Cast Net Shrimping in Southwest Louisiana: A Local's Guide to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge

Head to Southwest Louisiana for shrimping armed with just a cast net, a bucket, and a hearty appetite. The bayous teem with fresh Louisiana shrimp, perfect for a home-cooked feast. Spanning 76,000 acres, the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge offers hundreds of prime spots for shrimping, fishing, and crabbing.

As an avid angler and guest of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, this Ohio native quickly discovered that cast netting is a beloved pastime here for all ages. Mastering the toss requires technique: throw too high and snag a tree; too low and scare the shrimp; spin too much and risk nearby friends; too little and miss the mark entirely.

Driving the scenic 180-mile Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, I spot locals cast netting shrimp roadside. The thought of a full day in nature, netting this Southwest Louisiana icon, stirs visions of fresh gumbo and shrimp cocktails come dinnertime.

Curiosity led me to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish, one of America's most biologically diverse areas, hosted by bureau experts. Camera in hand, I hoped to photograph one of its 400 bird species, like an osprey.

Nearly a mile in, my focus shifted to a lively group: families, kids, college friends, and oil workers on break. Cast nets soared, poles leaned on rails, and two excited girls hauled in a crab from the waterway by the dirt road.

Like pro shrimpers, they filled giant red buckets with massive, fresh shrimp. Locals shared that a good day yields the 25-pound-per-vehicle limit in just 1-2 hours. The shared joy and camaraderie under the blazing sun rivaled the catch itself.

I couldn't resist joining in. A local lent me his 5-foot cast net with quick tips. After a few misses amid his encouraging shouts in thick Cajun drawl, I landed my first shrimp—cue high-fives and cheers all around.

Here, one great catch feels like everyone's win, as all head home for epic seafood feasts. It's an unforgettable Louisiana tradition.

To try cast net shrimping at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, grab a basic cast net, bucket, Louisiana basic fishing license, and saltwater license from bait shops or sporting goods stores. Follow state and refuge rules via the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

For maps and info, contact the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.


*Anietra Hamper is a travel writer and fishing columnist from Columbus, Ohio. Website: www.threewordpress.com

Photos credited to Anietra Hamper.