Full Day Bottom Fishing in St. Bernard Waters
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday private bottom fishing charter for up to four guestsTarget redfish, speckled trout, black drum, and sheepshead speciesEighthour guided trip through St. Bernard's calm inshore waters
When you're looking for a solid day of fishing that delivers both quality catches and good vibes, Captain James Hanson's full-day bottom fishing trip in St. Bernard hits all the right marks. This 8-hour charter takes you through some of Louisiana's most productive inshore waters, where the bottom structure holds everything from chunky redfish to hard-fighting black drum. With room for up to four anglers, you get that perfect balance of personal attention and camaraderie that makes for memorable days on the water. The marsh scenery alone is worth the trip, but when you add in Captain James's local knowledge and relaxed approach to guiding, you've got a recipe for the kind of fishing day that keeps you planning your return visit before you even get back to the dock.
Your day starts early with Captain James, who's been working these St. Bernard waters long enough to know where the fish hang out and when they're most likely to bite. The calm, protected waters here are perfect for bottom fishing, giving you stable conditions to really focus on feeling those subtle taps and learning to work different structures. You'll be targeting prime bottom spots where oyster shells, drop-offs, and grass edges create the kind of habitat that inshore species can't resist. Captain James keeps things interactive, sharing tips on reading your rod, adjusting your technique, and understanding what the fish are telling you through your line. The pace is comfortable but productive – no rushing between spots, just methodical fishing in areas that consistently produce. With stunning marsh views stretching in every direction, you'll find yourself appreciating both the fishing and the unique Louisiana landscape that makes this region special.
Bottom fishing in St. Bernard's inshore waters is all about patience, feel, and knowing how to work the structure below. Captain James sets you up with the right tackle for each spot – usually medium to heavy action rods that give you the backbone to pull fish away from cover while still letting you feel light bites. You'll be using circle hooks with live or cut bait, depending on what's working that day and what species you're targeting. The key technique here is learning to keep just enough tension on your line to feel the bottom and detect bites, but not so much that you're constantly snagged up. Captain James teaches you how to read different bottom types through your rod tip – whether you're working over shell beds where sheepshead hide, grass flats where redfish cruise, or muddy bottoms where black drum root around. The boat positioning is crucial, and you'll see how subtle adjustments in drift and anchor placement can make the difference between a slow pick and steady action. Live shrimp, cut mullet, and crab are go-to baits, but Captain James adjusts the menu based on seasonal patterns and what the fish have been eating.
Black drum are the heavyweight champions of St. Bernard's bottom fishing scene, and for good reason. These bruisers can push 20, 30, even 40 pounds in these waters, and when one grabs your bait, you'll know it immediately. They're most active during cooler months from fall through early spring, when they move into the shallows to feed on crabs and shellfish. What makes black drum so exciting isn't just their size – it's their bulldogging fight style that tests your drag system and arm strength. They're also excellent table fare when you keep the smaller ones in the 5-15 pound range, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill.
Redfish are the poster child of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard's grass flats and marsh edges hold some beautiful specimens. These copper-colored fighters typically run 18-27 inches in these waters, with their distinctive black spots and bronze flanks making them easy to identify. Reds are aggressive feeders that hit cut bait hard and fight with surprising strength for their size, often making multiple runs before coming to the boat. They're year-round residents here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding to prepare for spawning or recover from it. What anglers love about redfish is their willingness to eat and their spirited fight – plus they're absolutely delicious when prepared fresh.
Sheepshead are the finicky eaters that separate novice anglers from experienced ones, and St. Bernard's oyster reefs hold plenty of them. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth that they use to crush barnacles, crabs, and oysters off hard structure. They're notorious bait stealers, capable of picking a hook clean without you feeling much more than a gentle tap. But when you do connect with a good sheepshead – anything over 3 pounds is a keeper – you're in for a surprisingly strong fight from a fish that looks like it should be easy to handle. Winter months are prime time for sheepshead, when they stack up on structure in deeper water, making them perfect targets for bottom fishing techniques.
