Chauvin, LA Fishing: A Fine Lieu de Pêche in Louisiana

Chauvin is a census-designated place situated in Terrebonne Parish, in the seat of Houma, in southern Louisiana. The CDP is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chauvin was named after a young French pioneer named Albert Eloie Chauvin, who established the oldest recorded retail business in 1875  in Terrebonne Parish. Chauvin’s population consists of Cajuns and has been inspired by the Cajun culture since the 18th century. 

Terrebonne Parish and its census-designated places are protected by Isles Dernieres archipelago. It plays an essential role in protecting the coastline from storm surges. A beacon of hope called the Lady of the Sea was built to assist anglers returning to the island after a Category 4 hurricane hit it. The Terrebonne area, including Chauvin, continued to nurture and grow. Aside from tourists visiting the Lady of the Sea, the CDP's hidden treasure, the Chauvin Sculpture Garden & Art is also a must-see. It is a perfect attraction for families and kids. The garden offers peaceful and beautiful concrete sculptures are set along pathways among the trees, all for free.

In French, Terrebonne, meaning “good earth,” is graced with a bountifulness of seafood, natural resources, and wildlife. Terrebonne Parish is accountable for more than 20% of Louisiana's seafood production. Fishing charters are available across Chauvin, a good sign of how such a small CDP can offer an abundant fishing experience.

Chauvin Fishing 

Chauvin has plenty of opportunities for anglers to experience freshwater and saltwater fishing. With a plethora of fishing charters available in the area, it is impossible to deny that fishing is the main attraction in Chauvin.

Anglers can start their fishing trip by going through some of Chauvin’s inland marshes. Swamps are also a good fishing spot. Booking fishing charters will help anglers fish across Chauvin. Aside from charter fishing, Bayou Petit Caillou is another perfect place to start your fishing trip to the CDP. The bayou provides plenty of red drum, black drum, largemouth bass, and catfish. Spinning and baitcasting are the best fishing techniques for going after such species. Aside from the regular trophy bass, drums, and catfish, fish like alligator gar and yellow perch are caught in Bayou Terrebonne. Jigging will work if you are going after a perch while catching alligator gar ain’t that easy. Methods to catch gar include bowfishing and using gear such as juglines, limblines, and trotlines. It is important to remember that bowfishing is allowed to use licensed anglers when fishing for specific freshwater and saltwater non-game fish species. Black drum, red drum, spotted seatrout, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are commonly caught in Boudreaux Canal. Drift fishing, kayak fishing, fly fishing, and light tackle fishing are the common techniques used by anglers when fishing in the waters of Chauvin. Anglers can venture out to Bayou Chauvin, home to the similar fish found from other canals and bayous in the area. New Canal is also a nearby fishing site to Chauvin. It provides black crappie, white bass, and gafftopsail sea catfish. 

The water bodies that surround Chauvin connect it to the Gulf of Mexico, home to abundant fish species. Anglers can rent charter boats to travel to the gulf’s coast, giving them a chance for exciting fishing escapades. The gulf offers a wide variety of fish such as the northern red snapper, yellowfin tuna, greater amberjack, common dolphinfish, cobia, and king mackerel. Piers, docks, and boat launches are available along the gulf coast. Fishing techniques such as heavy tackle fishing and handline fishing can catch big fish in the water, while troll fishing is the best technique to catch fish like tuna and king mackerel. Deep sea fishing is best used, especially when fishing in the farther parts of the gulf. Anglers can use live baits as they are the finest baits to use to lure bottom-feeders. Using live bait allows anglers to go after a wide variety of fish. Using an artificial lure is also a good option.

There are fishing tournaments held in Chauvin annually. The recent tournament held in the CDP was the Y'all Catchin' Fishing Tournament conducted by Yall Catchin and was held at the Harbor Light Marina Cocodrie. 

Aside from remembering the important place to fish in Chauvin, anglers are advised to obtain and present applicable licenses and permits when fishing in Louisiana waters. Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries makes sure that anglers know the latest seasons and regulations before they head out to fish or collect any species. Knowing the bag limit for the different species you wanted to catch is also relevant.

Top 10 Fish Species in Chauvin, LA

The top 10 fish species in Chauvin, Louisiana, are black drum, red drum, spotted seatrout, summer flounder, sand weakfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. 

Seasonal Fishing

Early summer is the best time to visit Chauvin and fish in its pristine waters. Most fish spawn during the summer season, making it the prime time to go after them. Black drum spawn from January to April. They are best caught during their spawning season, which peaks during February and March. Red drum are best caught during September. They spawn between August and November. Spotted seatrout can be best caught during wintertime. They generate inshore from March to November. Summer flounder normally spawn in the peak months of October and November. The late spring and summer months are the suitable seasons for flounder fishing. Sand weakfish can often be caught during their spawning seasons in the summer and spring months. Largemouth bass are the most popular trophy fish for anglers because they can be caught year-round. The best time to catch bass is during spring, when they travel to shallow waters to spawn. Channel catfish spawn during spring or summer, and like bass, they can also be caught year-round. The best time to go after bluegill is during their spring and early summer spawn period. 

Discover More in Chauvin

Aside from saltwater and freshwater fishing, Chauvin offers places where tourists can enjoy while learning about the history of the CDP. Chauvin is the best place to visit, from French-inspired sceneries to arts and museums. Here are some activities that visitors can experience in Chauvin.

1. Chauvin’s Beacon of Hope

Tourists can also visit the beacon of hope built by the members of the Rodeo Association, the Lady of the Sea. The statue has been relocated multiple times as the coastal area erodes. After several storms that wrecked through Chauvin and the Terrebonne Parish area, Lady of the Sea continues to stand as the island’s symbol of hope.

 2. Art Lovers’ Haven 

Chauvin exhibits culture, art shows, and notable sculptures. Tourists can visit the Chauvin Sculpture Garden & Art, which displays religious art. Kenny Hill makes the sculptures, and his masterpieces have been attracting visitors for years. Hill’s magnificent artworks showed his interest in Biblical characters, from angels to God, and the artist’s battles. Hill was a bricklayer who spent decades building the garden, which consisted of sixty life-size concrete sculptures. Hill disappeared in 2000, and his whereabouts are still unknown.

3. Book a Fishing Charter

Fishing is one of the reasons why tourists flock to Chauvin. Fishing charters are available and can be booked for better fishing adventures. Maximize your time fishing in the waters of Chauvin by getting help from local fishing experts. Boat rental services and bait and tackle shops are available and can be found throughout Chauvin. Fishing charters will guide anglers through nearby water bodies to the Gulf of Mexico.