Louisiana Fishing Lodge: 3-Day Private Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Three-day inshore fishing adventure aboard renovated tugboat lodgeAll meals, beverages, gear, and expert guidance includedAccommodates four guests with full amenities and party deck
Picture this: you and three buddies pulling up to our converted tugboat lodge, ready to fish Louisiana's legendary inshore waters for three solid days. This isn't your typical charter boat deal – we're talking about a floating home base where you eat, sleep, and breathe fishing. Our renovated tugboat sits right in the heart of some of the best redfish and speckled trout waters you'll find anywhere along the Gulf Coast. With all meals covered, gear provided, and expert guidance every step of the way, you can focus on what matters most: putting fish in the boat.
Your home for four days and three nights is a completely renovated tugboat that's been transformed into a top-rated fishing lodge. We've got two bedrooms with three beds total, plus two full bathrooms so nobody's waiting in line. The galley stays stocked with everything you need, and the living area gives you space to swap stories between trips. But here's where it gets good – that upper-level party deck is perfect for watching the sunrise with coffee in hand, planning your morning strategy, or celebrating the day's catches with a cold one. The front and back deck areas give you plenty of room to work on tackle, clean fish, or just soak up the Louisiana sun. We're talking about accommodations for four to six guests depending on how you want to arrange the sleeping situation. Every single meal is covered – breakfast to fuel up, lunch on the water, and dinner to cap off each day. Plus, we provide all your rods, reels, bait, and tackle. Just bring your fishing license and get ready to work some serious fish.
Louisiana inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish are doing. We'll have you working everything from shallow grass flats to deeper channel edges, depending on the season and what's biting best. You'll be using medium-action spinning rods rigged with everything from live shrimp under popping corks to soft plastics worked along oyster beds. When the redfish are tailing in skinny water, we'll switch to lighter tackle and sight-cast with gold spoons or topwater plugs. For speckled trout, we'll focus on structure – working jigs around oil platforms, bridge pilings, and drop-offs where these fish love to ambush baitfish. The drum fishing gets really fun when we break out heavier gear and fresh cut bait, letting it soak near shell reefs and mud bottoms where these bruisers cruise for crabs and shrimp. Our guides know exactly which spots produce during different tides and weather conditions, so you're always fishing the most productive water available.
Black drum in Louisiana waters are absolute tanks, and they'll test every bit of your drag system. These fish can push 30-50 pounds easy, with some monsters going even bigger. They're bottom feeders that love crab and shrimp, so we'll have you fishing with fresh cut bait near oyster reefs and muddy bottoms. Spring through fall gives you the best shot at hooking into a real bruiser, and when you do, get ready for a long, grinding fight. What makes drum fishing so addictive is that stubborn, never-give-up attitude – they'll use every ounce of their weight to try wearing you down.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing, and for good reason. These fish are aggressive predators that'll crush everything from live shrimp to soft plastic jigs. They typically run 14-20 inches, with some real slabs pushing 25 inches or better. You'll find them around any kind of structure – oil rigs, bridge pilings, oyster beds, and grass lines. The best action happens during moving water, especially during those first few hours after sunrise and again before sunset. Trout fishing stays consistent from April through October, making them perfect targets for this seasonal lodge experience.
Redfish are what put Louisiana on the map for inshore fishing, and once you hook into one, you'll understand why. These copper-colored fighters typically range from 20-35 inches, with that magic 27-inch slot limit keeping populations healthy. Bull reds over the slot can really light up your reel, sometimes pushing 40+ inches. You'll find them everywhere – cruising shallow flats, working oyster beds, and hanging around marsh edges. Summer and early fall offer the most consistent action, with fish feeding aggressively to build up for winter. Reds are famous for that initial screaming run when hooked, followed by dogged determination that'll make your arms burn.
Crevalle jack might not win any beauty contests, but they'll absolutely smoke your drag and give you a workout you won't forget. These fish are pure muscle, typically running 15-25 pounds in our waters. They travel in schools and feed aggressively on baitfish, making them perfect targets when you want to feel some serious rod-bending action. Jack fishing peaks during the warmer months when they're most active in our inshore waters. Many anglers specifically target them just for the fight – they're relentless pullers that never seem to quit.
