Since 2001, this charter group has been offering the best outdoor experiences in the Gulf South. Starting as a Chandeleur Islands charter operation, they now offer a wide range of outdoor adventures including light tackle fishing charters inshore and near shore fishing trips, offshore fishing, fly fishing trips and waterfowl hunting. From their home port in Pass Christian, Mississippi they have expanded to Venice and Hopedale, Louisiana and to their remote dock location in the world famous Louisiana Biloxi Marsh offering luxurious accommodations, cuisine and Southern hospitality in all these locations.
In 2014, they added the Sportsmans Lodge to their fleet. The Sportsmans Lodge is a 110-foot luxury barge with over 5,000 square feet of accommodations. The Sportsmans Lodge is located in Venice, Louisiana. Venice is a world class fishing mecca offering some of the best in offshore fishing trip opportunities. They also provide light tackle and inshore fly fishing opportunities as well as duck hunting opportunities.
All of this is delivered with a level of comfort and luxury usually found only in luxury hotels. In 2015, they added the 114′ Dogwood Lodge in Hopedale, LA. on the edge of the Biloxi Marsh. This area is renowned for its light tackle and inshore fly fishing for trophy redfish as well as duck hunting opportunities.
The charter groups goal is to offer the finest outdoor experience by providing the best equipment, professional and experienced crews and captains and the best accommodations and cuisine in the Gulf South. Owned and managed by outdoorsmen, they focus on personalized service to the discriminating sportsman. That’s what sets them apart from others and is the key to their success.
Their fishing services will take you out for Blackfin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Snapper, Amberjack, Mahi Mahi , Marlin, Grouper, Cobia, Reds, Speckled Trout and Flounder Fishing. They also offer Chandeleur Islands Fly Fishing trips, Shark Fishing, and kayak fishing trips.
CHANDELEUR ISLANDS FISHING
The Chandeleur Islands are a chain of uninhabited barrier islands located 50 miles east of New Orleans and 35 miles south of Gulfport, Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico. The Islands were formed over 4,000 years ago and are the remnants of the St. Bernard Lobe of a former Mississippi River delta. The Islands were discovered by explorer Pierre Le Moyer d’Iberville around 1700 while searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River. He named the Islands after a Christian feast day – La Fete de la Chandeleur – in honor of the event.
The Islands are described as a crescent-shaped archipelago. President Theodore Roosevelt was so impressed with the Islands that he designated them the second national wildlife refuge and today most of the Chandeleur Islands including Curlew, Gosier and Breton Island are part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge.
The Chandeleur Islands serve as a buffer zone between the Gulf of Mexico and the mainland protecting New Orleans and the surrounding area from wind and storm surge associated with tropical systems.
The Islands are prolific environments where hundreds of species of finfish, crustaceans and wildlife flourish. The heavily vegetated interiors of the fragmented islands are sanctuaries where juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp cab find protective cover increasing their chance of survival. For this reason, the Islands offer some of the best coastal fishing for redfish and speckled trout.
They offer the finest Chandeleur Islands fishing trips around. They will take you and your group on a day or multiday trip to the Chandeleur Islands for fly fishing & light tackle fishing. On fishing charters they offer redfish fishing and speckled trout fishing as well as seasonal pompano and tarpon fishing charters. Their vessels serve as motherships, providing comfortable quarters, delicious southern style meals and experienced captains and crews to provide for a safe and successful Chandeleur Islands charter fishing adventure.
SPORTSMANS LODGE
Located in south Louisiana, and offering a blend of first class accommodations, memorable cuisine of southern cooking and true hospitality, they strive to make guests feel like VIPs while remembering the reason you’re here….exceptional fishing and hunting. They can customize and manage all aspects of a successful outdoor adventure for individuals, family or corporate groups.
The Sportsmans Lodge is located in the Venice Marina in Venice, Louisiana. Venice, called the “Sportfishing Capital of the World”, is a 90-minute drive south of New Orleans, and is on the edge of the Mississippi River delta. This location offers easy access to the finest off shore fishing just off the mouth of the Mississippi River as the continental shelf is closer to the mouth of the river than anywhere else in the continental United States. Blue & White Marlin, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and Wahoo abound in these waters. In addition to offshore fishing, Venice is surrounded by vast marshes and is close to several barrier islands offering some of the best coastal fishing for redfish, speckled trout and many other species of fish as well as exceptional duck hunting.
The Lodge features a large great room lounge area with comfortable seating and wide screen TV to reminisce about the day’s adventures. Watch the chefs prepare fresh local fare in the open kitchen and dining area. They offer a complimentary bar as well as an outdoor seating to enjoy your morning coffee or evening libation and cigar. Upstairs are individual staterooms with a variety of berthing arrangements and private and semi-private bathrooms with flatscreens and Direct TV in each room. Rooms layouts are as follows:
Room #1 sleeping for up to 4 in 2 sets of bunks with a full bath.
