Anyone ever done a fishing trip out to the Chandleur Islands off the Louisiana coast? I have too many questions to ask, so any personal accounts (pro or con) about your trip?

Worth the cost or a waste of money for a bunch of barely legal trout?

Really any info will work, bonus points for a good tall fishing tale... or tail.

Did it for my bachelor party 20 years ago. Was well worth the money. I will say that we got bored with the trout at times and did quite a bit of shark fishing. Most exciting part of the trip was probably the huge stingray that one of my buddies caught during the middle of the day as it was catching some shade under the houseboat. Wingspan was some ridiculous number like 72".

Not sure that we researched it but we got lucky on the food. You are at their mercy but we had 3 outstanding meals a day.

Here are recommendations I have. There are multiple outfits down there now. Many CCA buddies of mine have made the trip recently, and here is what I have heard.

There is the option of a float plane trip with Theophile, with great food and lodging on the mainland. This is a shorter time fishing, but a great adventure in the plane on the way out and back. He flies low when you arrive, so that he can locate fish from the air, and put you on good wading. I think he only does wadefishing there on the floatplane trip.
http://www.neworleansfishing.com/fishing/island-adventure/

There is also a "sleep on a mothership" type trip with Southern Way. This is more fishing time, and you ride the Mothership on the way out and back, and then fish out of john boats when there. You can wade or drift from them. They feed ya quality food, I have been told.
http://www.southernwaycharters.com/

One of the ones we have had great reviews of lately, is an outfitter with houseboats that sleep more comfortably than the mothership trip. Food reviews were good here also, and folks mentioned the amount of space as a plus, compared to the Southern Way trip. This one is through the Pelican:
http://chandeleurguidefishing.com/pelican.html

I think they might each leave from a different port in LA. Some buddies of mine usually hit the casinos, and then the Chandeliers.

"Double Trouble" was a good trip. What I did not like is weather is such a factor. We had to reschedule many times. It was actually 16 months from our original date when we left shore.

Chandeleur Islands.....

We have been multiple times with Southern Way. The pictured boat is "Something" IV or VI. IMO it's the better boat....don't remember the other one's name. I don't believe they allow you too wade...nor would I. The negative is you are in a small skiff without any know ledge of where to look for fish etc.and the people on the mother ship aren't guides. Food was great......sleeping is not so for me....

Cross a barrier island and the sea shell picking up is fabulous. Of course I always put them back in place. Go while you can, they may disappear in your lifetime...

Thanks, great info.

I haven't been on any of the mother ships but know foks that have and they all have a good time. We used to camp on the beach and have a blast but that's a whole different trip. Places like chandeleur are for the adventure and experience more so than the trophy. You can catch the same fish with a lot less time and money but if a little adventure inside a days travel sounds like fun, it's a can't miss. Hell, I could spend a few days there just beach combing and rum drinking. As for the fishing, you hear a lot of reports where they wear the fish out and a number of reports where it's really slow.

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As for the fishing, you hear a lot of reports where they wear the fish out and a number of reports where it's really slow.

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I'm the kind of guy who'd love to go just out of the adventure aspect, but I wouldn't reccomend anyone joining me. Damn near every salt water trip I've booked has been met with some combination of:

- off color water
- wind. Like dangerous wind
- hungover guide
- the infamous "slow bite"
- post front low pressure and blue skies

I've dodged those once. At Grande Isle. And our boat of 3 guys caught trout limits in 20 min then spent the next 3 hours C&R specs. We estimate our boat landed close to 400 trout. It was incredible. Stretches of time where it was bite every cast. I'll never reproduce that.

That's kind of what intrigued me, was the adventurous aspect of the place. But a good meat haul with some big fish mixed in would be awesome.

Thanks! Imma go look that up now. I learn so much from the Outdoors Board.

Oogway said:

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Thanks! Imma go look that up now. I learn so much from the Outdoors Board.

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Thought you might like that....joke was on me.

I can recommend the Chandleur Islander after staying with them last season. It's a new entry on the Southern Way site and is unique because the "mother ship" stays jacked-up and out of the water at N. Chandleur. There is more room, you stay protected from weather and can sleep without the ocean motion. The rate is reasonable and all-inclusive, including bar.

This one is new to me. Thanks for encouraging me to go look!

https://www.chandeleur-islander.com/

This June will be my third year in a row to take customers with Southern Way. You drive to Pass Christian, MS. We typically do the Sunday to Wednesday trip. Arrive Sunday afternoon and put your gear on the mothership. Typically we go to dinner and hit the casino that night. The boat departs at midnight. You fish all day Monday and Tuesday. Also fish Wednesday morning and then the boat heads back. I'm typcially back in Houston by 10pm Wednesday night.

As far as fishing goes you will not slaughter the fish if you don't fish hard. I've got customers who will fish the same areas I'm in and not catch near the number of trout. 2 years ago the trout were smaller. This past year they were solid fish (no huge trout though). Also have caught reds, a few flounder, and jacks. You are fishing with artificial so don't expect to go croaker soak. Those that keep a line in the water and look for fish will catch them.

It's a great trip. Bring your own booze and beer. Food provided is good. It's peaceful cause your cell won't work out there. The boat does have a tv with satellite. Southern Way books up almost a year in advance for the prime spots so plan accordingly. Any questions just ask.

What's a primo spot? I'm assuming a certain time of year.

April and May fill up fast. We are going in June this year but I've been in July And August. If you put the work in you will catch fish. I think some people go expecting fish to just jump in your boat.

I haven't done the sea plane trip mentioned above however if you want an idea of that trip get in YouTube and search for bill dance chandeleur trip. He went out awhile back and spanked the trout.