Louisiana Trophy Red Fishing Lodge Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Threeday trophy red fishing aboard converted tugboat lodgeAll meals, gear, and expert guidance included in packageSeasonal availability April through October for small groups
Picture this: three full days of world-class inshore fishing aboard our custom tugboat lodge, floating right where the reds are schooling up. This isn't your typical day trip – you're living on the water, waking up to the sound of fish jumping, and falling asleep after a day of bent rods and drag screaming. Our converted tugboat gives you the full Louisiana marsh experience with all the comfort you need. Two private bedrooms, three beds total, couple bathrooms, full galley for cooking your catch, and deck space where you can cast a line anytime you want. The upper party deck is perfect for watching the sunset with a cold one after pulling in trophy fish all day.
Your adventure kicks off at 8 AM sharp, but honestly, you'll probably be up earlier watching the marsh come alive. We're talking about three solid days of guided fishing in some of Louisiana's most productive inshore waters. The beauty of staying on the lodge is we can move with the fish – if the reds are working the grass lines two miles south, that's where we'll be floating come morning. Everything's included in your package: all meals from breakfast to dinner, beverages to keep you hydrated, top-shelf rods and reels, fresh bait, and tackle boxes stocked with everything from popping corks to spoons. You just need to bring your Louisiana fishing license and be ready to get your hands dirty. The deposit is non-refundable, but trust me, you won't want to cancel once you see what we're working with out here.
We fish these Louisiana marshes the way they're meant to be fished – light tackle, live bait, and reading the water like a book. Depending on conditions, we'll be throwing everything from live shrimp under popping corks to working topwater plugs over shallow grass beds. The lodge sits in prime territory where you can sight cast to tailing reds in two feet of water or work deeper channels for monster black drum. Our tackle selection covers all bases: spinning reels spooled with 20-pound braid for the thick stuff, lighter setups for finicky trout, and heavier gear when we're targeting bull reds that'll test your drag system. The guides know exactly when to switch techniques – morning topwater bite, midday live bait in the shade, evening spoon fishing as the sun drops. You'll learn why Louisiana anglers swear by certain presentations and how to read bird activity, water color changes, and tide movements that signal feeding fish.
Redfish are the stars of this show, and Louisiana's got some of the best red fishing on the planet. These copper-colored bruisers love our shallow marshes and grass beds, especially during the warmer months from April through October when our trips run. You'll find them tailing in skinny water, crushing topwater baits, or schooling up in deeper cuts. Bull reds over 30 inches will give you a fight you won't forget – they'll take you into the backing and test every knot you tied. The slot-size reds between 16 and 27 inches are perfect for the dinner table and put up just as good a fight pound for pound.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the marsh, often pushing 40-50 pounds and looking like underwater bulldozers. They love crushing crabs and cut bait around structure, and once you hook one, it's a tug-of-war that'll leave your arms burning. These fish are bottom huggers that use their weight and the current to their advantage. Peak season runs May through September when they're most active in the warmer water.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as we call them down here, are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing. They're aggressive feeders that'll hit live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater plugs with equal enthusiasm. The bigger specks – anything over 20 inches – are getting harder to find, making them a real prize when you connect. They love grass beds, drop-offs, and anywhere baitfish are schooling.
Crevalle jack are the muscle cars of the marsh – pure power and aggression wrapped in a silver torpedo. They'll blow up on topwater baits and fight like fish twice their size, making screaming runs that'll have you questioning your drag settings. They show up in schools during summer months, turning calm water into washing machines when they're feeding.
Red snapper round out our target list when we venture to deeper structure. These bottom dwellers are prized for their sweet, firm meat and their ability to test your tackle with short, powerful runs. The season is strictly regulated, but when it's open, there's nothing better than fresh snapper fillets cooked right in the lodge galley.
This top-rated Louisiana fishing lodge experience books up fast, especially during peak red fishing season. Three days and four nights of all-inclusive fishing, meals, and accommodations on our custom tugboat lodge – it's the kind of trip that creates fishing stories you'll tell for years. The seasonal availability from April 1st through October 31st means you're fishing during prime time when the water's warm and the fish are most active. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just need to disconnect and chase some trophy fish, this customer favorite experience delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for. Book your spot now with Cajun Queen Fishing Adventures and get ready for some of the best inshore fishing Louisiana has to offer.
Your floating home base for this Louisiana trophy red fishing adventure is our restored 2017 Epic 26 ft center console bay boat. This reliable vessel handles up to 5 anglers comfortably and gets you to the prime fishing spots with its powerful Suzuki 300HP engine that cruises smoothly at 35 knots. The boat's built for serious fishing with a fish finder to locate those trophy reds lurking in the shallows and a GPS system for navigating Louisiana's intricate waterways. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox while the wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly through the marsh without spooking fish. Perfect for working the inshore waters where those big redfish feed, this boat puts you right where the action is during your 3-day fishing lodge stay.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Louisiana's marshes, typically running 5-30 pounds but can push 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love shallow muddy flats and oyster beds where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring spawning season from April through June gives you the best shot when they school up in brackish waters. They're incredible fighters that'll test your drag, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm white meat. Here's a local trick: use fresh peeler crab on the bottom and be patient - these fish are spooky in shallow water, so keep noise to a minimum and let them come to you.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the ocean bullies you'll love to tangle with, typically 3-5 pounds but capable of hitting 20+ pounds. These brassy, muscular fish roam both shallow flats and deeper water around structure, often following baitfish schools. Look for diving birds - that's your best sign they're pushing bait to the surface. They're year-round fighters in Louisiana waters, but summer brings the hottest action. Guests get hooked on their raw power and never-quit attitude once they feel that initial run. They're not great table fare, but the fight more than makes up for it. Here's the key: cast past the school and retrieve fast - they love the chase and aggressive movement triggers strikes.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed Snapper are the prized trophy of Louisiana's offshore waters, averaging 2-10 pounds but growing to 35+ pounds. These deep red beauties live around hard bottom, oil rigs, and natural reefs in 30-200 feet of water. Our best season runs May through October when they're spawning and most active. Guests target them for two reasons: they're tough fighters that'll try to cut your line on structure, and they're hands down one of the best eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, firm white meat. During our trips, we fish live bait or fresh cut squid right on the bottom. My advice: once you hook one, get them up fast - they'll dive straight back to the structure and break you off every time.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature species, running 20-40 inches and fighting like bulldogs. You'll spot them by those distinctive black spots near their copper-colored tails, cruising super shallow flats where their backs almost break the surface. They love muddy bottoms around oyster reefs, grass beds, and marsh edges in 1-4 feet of water. Spring through fall offers prime fishing when they're most active feeding. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike and the way they'll peel drag on long runs. Plus, they're outstanding eating with mild, sweet meat. My go-to trick: look for nervous water and wakes - when you see their backs or tails, cast well ahead of them and work your lure back slowly.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing, averaging 1-5 pounds with that classic spotted silver body. They hang around grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water, especially near structure like oyster reefs. Best fishing happens during our cooler months from fall through early spring when they're most active. Guests love them because they're scrappy fighters, great on light tackle, and absolutely delicious with tender, flaky white meat. In winter, they school up in deeper holes and channels. Pro tip: work your soft plastics slow along the grass lines early morning or late evening - that's when they're feeding most aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish.
Golden Meadow, LA