Drop a line at one of our handpicked roadside fi shing spots

ROADSIDE FISHING No boat? No problem

By Kelly McElroy Sports Editor

Who says you need a boat to catch fish in Terrebonne and Lafourche?

From canals along area highways to surf fishing at the beach, area fishermen have many fishing opportunities where a boat is not even needed.

So if you don’t have a boat or want to leave it at home, there are no worries because the area is filled with many saltwater and fishing spots that local fishermen can just walk to.

And with cooler weather on the way, fish will begin stacking up closer to area shores. Here are some of the area's top shoreline fishing spots.

TERREBONNE PARISH DULARGE Fishing Bayou Dularge Road no farther south than Falgout Canal can produce some nice catches, and Falgout Canal Road between Dularge is also a good spot for redfish.

With a pirogue, fishing weirs and dams can also be productive. The pontoon bridge over the Houma Navigation Canal is also a popular spot for redfish and other species of fish. La. 57 between Cocodrie and Dulac also has many fishing spots for anglers, but rubber boots may be needed to reach some of the marshy areas.

CHAUVIN-COCODRIE Without a doubt, the most popular shoreline locations in this region are Boudreaux and Robinson canals.

Both are along La. 56 and can get crowded in the winter months. Lake Boudreaux is a hot spot for speckled trout in the winter, and Boudreaux Canal provides a migration route for the fish to and from the lake. Finding areas of moving water in these regions can prove fruitful.

LAFOURCHE PARISH THIBODAUX Freshwater fishing is popular in Bayou Lafourche near Nicholls State University and the Jean Lafitte Historical Park and Preserve Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. The Adley Landry Water Reservoir is also a popular spot for bass fishing. LEEVILLE Deep water near the site of the old Leeville lift bridge off La. 1 provides warmth for redfish, sheepshead and black drum during the winter. There are many shell parking spots along the highway for people to access these popular fishing spots.

Fishermen have more options now, as the Leeville Boat Launch and Fishing Pier, located under the Gateway to the Gulf Expressway along La. 1, opened in 2017. It includes a handicap-accessible aluminum fishing pier and a pavilion and has lights for nighttime fishing. PORT FOURCHON During the summer months, nice catches of speckled trout can be found in the surf of area beaches. GOLDEN MEADOW Oakridge Park’s levee canal is a prime spot for some freshwater fishing in the south Lafourche area. Sac-a-lait and other perch are traditionally the top catches in the area. SOUTH LAFOURCHE Roadside fishing along La. 1 is popular for many local saltwater anglers, as Bayou Lafourche can provide an abundance of speckled trout and redfish especially in the winter and fall. Fishing in Bayou Lafourche provides good catches from Larose to Leeville. LOCKPORT Bayou Side Park is a popular fishing spot for many central Lafourche residents, as people can reel in freshwater catches in Bayou Lafourche and Old Company Canal.

Landon Carollo of Denham Springs caught this 32-inch, 30-pound off the side of the road in Bayou Terrebonne during a trip in 2018. [SUBMITTED]

JEFFERSON PARISH GRAND ISLE Anglers are often found fishing off the pier near the Grand Isle Bridge and in other spots off La. 1, especially in the winter months when the fish are stacked up in area canals and marshes. It also includes lights for nighttime fishing.

For those looking to a bit more adventurous, surf fishing is popular along the Grand Isle beaches. The most popular catches are traditionally speckled trout, redfish, white trout and flounder.