Fishing near Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette Parish, population 121,374.
- 7 milesto nearest paged water
- 5launches nearby
Pick for white crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 2.0
A day on the water starting in Lafayette
The 2020 count found 121,374 people in Lafayette, a city of Lafayette Parish. The nearest water with a page here is Lake Martin, about 7 miles to the east. The largest lake listed below is Henderson Lake, 5,000 acres. Launch at Vermilion River (north), Lafayette Parish, under a mile from town.
The nearest bank or pier site is Girard Park, under a mile off. The Get Out and Fish pond at Girard Park is under a mile off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Lafayette; miles are straight lines.
Reservoirs and oxbows by distance from Lafayette
| Lake | Distance | 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 |
LDWF Inland Waterbodies with Management Plans (published size, average depth, popular species); retrieved October 2026.
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- Bayou Teche13 miles, 5 LDWF-listed launches, 124 mi of main channel in Louisiana
Live USGS numbers by Lafayette
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River At Surrey St. At Lafayette, La | 710 cfs, 6.45 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:15 pm |
| Vermilion River Near Lafayette, La | 4.05 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:00 pm |
| Vermilion River At Hwy 733 Near Lafayette, La | 4.35 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:00 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.
Mapping the launches near Lafayette
- Vermilion River (north), Lafayette ParishVermilion River, under a mile
- Vermilion River (north)Vermilion River, 2 miles
- Vermilion River (north), Lafayette ParishVermilion River, 2 miles
- Lake MartinLake Martin, 7 miles
- Bayou Teche (east)Bayou Teche, 12 miles
Shore access near Lafayette
- Girard Parkbank fishing, Get Out & Fish site, under a mile
- Spreafico Lake, Beaver Park on Vermilion Riverfishing pier, 2 miles
- Acadiana Cultural Center Ponds on Vermilion Riverbank fishing, 2 miles
- Lake Martinfishing pier, 7 miles
- Spanish Lake 5fishing pier, 13 miles
- Spanish Lake 4fishing pier, 14 miles
LDWF boat launch inventory, coastal launches and Banks and Piers layer; retrieved October 2026.
LDWF community fishing near Lafayette
| Water | Program | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Girard Park | Get Out and Fish community pond | under a mile |
These LDWF ponds take stocked trout in the cool months and catfish in others.
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.
Supplies and guides by Lafayette
The closest shops to Lafayette
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 4232 Ambassador Caffery Parkwaysporting goods store, Lafayette, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Lafayettesporting goods store, Lafayette, 4 miles
- Wellbore Fishing & Rentalbait and tackle shop, Broussard, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 3001 Louisiana Avenuesporting goods store, Lafayette, 4 miles
- J B Baitbait and tackle shop, Abbeville, 12 miles
- Breaux's Crawfish & Crab Baitbait and tackle shop, Breaux Bridge, 14 miles
- Eagle Fishing Tools & Servicebait and tackle shop, Lafayette
- Swampland Tackle & Custom Rodsbait and tackle shop, Lafayette
Booking a captain near Lafayette
- South Louisiana Redfishingcharter, Lafayette, (337) 412-5950
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 2026.
LOWA-listed catches from water by Lafayette
| Species | Weight (lb) | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Flathead | 95.0 | Atchafalaya Basin | July 2007 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) state fish records list; waters within 40 miles.
Size and creel rows for Lafayette trips
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. Lake, bayou and coastal pages print any water-body exception.
A handful of miles from Lafayette
Town guides surrounding Lafayette
- Scott5 miles
- Broussard6 miles
- Milton7 miles
- Carencro7 miles
- Youngsville8 miles
The parish guide that takes in Lafayette
- Lafayette Parishseat: Lafayette
Reels and line from Piscifun ahead of Lafayette
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Lafayette
Photo: Dominic, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: moxostoma, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Prof. emerit. Dr. Hans Schneider ( Geyersberg ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Making Lafayette your fishing headquarters
How many miles separate Lafayette from a paged lake?
Lake Martin, 7 miles east.
Which LDWF-listed launch is nearest Lafayette?
Closest: Vermilion River (north), Lafayette Parish, under a mile.
Which LDWF bank site is closest to Lafayette?
Girard Park, under a mile.
Who sells shrimp and shiners around Lafayette?
Academy Sports + Outdoors Lafayette, 4 miles away.
In which parish does Lafayette lie?
Lafayette Parish covers it.
Which license suits a weekend in Lafayette?
The nonresident Basic Fishing License costs $68.
Which reservoir close to Lafayette holds the most acres?
Henderson Lake, 5,000 acres, 21 miles away.
Which Louisiana town guides neighbour Lafayette?
Scott (5 miles), Broussard (6 miles) and Milton (7 miles) lie closest.
Which LOWA records were set on water near Lafayette?
Catfish, Flathead, 95.0 lb, from Wax Lake.
Fish the water closest to Lafayette
Open a launch for lanes, fees and directions.