Chandeluer Islands - recommendation

Folks, think8ng about booking a group trip to the chandeluers. Do you have any recommendation on guides? Anyone fished it recently and have a fishing report?

Thank you

Lou

We take a charter out of biloxi miss.every year.They offer trips march thru nov,.They offer 2 day or 3 day trips 8-12 persons.The one we use is the VI southern sports fishing they are a very professional crew. Really impressive accommodations they supply 16 foot skiffs with 25 hp . Great people to do business with they do everything from cooking 3 meals a day to helping put you on the fish. Good experience worth the trip we are booked aug. and cant wait check them out.

Thank you..

Check out the Chandeleur-Islander.comFishing

Any other recommendations?

Theophile Bougois(i think) does a fly in thing that looks(on tv) like the best. he's out of Belle Chase. been in business for 20 yrs, so he's got to be good. google him.

If you're looking for a "mother ship" trip I recommend DMJ Charters https://www.facebook.com/DMJCharters/

Most have the same setups, the same skiffs, go to the same place so what you're really shopping for is a Captain and crew.

I've been going on trips to Chandelier for almost 20 years, I've always gone out with SouthernSportsFishing. The first boat we went out on was the V, back when they ran two big boats- a few years before Katrina. We then booked on the VI and after Katrina they sold the V and only ran one boat with various Captains over the years. They had the best boat, the best skiffs and with Dennis the best overall experience although I'm working off of stories told about the other boats...they stay pretty booked up too so perhaps I'm wrong.

Cap't Dennis Marshall was BY FAR the very best Captain that we ever ran with, he ran the VI for many years. He and his crews always worked very well together as a team for us...that is not always the case. We've seen everything from a Cap't who is only there to drive the boat to guys who don't put much effort in to stuff I wont mention to outstanding teamwork taking good care of us.

Dennis retired from the fire department and bought his own boat last year and he's pretty booked up- for a brand new operation that speaks volumes.

I haven't been out with anything other than those two but I'll promise you that you will be very hard pressed to find a better operation. He has two guys crewing the boat with him, one is a licensed captain and the other is a lifetime MS coast resident and experienced fisherman around the islands. They will go out and show you where/what/how if you need them to, that isn't always the case.

We just got back from a trip with them after laying off for two years. I had a significant accident four years ago, was run over by my own skiff, cut both arteries in my left arm and probably shouldn't be typing this right now; clearly my job here isn't finished. I went back on the same boat almost exactly a year after the accident and if Dennis hadn't had bought "Backdraft" and started running out there I wouldn't have ever gone back, after this trip we are already booked for next year.

We've always gone in April or October but Christian, the crewmember who's been out there all his life told me his two favorite months are May and November. Said April weather is too unpredictable and same for October. Our experience kind of makes this ring true- this last trip was right in between a big storm and there was another right behind us. Definitely affected fishing and with the advanced planning that is required and all of the anticipation it's probably smart to book when weather is a bit more predictable. (we still caught a ton)

One thing was different this year- there were a lot more fisherman than I remember. There were at least 5 big boats out there with 8-10 skiffs running out of each one. I can remember trips seeing only a couple, maybe three plus the Pelican barge that has occasional visitors. There's even a dadgum oil platform that someone hauled out there on stilts with skiffs up top planted RIGHT in the middle of the catch-em-all bar channel, I guess for fisherman to rent, I don't know.


I cannot guarantee fish but I can guarantee that you'll be well taken care of and will have a great time with Dennis and his crew.

I'll second the DMJ recommendation. Capt Dennis is a great guy.

I have taken this fly in trip and it was amazing! I highly recommend it!

The "oil rig platform" is a full service stable Jack Up barge with accommodations for 4 minimum to 22 guests ( 4 six man bunk rooms ). There are two skiffs to rent and wade fishermen can be shuttled to wade fishing areas only 50 yards away. Most guests come in their own bay boats. The specs have turned on as can be seen on FB page Chandeleur Islander Lodge.

Attached are photos of the Chandeleur Islander on location near New Harbor Island in the Chandeleurs. The lower deck is suspended by two large beams and adjusts to tidal range. The converted jack up boat and lower dock are all safely above any waves and wind regardless of weather.

Chandeleur bite is ON !!!