Plaquemines Parish, Sportsman's Paradise

 

"When people all across the country ask me where my favorite place to fish is, I always tell them that Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana is the very best there is anywhere. The Mississippi Delta is absolutely the best fish factory in the North America. Whether you want to fish for fun, food, or trophies, this is the place to be."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plaquemines is Louisiana's southernmost parish where the great Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico. The parish is a region of ecological wonder with its many waterways, fishing and hunting grounds. It is truly a Sportsman’s Paradise with some of the best commercial and sportsman fishing areas in the world. With the seafood industry being one of the leading sources of income and highest employers in Louisiana, Plaquemines Parish produces millions of pounds of shrimp, oysters, crabs and fish annually. Plaquemines Parish is the operational center for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Plaquemines Parish is the final leg on the long, winding course of the mighty Mississippi River. The parish creates a corridor surrounding the river as it flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the developed areas are located along either side of the more than seventy miles of the Mississippi River that flows through the parish. The land area of the parish is 845 square miles.

Unfortunately, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 have scarred the parish landscape, particularly below Belle Chasse.  However, massive levee protection upgrades and coastal restoration projects are currently underway to ensure the devastation of this type does not repeat itself. Fortunately the fishing got even better with the aftermath of Katrina. Record Snapper, Tuna and Redfish catches have been the best in history. There are now more trout in the Delta than the locals can ever remember and they get big.

Plaquemines Parish provides the perfect balance between urban and rural lifestyles. Its location within the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area enables residents to experience one of America's most colorful cities. Yet the parish's lower reaches provide a rural, country-like atmosphere with unlimited opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and recreational pursuits.

The geographical landscape of the parish varies. Urban communities like Belle Chasse, in the northern part of the parish, are considered part of the Metropolitan New Orleans area, while the long middle reaches of the parish consist primarily of agricultural lands dotted with small communities. Further south, saltwater marshes and estuaries form the rich delta of the Mississippi River.

The great diversity of the parish rewards its residents and visitors with perhaps the greatest range of amenities of all the parishes in the region. Within a single day, guests and residents of Plaquemines Parish can enjoy the "Sportsman's Paradise" with vast opportunities for hunting, fishing and water sports.  They can also partake in cuisine, entertainment, and "all that jazz" that makes New Orleans world famous.

For more information on Plaquemines Parish please visit their web site here www.plaqueminestourism.com