Family-Friendly Fishing Adventure in St. Bernard
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 8-hour inshore fishing charter for up to four guestsTarget redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, and black drum speciesFamily-friendly experience with patient guidance through scenic Louisiana marshes
Captain James Hanson knows these Louisiana marshes like the back of his hand, and he's ready to show your family why St. Bernard Parish is one of the Gulf Coast's best-kept fishing secrets. This 8-hour charter takes you deep into the scenic bayous where redfish cruise the shallows and black drum patrol the drop-offs. With space for up to four anglers, it's the perfect setup for families looking to introduce kids to the sport or small groups wanting a relaxed day on the water. The captain's patient teaching style and deep local knowledge make this a top-rated choice for both first-timers and seasoned anglers who want to explore Louisiana's coastal fishing paradise.
Your day starts early as Captain Hanson fires up the engine and heads into the maze of channels that wind through St. Bernard's pristine marshlands. These protected waters stay relatively calm, making it ideal for families with young anglers who might get seasick in choppy conditions. You'll spend the day moving between productive spots - shallow flats where redfish tail in knee-deep water, deeper channels where speckled trout school up, and structure-rich areas that hold sheepshead and black drum. The scenery alone is worth the trip, with endless miles of marsh grass, wading birds, and that classic Louisiana coastal landscape. Captain Hanson keeps things relaxed and educational, pointing out wildlife and sharing stories about the area's rich fishing heritage while making sure everyone gets their fair share of action.
Captain Hanson runs a well-equipped boat stocked with quality spinning gear perfect for inshore fishing. You'll primarily use live and cut bait - shrimp, crab, and mullet are the go-to options depending on what's biting. The technique varies with the target species and conditions. For redfish, you might find yourself sight-casting to cruising fish in shallow water or bottom fishing around oyster reefs. Speckled trout often respond well to live shrimp under popping corks, especially around grass beds and channel edges. When targeting black drum and sheepshead, expect to fish structure with heavier tackle and cut crab or shrimp. The captain handles all the rigging and re-baiting, so kids and beginners can focus on the fun part - fighting fish. He's also great at adjusting techniques on the fly, switching from bottom rigs to float rigs or moving spots when the bite slows down.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard's marshes hold some of the healthiest populations on the Gulf Coast. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 20-30 inches in these waters, with occasional bull reds pushing 40+ inches. They're most active during moving tides and love to feed around oyster bars, marsh edges, and shallow flats. What makes redfish so exciting is their aggressive strike and powerful runs - they'll peel drag and make kids squeal with excitement. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action, but Captain Hanson finds them year-round by adjusting his approach to seasonal patterns.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are another customer favorite that provides steady action throughout the trip. These beautiful fish average 14-18 inches in St. Bernard's waters, with trophy specks over 20 inches showing up regularly. They school heavily around grass beds and drop-offs, especially during cooler months. Specks have a delicate bite that teaches young anglers to pay attention to their rod tip, and their acrobatic jumps make for great photo opportunities. The best trout fishing typically happens during spring and fall, but summer and winter patterns keep them catchable for experienced guides who know where to look.
Black drum might not be the prettiest fish in the marsh, but they're absolute bulldogs that will test your drag system. These bottom-dwellers can range from schoolie-sized 2-3 pounders up to massive 30+ pound specimens that local anglers call "big uglies." They congregate around structure - bridge pilings, oyster reefs, and channel edges where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Black drum provide excellent action for beginners because they bite aggressively and fight hard without jumping, making them easier to land. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring when they school up in deeper water.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch, earning their nickname "convict fish" from their black and white stripes and their reputation for stealing bait. These structure-loving fish require finesse and quick reflexes - they're notorious for picking baits clean without getting hooked. When you do connect with a good sheepshead, you're in for a surprise. They're incredibly strong for their size and make excellent table fare. Captain Hanson's experience really shines when targeting sheepshead around bridge pilings and oyster reefs, where he knows exactly how to present baits and when to set the hook.
This full-day family charter combines the best of Louisiana's coastal fishing with the kind of personalized service that keeps customers coming back year after year. Captain Hanson's patient teaching style, combined with his intimate knowledge of St. Bernard's waters, creates the perfect environment for making lasting memories with your family or small group. Whether you're introducing kids to fishing or looking for a relaxed day targeting multiple species, this trip delivers consistent action in some of the most scenic waters on the Gulf Coast. The 8-hour format gives you plenty of time to try different techniques, explore various spots, and really get a feel for what makes Louisiana inshore fishing so special. Don't wait - the best dates fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons when the fish are most active.
This 2019 Charles Leonard 26-ft center console bay boat is built for serious fishing in St. Bernard's marshes and bayous. The 250HP Suzuki 4-stroke engine gets you to the fishing spots quickly while staying fuel efficient for those long 8-hour trips. What makes this boat perfect for family fishing is the wireless trolling motor - it keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on redfish and drum in shallow water. The GPS navigation system helps Captain Hanson hit his favorite honey holes, while the fish finder shows exactly where the speckled trout and sheepshead are hanging out. The center console design gives everyone plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. With space for up to four anglers, kids have room to learn while adults can fish comfortably. The boat handles Louisiana's coastal waters beautifully, from protected bayous to open marsh areas where the big drum like to feed.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our marshes, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some bulls pushing 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love our shallow muddy flats and oyster beds, using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. What makes them special is the fight they put up in shallow water, plus the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with mild, flaky meat. My go-to trick is using fresh peeler crab on a Carolina rig and keeping your bait right on the bottom - they won't come up for it. The bigger fish are catch-and-release trophies, but landing a 20-pound drum in 3 feet of water will test your drag system for sure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of our shallow water fishing, running 18-35 inches with that classic copper-bronze color and black eyespot near the tail. They love cruising our mud flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs are out of the water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall is prime when they school up in big numbers. What guests love most is sight fishing to them in skinny water and that bulldogging fight they put up. Plus, the slot-sized fish (16-27 inches) are outstanding table fare with mild, sweet meat. The secret is watching for their wakes and tails in shallow areas, then making quiet casts ahead of their path with gold spoons or soft plastics. Keep your approach stealthy - they spook easy in that shallow water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our bread-and-butter fish in these Louisiana marshes. Most run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, though we see some 5+ pound gator trout that'll surprise you. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water. Cool mornings and evenings are prime time, especially fall through spring when the water temps drop. What makes them popular is they're willing biters, great on light tackle, and some of the best eating fish we have - soft white meat that's perfect fried or blackened. The trick with specks is working topwater plugs early morning over grass beds, then switching to soft plastics under a popping cork as the sun gets up. They're structure-oriented, so find the grass lines, drop-offs, or shell beds and you'll find fish.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of our waters with those distinctive black stripes and human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds around here, but we see 15+ pounders fairly regular around the good structure. They live around any kind of cover - bridge pilings, oil rigs, oyster reefs, docks - basically anywhere barnacles grow. Spring through fall are your best bets, especially around the spawn in early spring. What guests love is they're fantastic eating with sweet, white meat, plus they're notorious bait thieves that keep things interesting. These fish will nibble and steal your bait all day if you're not ready. The key is getting your bait tight to the structure and setting the hook hard the moment you feel weight - they've got those crushing jaws and will spit the hook fast if you hesitate.
St Bernard