Redfishing Louisiana - Venice
Sportsman's Lodge - Houseboat
Redfish and Offshore Fishing
Fly/Spin Sightfishing and Conventional Fishing
Venice, on the edge of the Mississippi River delta, is called the Sportfishing Capital of the World. You'll stay aboard Sportsman's Lodge, a redfishing and duck-hunting liveaboard hotel in the marshlands of Louisiana. Fly or spin fish for inshore redfish and speckled trout in the vast marshlands and close barrier islands during the spring, summer, and fall.
2025 Rates: Packages start at $1,655.00 per person for 3-nights and 2-days guided fishing.
The Mississippi River Delta
The Mississippi River Delta is a historical term for the confluence of the Mississippi with the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. The Delta stretches from Vermillion Bay on the west to the Chandeleur Islands in the east, a three-million-acre area.
Sportsman's Lodge, a floating lodge, is in the Venice Marina. Each day, your guide will pick you up from the backdoor of the Lodge.
See our other Redfishing Liveaboard package Dogwood Lodge, in the Biloxi Marsh.
The Fishing Program
Season: Year-round fishery. Big redfish move into the marsh during the fall and early winter months.
Travel Time: From the Liveaboard, it takes 10 to 45 minutes, depending on where the fish are. You'll cross the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, then enter the western edge of the marsh.
Guides: The Lodge works with outstanding, reputable fishing and hunting guides. Customize your own package.
Group Size: Groups are not mixed. So you will need to get your own group together.
Fly/Spin Sightfishing Packages: Guides use technical poling boats such as Hells Bay and Chittum skiffs. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Inshore Lure/Bait Fishing Packages: Guides use 24 to 26 ft. bay boats. Three to four anglers per boat and guide.
Offshore Charters: Use 39 to 44 ft. center consoles, up to six anglers per boat.
Packages Include: Fuel, ice, flies or tackle, and fish cleaning. If you plan to take fish home, you'll need to bring Ziplok bags and coolers.
Equipment: The guides supply all rods, reels, and tackle.
Licenses: You will need to purchase a 5-day non-resident fishing license online for about $30.00. The Lodge will advise on the hunting licenses pending your activity.
Inshore Fishing
Inshore Fishing: Six hours of guided fishing from departure to return. The Venice area is close to marshes and several barrier islands, offering the best spring, summer, and fall coastal fishing for redfish and speckled trout. Other species include alligator gar, jacks, black drum, and sheepshead.
Offshore Fishing Charters
Offshore Fishing: Eight to 10 hour fishing days from departure to return. This location offers easy access to the finest offshore fishing just off the mouth of the Mississippi River, as the continental shelf is closer to the mouth than anywhere else in the continental United States. Depths of over 1,000 feet are as close as 15 miles offshore. The offshore and coastal waters are home to numerous natural gas platforms and several tethered semi-submersible platforms. This region boasts one of the most diverse offshore fisheries in the world, offering opportunities to catch a variety of species including blue and white marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, grouper, cobia, amberjack, and snapper.
A Typical Fishing Day:
Early hot breakfast – usually served an hour before you leave with your guide.
At 6:30 a.m., the conventional fishing guides pick you up at the Liveaboard's doorstep or at 8:00 a.m. if you’re fly fishing.
Midday: The Lodge provides a packed lunch, bottled water, and soft drinks for you on the boats.
Between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m., depending on your package, the guides will return you to the Liveaboard.
Enjoy appetizers and an open bar, followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Duck Hunting Charters
Venice is surrounded by vast marshes. Guided and unguided duck hunting charters are available from the Lodge. Duck Hunting is exceptional in the winter. Arranged duck hunting charters – two options: 1) $300.00 per person, you will be put in a blind, decoys put out, and birds and decoys picked up for you. If you are a duck hunter, a guide in the blind is not a necessity.
2) $400.00 per person; you'll hunt from a boat or blind with a guide. Bird cleaning is included. Bring your own shotgun and shells. Teal season is usually the last two weeks of September, and all duck season usually runs mid-November through late January with a two-week split in between. Dates are set annually.
Sportsman's Lodge
Sportsman's Lodge, a 110-ft. houseboat in the Venice Marina, has operated since 2013.
Great Room Area
The Lodge is fully air-conditioned. The great room has a flat-screen television and a dining area.
Communications: The Liveaboard has free Wi-Fi access. Most cell phones work in the Lodge.
Eight bedrooms are upstairs, five full bathrooms, and one suite room with a full bath. Each room has a flat-screen TV with Direct TV. The Lodge has a washer and dryer that guests can use.
Meals: Hot breakfast. Packed lunch and soda/bottled water for the boat. Back at the Lodge, you'll enjoy appetizers, memorable southern and Cajun cuisine, and great hospitality. To add a crawfish or shrimp boil to the menu, add $100 per person.
Alcohol: The Lodge has a self-service open bar with beer, wine, and liquor for non-fishing hours. By law, the Lodge cannot provide alcohol for your fishing day, but you can purchase it at the marina store.
Getting to Sportsman's Lodge:
1.) You'll fly to New Orleans.
Venice is about a two-hour drive south of New Orleans, on the edge of the Mississippi River Delta. Most guests rent a car for the 90-mile drive to Venice Marina.
