Fishing near Metairie, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish, population 143,507.
- 5 milesto nearest paged water
- 6launches nearby
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Metairie for travelling anglers
Metairie is a Census-designated place in Jefferson Parish with 143,507 residents at the 2020 Census. Drive east roughly 5 miles and New Orleans City Park is the first paged water. By LDWF size, Lake Salvador wins at 15,000 acres. The shortest tow is 3 miles to Bonnabel Boat Launch on Lake Pontchartrain.
For inshore fishing, Lake Pontchartrain lies roughly 13 miles out. Bank anglers can try Lafreniere Park, 2 miles out. LDWF stocks Sidney D. Torres Memorial Park, a Get Out and Fish pond 12 miles away.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Metairie; miles are straight lines.
Managed lakes a short tow from Metairie
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Depth | Fish LDWF names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans City Park | 5 miles east | 114 | 0 | 3 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill |
| Brechtel Pond | 11 miles southeast | 4 | 0 | 4 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Lake Cataouatche | 12 miles south | 8,000 | 0 | 5 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Joe W. Brown Park | 13 miles east | 4 | 0 | 2 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| Bonnet Carre Spillway | 14 miles west | 7,623 | 2 | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish | |
| Lake Salvador | 19 miles south | 15,000 | 0 | 7 ft average | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
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 Inshore grounds closest to Metairie
| Water | Kind | Distance | Launches | Piers and bank | Reefs within 25 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Pontchartrain | lake and estuary | 13 miles north | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| Pass Manchac | pass | 22 miles north | 9 | 0 | 10 |
| Chef Menteur Pass | pass | 24 miles east | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| Lake Maurepas | lake and estuary | 26 miles northwest | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Lake Saint Catherine | lake and estuary | 28 miles east | 6 | 1 | 10 |
Plan on $17 as a Louisiana resident or $68 from out of state for the Basic Fishing License. For the coastal side, LDWF stacks a Saltwater License on top: $15 resident, $60 nonresident.
USGS GNIS coastal names, LDWF coastal launches and saltwater piers, LDWF Artificial Reef Program; retrieved October 2026.
Bayou fishing near Metairie
- Bayou Segnette7 miles, LDWF management plan water, 1 LDWF-listed launch, 1 bank or pier site, 6 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Bayou La Branche11 miles, Natural and Scenic River segment, 4 mi of main channel in Louisiana
- Bayou Trepagnier13 miles, Natural and Scenic River segment, 3 mi of main channel in Louisiana
Stage stations near Metairie
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Nr Seabrook Bridge | 1.92 ft gage height | Oct 31 6:15 pm |
| Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Near Boutte, La | 646 cfs, 9.99 ft gage height | Oct 31 5:15 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.
Where to put in near Metairie, plotted
- Bonnabel Boat Launch on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 3 miles
- West End Launch on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 4 miles
- Williams Boulevard Boat Ramp on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 5 miles
- Bayou Segnette State ParkBayou Segnette, 7 miles
- Pier 90 launch on Lake CataouatcheLake Cataouatche, 8 miles
- Seabrook Launch & Pier on Lake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain, 9 miles
No-boat spots close to Metairie
- Lafreniere Parkbank fishing, 2 miles
- Bonnabel Pier on Lake Pontchartrainfishing pier, salt or brackish, 3 miles
- Kenner Lake Front Fishing Pier on Lake Pontchartrainfishing pier, salt or brackish, 5 miles
- Kenner City Parkbank fishing, 6 miles
- Bayou Segnette State Parkfishing pier, 7 miles
- Lakefront Sea Wall on Lake Pontchartrainbank fishing, salt or brackish, 8 miles
LDWF boat launch inventory, coastal launches and Banks and Piers layer; retrieved October 2026.
Winter trout ponds within reach of Metairie
| Water | Program | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney D. Torres Memorial Park | Get Out and Fish community pond | 12 miles |
| Zemurray Park | Get Out and Fish community pond | 38 miles |
Hatchery trout and catfish go into these LDWF community ponds.
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.