Room #2 sleeping for up to 2 in 2 twins with a full bath shared with room #4.
Room #3 sleeping for up to 3 in 1 twin and 1 set of bunks with a full bath shared with room # 5.
Room #4 sleeping for up to 2 in 2 twins with a full bath shared with room #2.
Room #5 sleeping for up to 3 in 1 twin and 1 set of bunks with a full bath shared with room # 3.
Room #6 sleeping for up to 2 in 2 twins with a full bath and outside balcony.
Room #7 sleeping for up to 2 in 2 twins with a full bath and outside balcony
Room Suite sleeping for up to 2 in 2 twins with a separate living area and full bath.
SPORTSMANS LODGE AT VENICE PRICING
The Sportsmans Lodge is located in the Venice Marina in Venice, LA. Complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar while on the Lodge. Crawfish or Shrimp boils can be prearranged for dinner at an additional charge.
The rate is $275 per night per person reserved on a first come first served basis. Single occupancy is $350/night. Check in is 3 pm and check out is at 11 am (if you are fishing on departure day, bags must be packed and we will hold them for you until you return).
- Arranged inshore guided conventional fishing charters for up to 3 anglers are $1,000/day ($1,100/day for 4 anglers) and include fuel, ice, tackle and fish cleaning plus live bait at market price if available. A $150 fuel charge will be added for rig and/or Breton/Chandeleur island trips.
- Arranged inshore guided fly fishing charters for up to 2 anglers are $830/day and includes fuel, ice, rods, reels and tackle.
- Arranged offshore fishing charters are $2,500/day plus fuel for up to 6 anglers and includes ice, bait, tackle and fish cleaning. You will pay for the fuel at the fuel dock once the boat is refueled at the return of your trip.
- Arranged duck hunting charters during the season are $300(unguided)& $400(guided)/person/hunt.
- Arranged hog hunting charters during the season (end of January-March/April) are $1,650 for up to 2 hunters/ per airboat plus fuel and nutria hunts are $1,150 for up to 2 hunters/airboat plus fuel.
You can also book your own charters, guides or bring your own boat and tie alongside while staying with them on the Lodge.
All boats pick you up and drop you off at the Lodge. They furnish lunch and bottled water and soft drinks to go for you on the boats; however, you will need to bring or get any alcoholic beverages from the marina store if desired to bring on the boats.
DOGWOOD LODGE
The Dogwood Lodge offers the finest in accommodations for your leisure or business desires. Two open decks provide space to relax and absorb the magnificent surroundings. The Dogwood is a historical vessel that was originally built for the US Coast Guard as buoy tender on the upper MS. River.
The Dogwood Lodge is located past the end of the world marina also known as the Hopedale Marina in Hopedale, Louisiana in the Biloxi Marsh. Hopedale is located an easy 45-minute drive southeast of New Orleans, and is on the edge of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. This location offers easy access to the great inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout and many other species as well as exceptional duck hunting. This area also offers exceptional fly fishing opportunities for trophy redfish due to the clarity of the water and endless wild marshes.
The Lodge features a lounge area known as the Mississippi Room on the second deck with comfortable seating and wide screen TV to reminisce about the day’s adventures. They offer a complimentary bar as well as outdoor seating to enjoy your morning coffee or evening libation and cigar. This room can also serve as a conference room for business meetings or seminars as needed.
The Lodge offers 6 private rooms with 2 twin beds per room and each room has a private bath. The rooms are named after the rivers she has traversed throughout her past: Red, White, Arkansas, Atchafalaya, Ouachita and Kanawha.
DOGWOOD LODGE PRICING
The dining room, appropriately named the Ohio Room, seats twelve for meals and can easily convert into a meeting room for corporate retreats and training sessions. The Dogwood Lodge is located in Hopedale, LA. Complimentary breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar while on the Lodge.
The rate is $275/night/person double occupancy and rooms are reserved on a first come first served basis. Single occupancy is $350/night/person. Check in is 3 pm and check out is at 11 am (if you are fishing on departure day, bags must be packed and we will hold them for you until you return)
Arranged inshore guided conventional fishing charters for up to 3 anglers are $1,000/day ($1,100/day for 4 anglers) and include fuel, ice, tackle and fish cleaning. This includes wade fishing trips to both Breton and Chandeleur Islands for an additional $150 fuel adder/boat.
Arranged inshore guided fly fishing charters for up to 2 anglers are $830/day and includes fuel, ice, and tackle.
Arranged guided duck hunting charters during the season are $300/hunter.
You can also book your own charter guides or bring your own boat and tie alongside while staying with us on the Lodge. All boats pick you up and drop you off at the Lodge. We furnish lunch and bottled water and soft drinks to go for you on the boats; however, you will need to bring or get any alcoholic beverages to take on the boats from the marina store if desired. Bring your own ice chest for holding and transport fish back with you if you desire.
FISH-NATION – WE ARE YOUR FISHING ADVENTURE SPECIALISTS!