Speckled trout round out your target species list, and while they're typically thought of as topwater or artificial lure fish, they're also opportunistic bottom feeders, especially during cooler weather. St. Bernard's trout run from schoolie-sized 12-inchers up to solid 3-4 pound gator trout that provide excellent fights on medium tackle. They're most active during spring and fall transitions when water temperatures are in that sweet spot, and they'll readily take live shrimp or cut bait worked near the bottom around grass edges and shell bars. Trout are prized for their delicate white meat and are considered by many to be the best eating fish in Louisiana waters.
Captain James's full-day bottom fishing trip offers exactly what serious anglers are looking for – productive fishing, personalized instruction, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that makes 8 hours on the water feel like it went by in minutes. Whether you're new to bottom fishing or looking to improve your technique, this St.
Captain James runs his 26-foot Charles Leonard center console through St. Bernard's productive inshore waters, where redfish and drum feed along the muddy bottoms. This 2019 bay boat handles the shallow flats and deeper channels with ease, powered by a reliable 250HP Suzuki four-stroke that gets you to the fish and back without burning through fuel. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working structure, while the GPS and fish finder help locate those bottom-hugging drum and sheepshead that St. Bernard is known for. With space for four anglers, there's plenty of room to spread out and work your baits without getting tangled up. The center console design gives everyone easy access to the action, whether you're dropping live bait for bull reds or bouncing bottom rigs for black drum in the deeper holes.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are bottom-dwelling powerhouses that cruise our shallow flats and oyster beds year-round. These dark, stocky fish typically run 5-30 pounds, but don't be surprised if you hook into a 50-pounder. They're built like tanks with crushing jaws designed for cracking oysters and crabs. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning in the shallows. What makes them special is their raw strength - they'll test your drag and give you a steady, bulldogging fight that'll wear you out. The meat on smaller fish under 15 pounds is excellent eating, with a mild flavor. Pro tip: use fresh crab or cut mullet on the bottom near oyster bars. When you feel that first gentle tap, don't set the hook immediately - let them run with it for a few seconds, then lean into them hard.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature inshore species - bronze-backed bulldozers with distinctive black spots near their tails that'll give you a fight you won't forget. Most slot fish run 20-27 inches, but the oversized bulls can push 40 inches and 30+ pounds in our deeper waters. They love cruising shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges in just 1-4 feet of water. Fall and spring offer the hottest action when they're feeding heavily, but they're catchable year-round. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and never-give-up attitude - they'll strip drag and make multiple runs. Plus, slot-sized fish are fantastic table fare with mild, sweet meat. The key here is sight-fishing the shallows during moving tides. I always tell guests to look for nervous water or tailing fish. Cast a gold spoon or soft plastic ahead of cruising reds and work it slow. Once hooked, keep steady pressure - they'll wrap you up in oysters if you give them slack.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread-and-butter inshore fish, running 14-20 inches most days with the occasional 5-pounder to keep things interesting. They love our grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and potholes. Spring through fall gives you the most consistent action, but they bite all year if you adjust your tactics. What guests really enjoy is their willingness to hit artificials - they'll crush a topwater plug at dawn or a soft plastic shrimp bounced along the bottom. The meat is tender and flaky, perfect for the dinner table, but don't overcook it or it gets mushy. During cooler months, they school up in deeper channels, making for some fast action. Here's a local secret: look for diving birds working bait schools. Throw a gold spoon into the commotion and hold on - those trout will be feeding aggressively underneath.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convicts of our waters with their black and white stripes, but what really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs off dock pilings. Most run 1-3 pounds, though we see plenty in the 5-8 pound range around here. They're structure junkies - any pier piling, bridge, or oyster reef will hold them. Spring brings the best action when they move shallow to spawn, but they bite year-round if you know where to look. Guests love the challenge because these fish are notorious bait thieves with light, finicky bites. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in our waters - sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to trick is using fiddler crabs on a small hook, getting as close to structure as possible. When you feel them nibbling, resist the urge to set immediately. Let them take it, then drive that hook home hard.
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