Dogwood Lodge - Biloxi Marsh

Louisiana Redfishing

Fly/Spin Sightfishing and Conventional Fishing

Stay aboard Dogwood Lodge, a redfishing and duck-hunting liveaboard hotel in the marshlands of Louisiana, 45 miles southeast of New Orleans. The Biloxi Marsh is an estuary network of 210,000 acres of coastal wetlands located on the eastern side of Louisiana, bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The Biloxi Marsh Lands Corporation, founded in 1936, owns approximately 90,000 acres of marshlands and leases a portion of its surface to private individuals for fishing and hunting.


The Biloxi Marsh

Louisiana Redfishing

The Biloxi Marsh provides hundreds of miles of some of the best redfishing in the world. The salt marshes are vast and healthy, providing easy access to great inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and many other species, as well as great duck hunting.
Due to the almost year-round clarity of the water and endless wild marshes, the Biloxi offers opportunities for trophy redfish.
Reds love to eat flies in shallow water and often dine close to the boat! Sight fish the narrow bayous and shallow ponds for larger reds.

Redfishing Biloxi

The Fishing Program

Biloxi Fishing Boats

Season:  The Hopedale area can be fished year-round, with peak fishing during the fall. Redfishing championships are held during October.
Travel Time:  From the Liveaboard, it takes 10 to 45 minutes, depending on where the fish are. You'll cross the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, then enter the western edge of the marsh.
Guides:  The Lodge works with outstanding and reputable guides and outfitters.
Fly/Spin Sightfishing Packages:  Technical poling boats such as Hells Bay and Chittum skiffs are used. Two anglers per boat and guide. The guides pick you up at 8:00 a.m., returning you to the Liveaboard at 4:00 p.m. All fly fishing packages are catch-and-release fishing only.
Conventional Lure/Bait Fishing Packages:  Guides use 24' to 26' bay boats. Three to four anglers per boat and guide. The guides pick the group up at 6:00 a.m., returning you to the Liveaboard between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Packages Include:  Fuel, ice, flies or tackle, and fish cleaning. If you plan to take fish home, you'll need to bring Ziplok bags and coolers.
Equipment:  The guides supply all rods, reels, and tackle.
Fishing License:  Your fishing license is not included in the package. A 5-day non-resident fishing license is $30.00 (2023).

The Biloxi Marsh

Fly Fishing Biloxi Marsh

Typical Fishing Day:
The Lodge provides a packed lunch, bottled water, and soft drinks for you to enjoy on the boat. In the evenings, back at the liveaboard, you’ll enjoy appetizers and an open bar, followed by dinner.
For Conventional Lure or Bait Fishing:  Breakfast is served at 5:30 a.m. You’ll head out at 6:30 a.m. with your guide, who will pick you up in a 24 to 26-foot bay boat. You'll return to the Liveaboard between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. You’ll fish three to four anglers per boat and guide.
For Fly Fishing:  Breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. You’ll head out at 8:00 a.m. with your guide. Technical poling boats such as Hells Bay and Chittum skiffs are used. Two anglers per boat and guide. You’ll return to the Liveaboard at 4:00 p.m.

Liveaboard Lodging:

The Dogwood Lodge

The Dogwood Lodge, a 114-foot liveaboard vessel, is moored in the Hopedale Marina. The Dogwood is a historical vessel that the US Coast Guard employed as a buoy tender on the upper Mississippi River. A cruise ship company later converted it into a multi-day vessel for river cruises.

Lounge Area

Dogwood Lounge Area

On the second deck, you'll find the lounge area known as the Mississippi Room. Homey, comfortable seating, a widescreen television, and a bar.
Bar: After a day of fishing, you'll enjoy appetizers in the lounge and libations and the complimentary self-serve bar. By law, the Lodge cannot provide alcohol for your fishing day, but you can purchase it (cans only) at the marina store.

Dining Room and Cabin

Dining Room and a Cabin Bedroom

For dining, the Ohio Room seats 12 and also serves as a corporate meeting room. The Liveaboard has six private bedrooms. Each room has two twin beds and a private bathroom. There are two outdoor seating areas on the deck to enjoy your morning coffee or evening drink while taking in the sights and sounds of the marsh.

Meals and Beverages

Self-Serve Bar in the Lounge

Meals:  Hot breakfasts. You'll take a sack lunch plus snacks, soft drinks, and bottled water for your fishing day. Delicious Southern and Cajun cuisine are on the daily menu.

Getting to Dogwood Lodge:

You'll fly to New Orleans and either rent a car or call a shuttle service, which is $140.00 one-way for a party of up to six. New Orleans to Hopedale is about a 75-minute drive, depending on traffic. There's not much to the town of Hopedale, just a couple of local fishing camps. Once you arrive in Hopedale, you'll board the Liveaboard, enjoy dinner, and prepare for fishing the next day.

2024 Rates - Customize Your Package

Liveaboard Hotel Rates:
Includes:  Lodging, meals, and a complimentary bar.
Double-Occupancy Lodging:
$275.00 per person per night
Single-Occupancy Lodging:
$350.00 per person per night

Inshore Guided Conventional Fishing Trips:
Includes:  Guided fishing, lunch, bottled water/sodas, fuel, ice, tackle, bait, and fish cleaning.
Up to 3 anglers $1,000.00 per boat per day
Up to 4-anglers $1,100.00 per boat per day
Wade fishing trip to both Breton and Chandeleur Islands
Does not include $150.00 fuel charge.
Up to 3 anglers $1,150.00 per boat per day
Up to 4 anglers $1,250.00 per boat per day

Inshore Guided Fly or Spin Sightfishing Trips:
Includes:  Guided fishing, fuel, ice, use of rods and reels, tackle, or flies.
Up to 2 anglers $830.00 per boat per day

Guided Duck Hunting Charter:
$300.00 per person per hunt.
You'll need to bring your own shotgun and shells. Bird cleaning is included. Duck Hunting Packages do not include the use of a shotgun, shotgun shells, a non-resident small game/migratory bird license, and a federal duck stamp.


Fishing Packages + Liveaboard Hotel Package Includes:

• Lodging
• Breakfast and dinner at the Lodge
• A bag lunch, sodas, and water during guided trips
• House alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks at the Lodge
• Guided fishing
• Use of rod, reel, and tackle
• All flies for fly fishing packages
• Fish cleaning
  (Except for fly fishing trips, which are catch-and-release only.)

The Packages Do Not Include:

• Airfare to New Orleans, and return
• Ground transfers from New Orleans to the Lodge
• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Live bait for fishing charters
• Fishing license
• Packing and shipping of your catch
• Alcohol during guided trips
• $150.00 fuel charge for Breton and Chandeleur Islands trips
• 6.45% lodging tax
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not listed under inclusions



Request a Dogwood Lodge
Information Packet.  


Fishing Travel Experts


Guy Schoenborn

1-800-205-3474 ext. 1

MT Office:  406-322-5709

Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Brad Staples

1-800-205-3474 ext. 3

Cell (503) 250-0558

Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com