Mississippi River4 miles, 9 LDWF-listed launches, 481 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Comite River7 miles, Natural and Scenic River segment, 52 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Blackwater Bayou7 miles, 1 bank or pier site, 10 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Port Allen Canal12 miles, 2 LDWF-listed launches, 14 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Bayou Plaquemine14 miles, LDWF management plan water, 5 LDWF-listed launches, 10 mi of main channel in Louisiana
USGS gauges near Baton Rouge
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ward Creek At Government St At Baton Rouge, La | 31.65 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:00 pm |
| Hurricane Creek At Baton Rouge, La | 33.03 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:15 pm |
| Corporation C.at E.roosevelt St. At B. R. La. | 16.36 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 31, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines, Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers list, LDWF launches and USGS gauges; retrieved October 2026.
Pins for the launches around Baton Rouge
- Stanford Beach (BREC Milford Wampold Memorial Park) on University LakesUniversity Lakes, 3 miles
- Mississippi River at Baton RougeMississippi River, 4 miles
- Intracoastal Waterway launch on Port Allen CanalPort Allen Canal, 5 miles
- Morley Marina on Port Allen CanalPort Allen Canal, 12 miles
- Mississippi River at Court StreetMississippi River, 12 miles
Fishing from a pier near Baton Rouge
- Oak Villa Park (BREC)bank fishing, 3 miles
- North Sherwood Parkbank fishing, 5 miles
- BREC's Burbank Parkcommunity fishing site, Get Out & Fish site, 7 miles
- Waddill Wildlife Refugebank fishing, 7 miles
- Blackwater Conservation Area (BREC)bank fishing, 7 miles
- Central City Sports Park Lake (BREC)-UNDER CONSTRUCTIONbank fishing, 8 miles
LDWF boat launch inventory, coastal launches and Banks and Piers layer; retrieved October 2026.
Get Out and Fish ponds close to Baton Rouge
| Water | Program | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| BREC's Burbank Park | Get Out and Fish community pond | 7 miles |
Stocked by LDWF for kids and families, these ponds suit a short outing.
LDWF hatchery stocking releases (spring 2024 and 2025 per-water tables, single stockings to 2026); LDWF publishes no per-row dates; sites from the LDWF Banks and Piers layer.
Tackle counters and captains near Baton Rouge
Where Baton Rouge anglers fill the bait well
- Gulf Coast Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Baton Rouge, 2 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Baton Rouge, 8464 Airline Highwaysporting goods store, Baton Rouge, 2 miles
- Favaro's Rod & Reel Repair Shopbait and tackle shop, Baton Rouge, 4 miles
- Boss Mans Bait & Lurebait and tackle shop, Baton Rouge, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Baton Rougesporting goods store, Baton Rouge, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Baton Rouge, 10808 Industriplex Boulevardsporting goods store, Baton Rouge, 5 miles
- Superior Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Baton Rouge, 5 miles
- Don's Sportsman Shopbait and tackle shop, Port Allen, 6 miles
Guides and captains listed near Baton Rouge
- Fish Commander Fishing Charterscharter, Baton Rouge, (225) 445-1005
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 2026.
Record-book fish landed a drive from Baton Rouge
| Species | Weight (lb) | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Blue | 114.00 | Mississippi River | March 2014 |
| Bass, Spotted (Kentucky) | 2.34 | Comite River | August. 2009 |
| Catfish, Flathead | 95.0 | Atchafalaya Basin | July 2007 |
| Bass, White | 6.81 | Amite River | August. 2010 |
| Bass, Spotted | 4.88 | Tickfaw River | August 1976 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) state fish records list; waters within 40 miles.
Louisiana limits for trips out of Baton Rouge
Residents pay $17 and visitors $68 for the Basic Fishing License that every angler 18 or older needs.
| 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. Lake, bayou and coastal pages print any water-body exception.
In the neighbourhood of Baton Rouge
Neighbouring towns of Baton Rouge
- Westminster3 miles
- Merrydale4 miles
- Port Allen4 miles
- Inniswold5 miles
- Oak Hills Place6 miles
The parish around Baton Rouge
- East Baton Rouge Parishseat: Baton Rouge
Piscifun gear lined up for the bayou run to Baton Rouge
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Cypress, marsh and open water by Baton Rouge, in photos
Photo: Tobin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: getmahesh, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Kevin Crosby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, CC BY 2.0
Fishing from a base in Baton Rouge: common questions
What lake guide sits nearest to Baton Rouge?
University Lakes, 3 miles southwest.
Where do Baton Rouge boaters usually put in?
Stanford Beach (BREC Milford Wampold Memorial Park) on University Lakes, some 3 miles off.
What bank or pier site sits closest to Baton Rouge?
Try Oak Villa Park (BREC), 3 miles.
Which tackle store is the first stop leaving Baton Rouge?
Gulf Coast Outfitters, 2 miles away.
Which Louisiana parish takes in Baton Rouge?
It is in East Baton Rouge Parish.
How much is a license for fishing near Baton Rouge?
A nonresident Basic Fishing License is $68 a year at LDWF prices.
Which large LDWF reservoir is in range of Baton Rouge?
University Lakes, 275 acres, 3 miles away.
Which Louisiana town is next to Baton Rouge?
Neighbours by distance: Westminster (3 miles), Merrydale (4 miles) and Port Allen (4 miles).
Did water near Baton Rouge produce a state record?
Catfish, Blue, 114.00 lb, from Mississippi River.
Base a Louisiana fishing trip in Baton Rouge
Bayou pages list launches and gauges.