2025 Rates and Packages
Our advice is free.
We never charge more than the Lodges we represent.
Season: Year-round fishery with peak fishing in the fall.
Group Size: Groups are not mixed, so you will need to get your own group together.
Inshore Guided Fly Fishing Packages:
Two angler minimum required.
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
$4,415.00 per person
6-nights and 5-days guided fishing
$3,725.00 per person
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing
$3,035.00 per person
4-nights and 3-days guided fishing
$2,345.00 per person
3-nights and 2-days guided fishing
$1,655.00 per person
Includes: Double-occupancy lodging, meals, a complimentary bar at the Lodge, guided fishing (2 anglers per boat), fuel, ice, use of rods and reels, tackle, or flies. All fishing is catch and release.
Guided Inshore Conventional Fishing Package:
Two angler minimum required.
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
$3,962.50 per person
6-nights and 5-days guided fishing
$3,325.00 per person
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing
$2,687.50 per person
4-nights and 3-days guided fishing
$2,050.00 per person
3-nights and 2-days guided fishing
$1,412.50 per person
Includes: Double-occupancy lodging, meals, a complimentary bar at the Lodge, guided fishing (2 anglers per boat), fuel, ice, use of rods and reels, tackle, or flies. All fishing is catch and release.
Wade Fishing at the Chandeleur Islands
(Can only be added when you book a guided inshore conventional fishing trip.)
Up to 3-anglers per boat and guide $1,150.00 per boat per day
Up to 4-anglers per boat and guide $1,250.00 per boat per day
Single-Occupancy Lodging:
$350 per person per night
Customize your own package.
Non-angler rates are available upon request.
Fishing with Larry Payment Options:
1.) Credit card (a 2.5% convenience fee applies)
2.) Check. Please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to Fishing with Larry P.O. Box 419 Columbus, MT 59019.
3.) Wire Transfer (Send money electronically – typically a $15 to $30 fee for domestic transfers and $45 - $50 for international transfers.) Please email Toni at toni@fishingwithlarry.com for wire instructions.
Guided Duck Hunting Charter:
$300 per person per hunt. (Additional charge for lodging)
You'll need to bring your own shotgun and shells. Bird cleaning is included. Duck Hunting Packages do not include the use of a shotgun, shotgun shells, a non-resident small game/migratory bird license, and a federal duck stamp.
The Custom Fishing Package + Lodging Package Includes:
• Lodging
• Breakfast and dinner at the Lodge
• A sack lunch, sodas, and water during guided trips
• House alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks at the Lodge
• Guided fishing
• Use of rod and reel
• All tackle, bait, or flies, depending on your package
• Fish cleaning
• Guided Inshore and Fly-Fishing Packages include fuel.
The Custom Guided Hunting Package + Lodging Package Includes:
• Lodging
• Guided hunting
• Bird cleaning
• Breakfast and dinner at the Lodge
• A bag lunch, sodas, and water during guided trips
• House alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks at the Lodge
• Duck Hunting Packages include fuel.
All Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare to New Orleans, and return
• Roundtrip ground transfers between New Orleans and the Lodge
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Fishing or hunting licenses
• Packing and shipping of your catch, available at the Venice Marina
• Alcohol during guided trips
• 10.95% lodging tax
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not covered under inclusions
• Guided Conventional Fishing Charters to nearby oil rigs or the Chandeleur Islands do not include a $150 fuel charge or live bait (charged at current market price).
• Offshore Fishing Charters do not include a daily fuel charge, approximately $1,500 per group.
• Hog and Nutria Hunting Packages do not include a daily fuel charge ($100 to $200, depending on gas prices), cleaning, or meat processing. Guides will clean for an additional fee (to be determined by the guide).
• All Hunting Packages do not include the use of a shotgun, shotgun shells, waders, or knee boots.
Fishing with Larry Payment Options:
1.) Credit card (a 2.5% convenience fee applies)
2.) Check. Please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to Fishing with Larry P.O. Box 419 Columbus, MT 59019.
3.) Wire Transfer (Send money electronically – typically a $15 to $30 fee for domestic transfers and $45 - $50 for international transfers.)
Please email Toni at toni@fishingwithlarry.com for wire instructions.
Sportsman's Lodge Policies:
Sportsman's Lodge Lodge Deposit Policy: A 50% deposit is required to book, with the balance due 90 days before arrival.
Sportsman's Lodge Lodge Cancellation Policy: Lodge cancellations made 60 days prior to the reservation date are entitled to a full deposit refund. They will hold your deposit for one year to reschedule for Lodge cancellations made 30 to 60 days, but not within 30 days. If you have not rescheduled during the one-year period, your deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made with less than 30 days’ notice, your deposit will be forfeited.
The Lodge’s Fishing and Hunting Package Cancellation Policy: Fishing and hunting charter cancellations must be communicated at least 60-days before your charter date. They are officially notifying you that at least 60 days’ notice must be provided to cancel your trip and receive a refund on your deposit. If you do not provide 60 days’ notice regarding cancellation of your charter, your deposit will not be refunded. If you cancel within 30 days of your charter, the full charter rate will be due. If your fishing or hunting charter is canceled by the guide due to weather, the deposit is refundable.
