Fishing & Hunting
The Cajun Coast offers great fishing and hunting throughout the year. Fishing is especially good during the early spring and summer months. Saltwater fishing offers both inside waters and offshore varieties. The inside waters of Vermilion Bay, East and West Cote Blanche and Atchafalaya Bay offer speckled trout, redfish and flounder and can be fished in small boats. Action begins late winter and is generally good through fall. Shell reefs and offshore platforms produce large numbers of fish.

Freshwater fishing is also plentiful. Marshes produce a variety of fish such as sac-a-lait, bass, bream and catfish. Early spring is best. A maze of canals, bayous and ponds produce fish year-round.

For information on fishing and hunting licenses and seasons, call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries at (225) 765-2800 or St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 384-1622.

Fishing Guides & Charters
Dirk Arceneaux
1038 Claire Dr., Morgan City, LA 70380, (985) 385-2488, (985) 823-0838 pager • Offshore, fresh and saltwater fishing. $300 per day plus fuel and oil for two people. Additional persons $50 each. Maximum four people. Tackle furnished.

Ivy’s Tackle Box
7209 Hwy. 90 E, Morgan City, (985) 384-2070, E-mail: tacklebox@petronet.net , Web: www.petronet.net/tacklebox • Provides freshwater and saltwater charter fishing. Costs include: Freshwater– $250 per day, Saltwater–$350 per day. Provides tackle and lunch. Four person maximum.

Devin Legnon
211 Beacon Lane, Cypremort Point, (337) 867-4360 • Inshore fishing. $350 for one to two people; $100 more for each additional person—maximum of four people. Includes fuel, gas, tackle and bait. You provide your own food, drinks and ice chest to take fish home. Fifty percent deposit required.

Richard Legnon
211 Beacon Lane, Cypremort Point, (337) 867-4360 • Offshore fishing. $150 per person. Minimum of six people. Includes fuel, gas, tackle and bait. You provide your own food and drinks. $300 deposit required.

Wildlife Management Areas
Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area
(337) 373-0032 • 137,000 acres of active delta, most of which is submerged. 18 miles SW of Morgan City. Accessible by boat only. Boating, fishing, hunting and birding.

Attakapas Wildlife Management Area
(337) 828-4391 • 26,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods, cypress, tupelo swamp. 20 miles NW of Morgan City. Accessible by boat only. Boating, fishing, hunting and birding. Primitive camping available.

Bayou Teche National Wildlfife Refuge
10816 A Hwy. 182 E, Franklin, (337) 828-0092, E-mail: bayouteche@fws.gov, Web.: http://bayouteche.fws.gov • National wildlife refuge: hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, canoing, kayaking and bird watching. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m

Birding, Wildlife Watching & Wildlife Photography
The Atchafalaya Basin is one of the great ecological wonders of the United States. The basin, which abounds in all types of wildlife, extends north from Morgan City to past Lafayette. It is comprised of a maze of bayous, lakes, ponds and cypress swamps.

Avid birders and photographers may spot over 300 known species of birds. In addition to the wide variety of birds, more than 65 species of reptiles and 46 species of mammals inhabit the Cajun Coast.

Canoeing & Kayaking
Hardings Canoe & Kayak Rentals, Inc.
Lake End Park & Campground, Hwy. 70, Morgan City, P.O. Box 441, Berwick, LA 70342, (985) 395-7285 • Canoes, kayaks and pedal boats for rent 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., April through summer. Rentals start at $5 for 1/2 hour, $9 for one hour; add $1 for each additional person. Weekends only: day rentals available starting at $35 for 2. Reservations needed for day rentals. Life jackets and paddles furnished.

Boat Rentals
Cajun Houseboat & Rentals Inc.
1201 Brashear Ave., Suite 438, Morgan City, LA 70380, (985) 385-6621 or (888) 508-5031, Heather Theriot or Anthony Brown, E-mail: cajunhouseboats@petronet.net, Web: www.cajunhouseboats.com • Houseboat and day boat rentals. Cruise the lakes and bayous and enjoy an experience as close to a “Cajun’s Paradise” as you can find. Credit cards accepted.