The playground of southeastern Louisiana
The only inhabited barrier island in Louisiana, Grand Isle covers little more than six square miles, or approximately 4,100 acres of land in Jefferson Parish, but looms large for recreational activities.
At the far northeastern tip of the island, Grand Isle State Park covers 140 acres. About 1,000 people live on Grand Isle, but many visitors come to vacation, fish or participate in major events. Many visitors stay at the park.
“The park provides camping facilities for tents, recreational vehicles and camper trailers,” said Jerome Holmes, the park manager. “For those with limited mobility, Grand Isle State Park has a beach wheelchair available on a first come, first served basis.”
The playground of southeastern Louisiana, the island offers access to excellent fishing, crabbing and boating. Many people come to enjoy the beach, one of the few places in southeastern Louisiana that people without boats can do that.
“Grand Isle State Park offers a variety of recreational activities, including beach access, surfing, shrimping, kayaking and swimming in the Gulf,” Holmes said. “Visitors can hike 2.5 miles of trails or ride their bikes on the trails or along the beach. Imagine shrimping, fishing and crabbing in the same location you are camping! Birding enthusiasts delight in the beauty of the lagoons and the Gulf shore. This unique environment attracts numerous species of birds and other wildlife, so bring binoculars or a camera to enjoy the unspoiled nature.”
Excellent fishing
The island marks the boundary between the Gulf and the vast Barataria Estuary. All year long, people can fish for speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and many other species. The marshes surrounding Barataria Bay provide some of the best redfish habitat in the state.
“People without boats can wade in the water and surf-fish off the beach,” Holmes said. “The park provides opportunities for campground and beach camping, as well as fishing and crabbing from the designated crabbing pier. The pier includes a fish cleaning station at the lagoons.”
South of the island, the water drops off rapidly. People can fish the nearshore or offshore waters for red snapper, mangrove snapper and other snapper species, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, amberjack, grouper and many other species. Larger boats can head farther offshore to fish for blue marlin, white marlin, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, wahoo and other fish.
Planning a visit
The island hosts multiple major events throughout the year. Every July, the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, the oldest and one of the largest fishing tournaments in the country, brings thousands of people to the small island. This year, the rodeo takes place July 23-25.
“Grand Isle State Park offers visitors an exceptional experience, encompassing the natural beauty and community within the park, the rich cultural heritage of the surrounding island areas and outstanding opportunities for fishing and culinary exploration,” Holmes said. “For a distinctive experience in a remarkable setting, consider visiting Grand Isle State Park in Grand Isle. We are as unique as our location.”
The park stays open all year long seven days a week for a variety of seasonal recreational opportunities. However, the barrier islands serve as the first line of defense against hurricanes and other weather conditions. If a major storm threatens the area, the park will close and authorities will issue evacuation orders for island residents to leave.
For park information, call 985-869-7275 or 1-888-787-2559. On the internet, see lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/grand-isle-state-park. For more information about the town of Grand Isle and a calendar of events, see townofgrandisle.com or call 985-787-2997.
