3 Favorite Local Fishing Spots Near Lafayette, LA

With a population of more than 125,000, the city of Lafayette is located in southern Louisiana, not far from some of the area’s best fishing spots that can be visited as part of a weekend escape or a day trip. Whether you are an expert or an amateur angler, in these places, you will almost certainly have luck catching some excellent specimens of catfish, bass, bream, alligator gar, and other common fish species from the area.

1. Palmetto Island State Park

Spanning around 1,300 acres of territory, the Palmetto Island State Park is a popular weekend destination for visitors from New Orleans and other cities and towns in southern Louisiana. For anglers, its location along the banks of the Vermilion River makes it an excellent spot to catch some good-sized bowfins. The Palmetto Island State Park charges a $3 entry fee per person, although the entrance is free for adults aged 62 and older.

Getting to the Palmetto Island State Park from the city center takes a little under an hour by car, following route US-167 S. Once there, you can head not only to the piers build along the river but also to one of the many small lagoons where it is also possible to find freshwater bowfins and other specimens. For those wanting to spend the night and explore the area for more than a day, there are several campsites available.

2. Lake Martin

Located just 10 miles east of the city center, Lake Martin is one of the most popular fishing places for locals. Although it is a relatively small body of water, it allows for shoreline and kayak fishing, and during the weekends, it is visited by tenths of anglers coming mainly from Baton Rouge and other nearby cities. Lake Martin is part of the Cypress Island Preserve, which is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana.

Getting to Lake Martin from the downtown area takes a little over 20 minutes by car, following routes LA-353 E or LA-94 E. Some of the most commonly found species in this area include largemouth bass, white crappie, and black crappie. Other popular activities in the area include alligator spotting, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching, and hiking.

3. Calcasieu Lake

With a surface area of more than 75 square miles, Calcasieu Lake is known by locals as the “Big Lake” and is one of the most popular fishing areas in southwestern Louisiana. The place is located a little under 100 miles west of the city and can be reached in about an hour and a half by car via I-10 W. Once here, some of the most common fish species include redfish, spotted sea trout, and flounder.

Before you head out to one of these exciting fishing destinations, visit us at Lafayette Cadillac and learn more about the different new and used vehicles we have available, as well as the flexible financing plans we have in offer for our customers. Ask for a test drive and take home the car that best adapts to your needs.

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