4-Person Full Day Louisiana Redfish Charter
Louisiana's coastal marshes offer some of the finest inshore fishing in the Gulf South, and this full-day charter puts you right in the heart of the action. Captain Chad St. Pe brings decades of local knowledge to every trip, guiding up to four anglers through the maze of bayous, grass flats, and shallow-water structure where redfish, speckled trout, and sheepshead thrive year-round. This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip – it's a serious day on the water designed for groups who want to experience Louisiana's legendary inshore fishery at its best.
What to Expect on the Water
Your seven-hour adventure starts early, giving you prime time during the most productive fishing hours. Captain Chad knows these marshes like the back of his hand, moving between oyster reefs, grass beds, and channel edges based on tide, weather, and seasonal patterns. The boat comes fully rigged with professional-grade rods, reels, and tackle matched to Louisiana's inshore conditions – from light spinning gear for trout to stouter setups for bull reds. You'll fish everything from shallow flats where redfish tail in two feet of water to deeper structure where black drum and sheepshead hold tight to cover. The beauty of Louisiana inshore fishing is the variety – one cast might bring a speckled trout while the next hooks into a shoulder-busting redfish.
Techniques and Tackle
Louisiana inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. Captain Chad employs a mix of techniques throughout the day, from sight-fishing tailing reds on shallow flats to bottom fishing around oyster reefs and oil platform structure. Live bait like shrimp, crabs, and pogies often produce the biggest fish, while artificial lures excel when fish are actively feeding. The provided tackle includes everything from popping corks and soft plastics for trout to heavy jigs for sheepshead around structure. During different times of year, you might find yourself casting topwater plugs at dawn, drifting live shrimp under corks during midday, or working jigs through deep holes as afternoon shadows lengthen. The key is staying mobile and following the bite as conditions change throughout the day.
Customer Stories
"We had a great time on the water with Captain Chad. He was friendly, extremely helpful and a pleasure to be with. We will definitely be back. He represents the best qualities of a professional Louisiana fishing guide." - Curran. "Really enjoyed our trip with Capt Chad.. He was great with my 10 year old son. I have been fishing Hopedale all my life and definitely recommend Capt Chad!" - Wayne. "Captain Chad is a 10. He worked at putting us on exactly what we wanted when fishing. He is personal and friendly, but gets the job done as a professional. Use him for all your Louisiana fishing needs as you won't have a better time with anyone else!!!" - Jerry.
Target Species Breakdown
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers are available year-round in the coastal marshes. Bull reds can push 30-40 inches and provide drag-screaming runs that'll test your equipment and skills. Spring and fall offer the best action when schools of slot-sized reds (16-27 inches) cruise the flats in aggressive feeding modes. What makes redfish so exciting is their versatility – they'll hit everything from topwater plugs to live crabs, and seeing a big red's back fin cutting through shallow water never gets old. The key to consistent redfish success is understanding their seasonal movements between deeper winter holes and shallow summer feeding areas.
Speckled trout, or "specks" as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing. These spotted beauties average 14-18 inches but can stretch to 25 inches or more during prime seasons. Fall and spring produce the most consistent action when specks school up around grass beds and shell reefs. They're aggressive feeders that respond well to soft plastics, live shrimp, and topwater lures during low-light periods. Speckled trout are perfect for anglers who enjoy technical fishing – they can be finicky about presentation but reward patience with steady action throughout the day.
Sheepshead are the marsh's heavyweight champions, with their powerful jaws and stubborn fighting style making them a favorite among serious anglers. These black-and-white striped fish average 3-5 pounds but can exceed 8 pounds around Louisiana's abundant oyster reefs and oil platform structure. Winter months from December through March offer peak sheepshead action when they school up for spawning. What makes sheepshead fishing so addictive is the challenge – they're notorious bait stealers with incredible jaw strength, requiring sharp hooks and quick reflexes to hook and land consistently.
Black drum provide the muscle of Louisiana inshore fishing, with mature fish commonly reaching 20-40 pounds in the coastal marshes. These bottom-dwelling powerhouses love oyster reefs, mud flats, and deeper holes where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Spring months offer exceptional black drum fishing as they move into shallow water for spawning. Their fighting style is pure bulldogging power – once hooked, a big drum will use its broad body and strong tail to test every component of your tackle setup.
Flounder complete the Louisiana inshore slam and provide some of the best eating in the marsh. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush passing prey. Fall months bring the best flounder action as they migrate toward deeper water, but quality fish are caught year-round around channel edges and grass bed transitions. Flounder fishing requires patience and attention to detail – their subtle strikes can be easy to miss, but once you dial in the technique, they provide consistent action and excellent table fare.
Time to Book Your Spot
This worl