Tarpon Marine

For a Louisiana boat rental, all renters must be at least 18. Age 10 is the earliest a person can receive boater education certification and operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower without the accompaniment exception. Under R.S. 34:851.36, anyone born after January 1, 1984, needs an approved course or must be accompanied by someone over 18 who completed the course, if required. That exception does not apply to personal watercraft, whose operators must be at least 16 and course-certified if born after that date. The rental operator may set a higher minimum, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov)

Louisiana requires boater education rather than a boating license: anyone born after January 1, 1984 must carry proof of an LDWF approved course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft. A motorboat operator may instead be accompanied by someone over 18 who has completed the course if required, but that exception does not apply to personal watercraft. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 16; rental operators must be at least 18, and students cannot be certified before age 10.

U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains are exempt. Eligible renters from a state approved livery may watch the LDWF safety video for a 48 hour exemption. Course graduates receive a temporary certificate while proof is processed.

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov)

From Houma, you can choose Bayou Terrebonne, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the Houma Navigation Canal, Pointe-aux-Chenes marshes or Bayou Petit Caillou at Cocodrie. Downtown Marina is at the Bayou Terrebonne and GIWW junction, making these working waterways the most direct city departure; Bayou Terrebonne also reconnects with the GIWW through Bourg Canal. The Houma Navigation Canal links the GIWW to Gulf waters and carries commercial traffic. For marsh boating, trailer to Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA, where Island Road and Highway 665 launches enter brackish ponds, bayous and canals. At Cocodrie, a paved marina ramp reaches Bayou Petit Caillou.

Source: Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government (tpcg.org)

From the Houma area, boaters head to Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area, Cocodrie and the beaches of Timbalier Island. Mandalay’s open canals offer boating, fishing and wildlife viewing through freshwater marsh and cypress swamp. Pointe-aux-Chenes draws redfish anglers and boaters interested in crabbing among its ponds, bayous and canals. Cocodrie provides a waterfront stop with marina dining and visitor facilities before coastal runs. On calm days, anglers also cruise Timbalier Island’s beaches in search of redfish.

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)