Dear Capt. Paul:
Could you tell how to get from the public launch at Port Sulphur to Chaland Pass?
Thanks, Chris Moore
Capt. Paul’s response:
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, using my 20-foot bay boat that draws about 18 inches of water at idle and about 8 inches on plane, I would run down the Freeport Sulphur canal to its end at Billett Bay, then cross the Billett Bay just west of the large platform in the bay to a location where the Robinson Canal meets Lake Robinson (at N29 21.009 x W89 45.451).
From that point, I would continue south in Robinson Canal for about 2 miles to a point where it crosses the first of two pipelines that run in an east/west direction. This junction is at or about N29 19.201 x W89 45.737. I would then turn eastward in the pipeline canal for about 1.25 miles to the junction where it meets Bayou Chaland, the location of which is at or about N29 19.053 x W89 44.505.
The Bayou Chaland area offers some exceptional fishing under a variety of conditions. There is deep water — 30-plus feet — in some of the turns and many flat areas that offer outstanding fishing over the oyster reefs. The junction of the many cuts and pipelines that intersect the bayou lead to many drainage cuts that offer outstanding fishing on a falling tide.
In addition, the location where Bayou Chaland meets Bay Chaland and the area where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico offers some more varied fishing areas.
We used to camp out with a tent on the sand banks at Chaland Pass across from the pumping station in order to fish both the falling and rising tide in the area. We would relax at the campsite until someone yelled, “The bite’s ON!” Then it would be a fast and furious catching spree that wore you out.
You will note that I began by saying “prior to Hurricane Katrina.”
I cannot say if there now are any restrictions or debris in the bay or in the canals that I described. I suggest that you get the latest maps of the area and proceed with extreme caution when traveling to and in the described areas. In addition, remember that I had a shallow-draft boat and that it was prior to the last major hurricanes that ravaged the area.
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