Red snapper add some serious table fare to your Louisiana fishing adventure, and they're aggressive biters when you find them around the right structure. These fish love oil platforms, reefs, and any hard bottom areas where they can ambush prey. Most Louisiana red snapper run 16-25 inches, with some real slabs going bigger. They're excellent eating and fun to catch, typically inhaling cut bait or live shrimp. The key is getting your bait down to them quickly before other fish intercept it. When red snapper season aligns with your trip dates, these fish become prime targets for filling the cooler.
This world-class fishing lodge experience runs exclusively from April 1st through October 31st, covering the absolute
Get ready to fish Louisiana's prime inshore waters aboard our restored 2017 Epic 26ft center console bay boat. This beauty handles up to 5 anglers and packs serious power with its Suzuki 300HP engine, cruising smooth at 35 knots to get you to the hottest fishing spots fast. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're stalking redfish and speckled trout in shallow water, while the fish finder helps locate those productive structures and bait schools. GPS navigation ensures you'll never lose track of that honey hole. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long days chasing fish. Whether you're casting into marsh grass for reds or drifting over oyster reefs for specks, this boat's shallow draft and stable platform make it perfect for Louisiana's diverse inshore fishery. Built for serious anglers who want comfort and performance.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the giants of Louisiana's inshore waters, typically running 15-30 pounds but capable of hitting 60+ pounds. These powerful fish love shallow flats, oyster beds, and muddy bottoms in 2-8 feet of water. They're bottom feeders with crusher jaws built for crabs and shellfish. Spring brings the best action 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're like hooking into a bulldozer that just won't quit. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My tip: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and be patient - these fish inspect their food before committing, so let them run with it before setting the hook.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the bullies of Louisiana waters, averaging 3-8 pounds but capable of reaching 20+ pounds of pure muscle. These brassy-colored fighters roam both inshore flats and offshore structure, often following baitfish schools. Look for diving birds - that's your best sign jacks are busting bait below. They're active year-round but peak during warmer months when baitfish are thick. What makes them special is the raw power - pound for pound, nothing fights harder. They're not great table fare, but the adrenaline rush is worth it. These fish love fast-moving lures like spoons, topwater plugs, and swimbaits. Here's the trick: when you find a feeding school, cast past them and retrieve as fast as possible. They can't resist the chase, and that aggressive retrieve triggers violent strikes.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the prize of Louisiana's offshore waters, typically weighing 3-8 pounds with trophy fish reaching 15+ pounds. These deep-dwelling beauties live around oil rigs, natural reefs, and hard bottom in 60-200 feet of water. The season runs June through July with strict regulations, making every fish special. What draws anglers is the combination of great eating - sweet, white meat that's restaurant quality - and their stubborn fight straight down to structure. They're bottom huggers that'll test your drag and try to cut you off. Live or fresh-dead bait works best: cigar minnows, squid, or live pinfish. The key is getting your bait to the bottom quickly before other fish grab it. My advice: use a knocker rig with 6/0 circle hooks and keep steady pressure - these fish will run straight back to cover if you give them slack.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature catch, running 20-35 inches with that famous black spot near the tail. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with backs exposed - around marsh edges, oyster reefs, and grass flats. These copper-colored fighters are year-round residents, but fall brings the best action when they school up in big numbers. Guests love them because they eat almost anything, fight like crazy, and the slot-size fish make outstanding table fare with sweet, firm meat. They'll hit topwater plugs, spoons, soft plastics, and live bait equally well. The visual aspect is amazing - you'll often see them tailing in skinny water. Pro tip: when you spot a school, cast beyond them and work your lure past their path. Make noise with topwater baits early morning for explosive strikes.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are Louisiana's most popular inshore species, averaging 14-18 inches with some reaching 5+ pounds. They prefer grass flats, bayou mouths, and shallow structures in 2-6 feet of water. These spotted beauties are most active during cooler months and low-light periods - dawn and dusk produce the hottest bites. What guests love is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their fantastic eating quality with tender, white meat. They're aggressive feeders that'll smash everything from live shrimp to gold spoons. The bite really heats up from October through March when water temps drop. Here's a local secret: work your lure just under the surface around shell beds during moving tides. When you see nervous water or small bait jumping, cast just beyond it and work back slowly.
Golden Meadow, LA