Shops serving anglers in Metairie
Shrimp and shiner stops leaving Metairie
- Dick's Sporting Goods Metairiesporting goods store, Metairie, 1 mile
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Metairiesporting goods store, Metairie, 3 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Harahansporting goods store, Harahan, 3 miles
- Kingfish Developmentbait and tackle shop, New Orleans, 7 miles
- Professional Sport Shop Incbait and tackle shop, New Orleans, 7 miles
- Seabrook Marine LLCbait and tackle shop, New Orleans, 9 miles
- Gulf Outlet Boat Launch Baitbait and tackle shop, Marrero, 9 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Gretnasporting goods store, Gretna, 10 miles
Charter and guide services for Metairie visitors
- Bowfishingcharter, Metairie, (504) 269-3474
- Fishing With the Kingcharter, Metairie, (504) 887-4960
- RSOME Fishing Charterscharter, Metairie, (504) 491-4840
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 2026.
Fishing events around Metairie
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 8, 2026 | ABC Fishing Rodeo – Grand Isle Marina | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | ABC Fishing Rodeo |
| Sept. 4, 2026 | Original Grand Isle Redfish Rodeo | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Original Grand Isle Redfish Rodeo |
| Aug. 29, 2026 | Ride the Bull Kayak Fishing Rodeo | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Ride the Bull Kayak Fishing Rodeo |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Hargrove Fishing Rodeo, Grand Isle Marina | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Hargrove Fishing Rodeo |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open |
| Aug. 7, 2026 | Nicholls Cheer Fishing Rodeo, Wake Side Marina | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Nicholls Cheer Fishing Rodeo |
| Aug. 1, 2026 | CCA Legislators Rodeo, Hurricane Hole | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | CCA Louisiana |
| July 24, 2026 | Dufrene Building Materials Annual Fishing Rodeo | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Dufrene Building Materials Annual Fishing Rodeo |
| July 23, 2026 | Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo | Gulf of America / Barataria Bay (Grand Isle) | Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo |
| July 23, 2026 | International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo (2026) | Gulf of America and inshore waters | International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in Jefferson Parish or within 20 miles, checked October 2026.
LOWA record catches close to Metairie
| Species | Weight (lb) | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, Hybrid Striped | 16.25 | Lake Pontchartrain | Feb 2000 |
| Catfish, Bullhead-Black | 0.09 | Tchefuncte River | June 2024 |
| Flier | .35 | Lake Boeuf | August 2020 |
| Bass, White | 6.81 | Amite River | August. 2010 |
| Tripletail | 21.48 | Lake Borgne | August. 2011 |
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) state fish records list; waters within 40 miles.
Keepers allowed on a trip from Metairie
The LDWF Basic Fishing License runs $17 a year for Louisiana residents and $68 for anglers from other states. Brackish and salt water call for the Saltwater License as well: $15 for residents, $60 for visitors.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
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. Lake, bayou and coastal pages print any water-body exception.
Beside Metairie
Neighbour towns a few bayous from Metairie
- Jefferson3 miles
- Elmwood3 miles
- River Ridge4 miles
- Bridge City4 miles
- Harahan5 miles
Parish water near Metairie
- Jefferson Parishseat: Gretna
Piscifun casting and spinning gear packed for Metairie
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Lakes and bayous close to Metairie, pictured
Photo: Willam Blackwell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5
Questions from anglers lodging in Metairie
Which LDWF lake page is the short drive from Metairie?
New Orleans City Park, 5 miles east.
What launch do Metairie boaters reach first?
Bonnabel Boat Launch on Lake Pontchartrain, about 3 miles.
Where do Metairie families fish from land?
Lafreniere Park, 2 miles away.
Where do Metairie anglers grab bait before launching?
Dick's Sporting Goods Metairie, 1 mile away.
Which parish page lists Metairie?
It lies in Jefferson Parish.
What do out-of-state visitors pay to fish around Metairie?
Out-of-state anglers pay $68 for the Basic Fishing License. Inshore fishing adds a Saltwater License.
Which lake near Metairie spreads widest?
Lake Salvador, 15,000 acres, 19 miles away.
Which other Louisiana towns lie close to Metairie?
Nearby towns are Jefferson (3 miles), Elmwood (3 miles) and River Ridge (4 miles).
What inshore water lies near Metairie?
Lake Pontchartrain, lake and estuary, about 13 miles away.
Do bass trails or rodeos run near Metairie?
Organizer pages list 24 events here, all already fished.
Was a Louisiana record caught near Metairie?
Bass, Hybrid Striped, 16.25 lb, from Lake Pontchartrain.
Choose a lake or bayou near Metairie
Lake pages show launches, depth and LDWF species notes.