Finding shrimp boats for sale in Louisiana used to be as simple as driving down to the docks in Dulac or Chauvin and looking for a "For Sale" sign scrawled on a piece of plywood. Today? It’s a whole different game. You’re navigating a market caught between a shrinking domestic industry and a high-tech push for efficiency.
Honestly, the "shrimp boat" you see in your head—the one with the rusty outriggers and the smell of diesel and salt—might be exactly what you don't want to buy if you're looking to actually make a living in 2026.
The Reality of the Louisiana Market Right Now
The shrimping industry in the Gulf is under a mountain of pressure. Between the flood of cheap imported shrimp from places like Vietnam and Ecuador and the skyrocketing cost of fuel, there are a lot of boats sitting idle. This means there are "deals" to be had, but those deals often come with a massive catch.
You’ll find plenty of steel-hull draggers and skimmers listed across the bayous, from Cameron to Plaquemines Parish. But before you drop $150,000 on a 58-foot Terrebonne built in 2014, you've got to understand what you're stepping into. The market is saturated with older vessels because the workforce is aging out.
Wood, Steel, or Fiberglass?
Most people getting into the business have a romanticized view of wooden boats. Stop. Unless you are a master carpenter with a lot of free time, a wooden shrimp boat is basically a hole in the water you pour money into.
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- Steel hulls are the workhorses. They can take a beating, and if you hit a submerged cypress log in the marsh, you're looking at a dent rather than a catastrophe. The downside? Rust. It never sleeps. You’ll spend half your life with a needle scaler and a bucket of Corroseal.
- Fiberglass is becoming the gold standard for smaller skimmers. It's lighter, faster, and won't rot or rust. But if you're looking for a massive 80-foot freezer boat for deep-water Gulf trips, you're almost certainly going to be looking at steel.
- Aluminum is the "holy grail" for many Louisiana shrimpers. It’s light and virtually maintenance-free compared to steel. You’ll see custom aluminum 18x60 duck and shrimp combos in Marrero for a reason. They last forever.
Where the Real Listings Are (and Where They Aren’t)
You won't find the best commercial shrimp boats on a flashy website with 4K video tours. You've got to look where the pros look.
The Boat Yard in Marrero is a staple. They handle everything from 20-foot aluminum skimmers to serious commercial workboats. If you’re looking for something bigger, Athearn Marine Agency often has listings for 70 to 100-foot steel draggers. Just last year, they were moving 90-foot Rodriguez-built boats for anywhere between $400,000 and $1.1 million, depending on the electronics and freezer capacity.
Don't ignore the local docks.
Places like Dulac, Houma, and Delacroix are where the "handshake deals" still happen. If a boat is sitting at a dock with nets tucked and no ice in the hold during the peak of the fall white shrimp season, it’s probably for sale.
Price Reality Check
- Small Skimmers (20-35 ft): Expect to pay $30,000 to $85,000. These are often aluminum and used for inshore lake and bayou shrimping.
- Mid-Range Trawlers (40-60 ft): You’re looking at $100,000 to $250,000. A 2014 58-foot Terrebonne was recently spotted in Dulac for around $145,000.
- Large Freezer Boats (70+ ft): These are the offshore giants. Prices can vary wildly from $300,000 for an 80s-era steel hull to over $1.5 million for a modern, well-maintained dragger with IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) capability.
The "Invisible" Costs: Permits and Quotas
Buying the boat is just the entry fee. In Louisiana, you need a Vessel License (about $50 for residents) and a Commercial Fisherman’s License ($96). But the real kicker is the gear fees. Every trawl, butterfly net, or skimmer net requires its own license.
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And if you plan on traversing federal waters to get to the big brown shrimp, you’ll need a Gulf Seafood Traversing and Offloading License.
The regulations for 2026 have tightened up. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is cracking down on tow times and mesh sizes to protect juvenile shrimp and reduce bycatch. If the boat you're buying doesn't have the latest TEDs (Turtle Excluder Devices) or if the rigging is outdated, that’s another $10,000–$20,000 you’ll be spending before you ever drop a net.
What to Look for During an Inspection
Honestly, most people get blinded by a fresh coat of paint. In the world of shrimp boats for sale in Louisiana, paint covers a multitude of sins.
- The Hull-to-Deck Joint: Walk the perimeter. If there’s any gap or fresh, sloppy sealant, water is getting into the laminates. That leads to delamination, which is a death sentence for fiberglass.
- The "Dull Thud" Test: Take a small plastic hammer. Tap the transom and the hull below the waterline. A healthy hull rings. A soggy, water-logged core sounds like a dead thud. If you hear that, walk away.
- Electronics and Wiring: Commercial boats are notorious for "rat's nest" wiring. If you see wire nuts and electrical tape in the engine room, expect a fire or a total electrical failure within six months.
- The Engine (The Heart): Most these boats run on Caterpillar or Detroit Diesels. They are bulletproof if maintained, but a "rebuilt" engine without paperwork is just an old engine. Ask for the oil analysis reports. If they don't have them, get one yourself.
The Economic Elephant in the Room
Why are there so many shrimp boats for sale in Louisiana right now?
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It’s not just because shrimping is hard work. It’s because the margins have vanished. As of early 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade has upheld duties on Vietnamese shrimp, which helps a bit, but the industry is still shrinking.
President of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, Acy Cooper Jr., has been vocal about the "aging workforce." Young people aren't buying boats. They’re going to work in the oil fields or the tech sector. This creates a "buyer's market" for you, but it also means the support infrastructure—the ice houses, the processors, the specialized mechanics—is also disappearing.
Actionable Steps for Potential Buyers
If you're still determined to buy, don't just browse Craigslist.
- Visit the LDWF website and download the 2026 Commercial Fishing Regulations. Know the gear limits for the specific parish you plan to fish in.
- Hire a Marine Surveyor who specializes in commercial vessels. Do not use a "yacht" guy. You need someone who knows what a stressed steel bulkhead looks like.
- Check the HIN (Hull Identification Number). Make sure it hasn't been a "salvage" boat from a previous hurricane. Louisiana has plenty of those.
- Look for IQF Boats. If you’re going big, the only way to compete with imports is quality. A boat that can freeze shrimp individually at sea fetches a much higher price at the dock than one that just uses ice.
The Louisiana shrimping life is beautiful, but it's brutal. Buying the boat is the easy part. Keeping it running in a shifting global economy is where the real work begins.
Start by scouting the marinas in Thibodaux and Metairie, but keep your eyes on the small-town docks in Leeville. That's where the real history—and the real deals—are hidden.
Next Steps for Your Search
- Verify Title Status: Ensure the vessel has a "clear" title and no maritime liens. You can check this through the Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center.
- Secure a Docking Space: Before you buy, find out where you'll park it. Dock space in popular areas like Grand Isle is increasingly scarce.
- Audit the Engine Hours: Anything over 10,000 hours on a diesel engine without a documented "major" overhaul should be priced accordingly.