Redfish Fly Fishing in Cocodrie, LA.
Cocodrie serves as an excellent base for anglers looking to experience Louisiana redfish fly fishing during the peak season from September through late February. Located about 80 miles southwest of New Orleans, the drive typically takes 1½–2 hours from downtown. This rural community sits on a peninsula at the end of Highway 56 and blends vacation homes, commercial fishing operations, and energy-service facilities.
Cocodrie Redfish Fly Fishing Habitat
Cocodrie lies between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya river systems on the edge of a vast estuarine wetland complex. That setting creates exceptional nursery habitat for forage and redfish alike and gives anglers options when wind or water color forces a Plan B.
Just offshore are the Isles Dernières (Last Islands) and Timbalier Islands—barrier chains that shelter the Terrebonne/Timbalier bay system. Their ongoing erosion and restoration constantly carve new cuts, bars, and lee shores that concentrate bait and funnel redfish along outer edges and adjacent bays.
The local network of marsh ponds, oyster-rimmed lakes, and outer-bay edges creates a diverse fishery ideal for sightcasting fly anglers. While interior mud flats and ponds can change color rapidly with heavy winds, the barrier-island and outer-edge flats often hold comparatively clearer water thanks to sandier bottoms. Tides here are microtidal—the daily range is modest (often around a foot or two)—but a few inches of water level can be the difference between accessible and inaccessible water, especially after strong winds.
Prime Louisiana Redfish Fly Fishing Season
October and November are generally considered the heart of the action. This is when the legendary bull reds move into marshes and bayou ponds to feed on shrimp and crabs following their late-summer spawn offshore. Good numbers of bull reds typically remain available well into February, though conditions for sight-fishing often decline by early March as vegetation returns and spring river flows increase turbidity.
Our Cocodrie Fly Fishing Insights
Cocodrie—along with Venice and Port Sulphur—has been a regular destination for Fins and Feathers Guide Servicesaltwater fly trips since 2017. Compared with Venice and Hopedale, there are fewer fly-centric guides operating out of the greater Cocodrie area and no dedicated fly-fishing lodges, which helps keep pressure low but requires more advance planning.
Lodging near Cocodrie is limited; book early if you want to be close to the typical launch at Coco Marina. The marina offers some options, but most anglers rent vacation homes in Cocodrie, Chauvin, or Dulac. Expect to drive for meals or cook at your rental—restaurants are scarce. If you don’t mind the commute, Houma (about an hour away) has full-service hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
As across the Gulf Coast in fall and winter, weather fronts largely determine water clarity and mobility. Incoming cold fronts bring strong winds, which can make poling difficult and muddy the water. When conditions are stable, 3–4 days of fishing is a sweet spot; savvy travelers block 5–7 days with their Louisiana fly fishing guide to allow for one or two weather days.
From Cocodrie, guides typically run 30–60 minutes at the start and end of the day, covering a wide footprint when conditions permit. Expect to fish a mix of zones—interior ponds, drains, lakes, and protected lee shores—chosen in real time around wind, water level, and fish behavior. Compared with Hopedale or Venice, boat traffic is lighter, and water is often more off-color than the grass-rich marshes to the east. Most encounters involve singles or small groups of cruising fish rather than the large schools seen more commonly around Venice.
A Cocodrie redfish trip suits intermediate to advanced fly anglers. Long casts aren’t usually required, but you’ll need quick, accurate shots at fish spotted in tight quarters. Prior sight-fishing experience pays big dividends.
We’ve fished with Capt. Ben Cooley (Muckin Marauder) and Capt. Ron Ratliff (Marshdawn) on Cocodrie trips and recommend both. Their prime-time availability is limited, so reach out early to discuss dates and game plans.
Cocodrie, Louisiana Fly Fishing Gallery
