Fishing

Fishing Survey | Fisherman’s Catch and Release Guide | Boating Safety Equipment | Boat Launches

Click here for map of Lake Pontchartrain Artificial Reefs!

To locate the reefs use a GPS reciever and/or depth finder.

Artificial Reefs

In early 2000 the Lake Pontchartrain Artificial Reef Working Group, a partnership of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, sportsmen, private groups, and local and state agencies began to spearhead the creation of artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain. The group developed a priority list of possible reef sites for both the north and south shore of the Lake. From 2001 to 2004, five artificial reef sites were developed and donated the La. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The Purpose of the Reef Program

The primary purpose of building artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain is to provide more productive fish habitat while enhancing recreational fishing. Since the Lake is soft-bottomed, artificial reefs provide the “hard” structure, which supplies better habitat for invertebrate marine organisms. These invertebrate marine organisms form the base of the food chain for large vertebrate species like sport fish. The reefs are expected to draw a variety of recreational fish such as speckled trout, sheepshead, redfish, and white trout.

Reefs

The first reef was completed in the summer of 2001. It is located about 2.1 miles east of the northern end of New Orleans Lake Front Airport. This reef is a series of crushed limestone rubble mounds. The mounds are spread over the two-acre site to create a large area of varied relief. The hard surface and physical relief from the Lake’s bottom result in bottom current change. The current change attracts fish and promotes feeding. Seabrook and South Shore Harbor are the nearest boat launch and marina.

Second generation reefs are constructed of reef balls. Reef balls are hemisphericaly shaped, perforated concrete units specifically designed to create artificial habitat for marine organisms. Like the limestone rubble, reef balls disrupt bottom currents. An added advantage is that the perforations provide shelter for juvenile fish.

Three reefs were constructed using reef balls in the summer and fall of 2003. These reefs are 3 miles west of the Causeway Bridge and 2.5 miles north of the Jefferson shoreline. Almost 600 reef balls were deployed on three sites. Laketown (Williams Blvd.) and Bonnabel are the closest boat launches.

The artificial reef planned for the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain was completed in early 2004. It is constructed of 80 reef balls. This reef is located about 5 miles south of Fontainebleau State Park. Mandeville Harbor (Bayou Castine) and Bayou Lacombe are the closest boat launches.

Sketch of artificial reef layout

Funding for the artificial reef program came from many sources including: British Petroleum (BP), the EPA, Jefferson Parish, Amoco, Fish America, several sportsmen’s associations, and numerous generous individuals.

Phase 1: Artificial Reef Program Deployment from 2000 - 2004

Phase 2: Artificial Reef Program Deployment Spring 2009

If you have been fishing at a reef recently,
please fill out this survey.

Fisherman’s Catch and Release Guide:

Most fishermen are careful to release many of the fish they catch. This helps low fish populations to recover and ensures that there will be plently of fish for the future. However, many fish caught and
released may die because of the stress of capture and handling. A set of simple steps may be taken to greatly increase a released fish’s chance of survival.

1. How to Begin
Try to set the hook quickly to prevent the fish from swallowing the bait. Use hooks that are barbless and made from metals that rust quickly. Keep release tools handy.

2. Handling Your Catch
Try to keep the fish in the water while removing the hook. Use a wet glove or rag to hold the fish if it must be handled. Get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible.

3. Removing the Hook
Back the hook out the opposite way it went in. Cut the leader close to the fish’s mouth if the hook cannot be quickly removed. Use needle-nose pliers or a de-hooker to work the hook free and protect your hands.
4. The Release
Gently place the fish in the water, supporting its body until it swims away. An exhausted fish can be resuscitated by moving it back and forth to force water through its gills. If a released fish does not swim away, recover it and try again. A RELEASED FISH THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED PROPERLY HAS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE OF SURVIVAL!

Boating Safety Equipment:

MINIMUM REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR RECREATIONAL BOATERS:* Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) – One USCG Approved wearable PFD for each person on board, plus one throwable PFD for boats over 16’ in length. Children under 12 years old must wear approved and properly fitting PFD whenever vessel is under way on boats less than 26’.
Fire Extinguisher(s) – Must be USCG approved, in serviceable condition, and appropriate size for your vessel.
Visual Distress Signal – Required on vessels where the distance between shorelines is over two miles.
Bell and/or Whistle – Whistle must be audible for one-half mile. A power whistle, power horn and bell are required on vessels over 12 meters. *Different class vessels (based on overall length) may have additional safety equipment requirements. In addition, passenger-carrying and other commercial vessels have slightly different requirements. For more information contact the U.S. Coast Gaurd at www.uscg.mil
Reference: US Congress – Navigation rules

Boat Launches (These locations may have changed due to Hurricane Katrina. New information will be available in the Fall of 2009.)

# Boat Launch Parish Waterway Lighting Public Use

1 Laketown Kenner Boat Launch Jefferson Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

2 Bonnabel Boat Launch Jefferson Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

3 New Orleans Marina Orleans Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

4 Seabrook Boat Launch Orleans Lake Pontchartrain No Public

5 Bayou Sauvage Orleans Lake Pontchartrain No Public

6 Chef Harbor Boat Launch Orleans Lake Pontchartrain Yes Semi-Private

7 Ft. Pike Harbor and Marina St. Tammany Double Bayou Lagoon Yes Public

8 Tite’s Boat Launch St. Tammany Lake Pontchartrain Yes Semi-Private

9 Goose Point Boat Launch St. Tammany Lake Pontchartrain No Public

10 Bayou Lacombe St. Tammany Bayou Lacombe No Public

11 Cane Bayou St. Tammany Bayou Cane No Public

12 Jackson St. Boat Launch St. Tammany Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

13 Wallop Breaux Boating and Fishing St. Tammany Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

14 Madisonville Boat Launch St. Tammany Tchefuncte River No Public

15 Pass Manchac Bridge Boat Launch St. John the Baptist Lake Maurepas No Public

16 Ruddock Boat Launch t. John the Baptist South Pass Canal Yes Public

17 Manchac Bayou Boat Launch St. John the Baptist I-55 Canal No Public

18 Peavine Rd. Boat Launch St. John the Baptist Lake Pontchartrain Yes Public

19 West End Canal Launch St. Charles West End Canal No Public

20 Bonnet Carre’ Spillway Boat Launch St. Charles I-10 Canal No Public

21 Bayou Bienvenue Boat Launch St. Bernard Bayou Bienvenue No Semi-Private

22 Caernarvon Boat Launch Plaquemines Caernarvon Canal Yes Public

23 Campo’s Marina St. Bernard Yscloskey Bayou Yes Semi-Private

24 Pip’s Place St. Bernard Bayou La Loutre No Semi-Private

25 Breton Sound Marina St. Bernard Bayou La Loutre Yes Semi-Private

26 Gulf Outlet Boat Launch St. Bernard Bayou Bienvenue Yes Semi-Private

*Information for additional boat launches not available.

Click here to go to the Louisiana Clean Marina Program

Please check back for LPBF's new fishing and recreation map in the Fall of 2009.