Sulphur Inshore Fishing: 7-Hour Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
7hour inshore charter targeting redfish, trout, and flounder24ft Nautic Star bay boat accommodates up to 3 guestsProfessional guide welcomes both novice and expert anglers
Looking for some solid inshore action in Louisiana waters? Tom's got you covered with a full-day charter that puts you right where the fish are biting. We're talking about 7 hours on the water in a reliable 24ft Nautic Star Bay Boat, hitting all the prime spots around Sulphur where redfish, speckled trout, and other inshore favorites love to hang out. Whether you've been fishing these waters for years or you're just getting your feet wet, this trip delivers the goods every time.
Your day starts early when you meet Tom at the launch. The 24ft Nautic Star is built for Louisiana's inshore waters - shallow draft, stable platform, and plenty of room for up to 3 anglers to work comfortably. Tom knows these marshes, bayous, and coastal flats like the back of his hand, and he's not shy about sharing what's working and what's not. The boat's rigged with everything you need: quality rods, reels, tackle, and a live well to keep your catch fresh. Tom provides all the gear, but if you've got a lucky rod or favorite reel, bring it along. The areas around Sulphur offer incredible variety - one minute you're working oyster beds for sheepshead, the next you're sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water. Expect to move around and fish different structures throughout the day, from grass flats to shell bars to deeper channels where the big speckled trout like to cruise.
Tom runs a versatile operation that adapts to conditions and what the fish are doing. Some days it's all about live bait - croaker, shrimp, or finger mullet fished around structure. Other days, the bite is hot on artificial lures like soft plastics, spoons, or topwater plugs. The shallow draft of the Nautic Star lets you get into places bigger boats can't reach, which is where the magic happens in Louisiana inshore fishing. You'll learn to read the water - how to spot nervous bait, recognize fishy-looking cuts and points, and understand how tide and wind affect where fish position themselves. Tom's not just putting you on fish; he's teaching you the why behind it all. The tackle is matched to what you're targeting - lighter setups for trout, heavier gear when big bull reds are in the area. Don't worry about bringing anything except your fishing license, sunscreen, and whatever food and drinks you want for the day.
Redfish are the backbone of Louisiana inshore fishing, and the waters around Sulphur hold some beauties. These copper-colored fighters range from slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table to oversized bulls that'll test your drag and your arms. Reds feed aggressively in shallow water, especially around oyster beds and grass flats. Fall and spring offer the most consistent action, though summer can be outstanding early and late in the day. What makes redfish so exciting is their willingness to eat - they'll crush live bait, slam topwater plugs, and inhale soft plastics worked along the bottom.
Speckled trout are the other crown jewel of these waters. These spotted beauties are picky eaters that reward skilled anglers with some of the best-tasting fish in the Gulf. Specks love structure - shell beds, drop-offs, and grass edges where they can ambush baitfish. The bigger trout, what we call "gator trout," typically hold in deeper water and are most active during cooler months. Spring and fall produce the most consistent trout fishing, though summer dawn and dusk patterns can be phenomenal. There's something special about feeling that distinctive headshake when a nice speckled trout gets hooked.
Sheepshead might be the most challenging fish on this list, but they're worth every missed bite. These black and white striped convicts have crushing power in their jaws and feed primarily on crustaceans around hard structure. Oyster reefs, pilings, and rock piles are sheepshead magnets. They're most active in cooler water, making late fall through early spring prime time. The key is fresh bait - shrimp, fiddler crabs, or oysters - and lightning-fast hook sets. Many anglers get frustrated with sheepshead, but once you dial in their feeding habits, they're incredibly rewarding to catch and excellent eating.
Black drum are the gentle giants of the inshore world. These bottom-dwellers can range from smaller fish perfect for a fish fry to massive specimens that require serious tackle. Drum feed primarily on crabs and mollusks, using their pharyngeal teeth to crush shells. They're most active around structure in deeper water, though big schools sometimes move into shallow flats. Spring typically offers the best drum fishing as they move inshore to spawn. The fight of a big black drum is unlike anything else in inshore fishing - pure power and endurance that'll leave your arms burning.
Flounder round out the target species list as the ultimate ambush predator. These flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim by. Flounder love transition areas - where hard bottom meets soft, where channels cut through flats, or where current creates edges. They're most active when water temperatures are moderate, making spring and fall peak seasons. The strike of a flounder is often subtle, more like picking up weight than a hard bite, which makes them a great species for developing angling skills.
Seven hours with Tom on the water around Sulphur gives you the chance to experience some of Louisiana's best inshore fishing. The variety of species, the quality of the boat and equipment, and Tom's knowledge of these waters combine for a top-rated fishing experience that keeps anglers coming back. Whether you're looking to put dinner on the table, catch
Your ride for the day is a sturdy 24ft Nautic Star Bay Boat that's built to handle Louisiana's inshore waters with ease. This motorboat comes loaded with everything you need to track down redfish, speckled trout, sheephead, drum, and flounder in the marshes and shallows around Sulphur. The fish finder will help you spot schools holding in deeper pockets, while the GPS keeps you on course through the maze of channels and cuts. When you need to work those shallow flats quietly, the wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on feeding fish without spooking them with engine noise. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh and your drinks cold during the 7-hour adventure. With space for up to 3 anglers, there's plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or have been chasing reds for years, this boat puts you right where the fish are biting.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bruisers of our local waters - these powerful fish can range from 5-30 pounds, with some monsters hitting 90+ pounds. They're bottom feeders with crushing jaws built for shellfish and crabs. You'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structure where they use those strong pharyngeal teeth to crunch through shells. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. What makes them special is that drumming sound they make - you can actually hear schools of them underwater. They fight hard and steady, perfect for novice anglers who want to feel a real fish on the line. Pro tip: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom near oyster beds - the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing - these copper-colored beauties with the signature black spots near their tails are what most folks dream about catching. They typically run 20-35 inches and can push 20-40 pounds, with some true giants over 50 pounds lurking in deeper water. You'll find them cruising super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs out of water, around oyster beds, grass flats, and marshy shorelines. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. What guests love is their powerful runs and bulldogging fights - they'll strip line and test your drag. The meat on smaller reds is excellent with a mild, sweet flavor. They're not picky eaters and will hit live shrimp, crabs, or artificials like topwater plugs and soft plastics. Pro tip: look for nervous water and tailing fish in skinny water - cast ahead of cruising reds and let them come to your bait.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing - these beautiful spotted fish typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds in our local waters. They love grass flats and shallow areas, especially during low light conditions at dawn and dusk. Summer and fall are prime seasons when they're most active in the shallows. What makes them popular with guests is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificial lures, plus they're great fighters for their size. The delicate, white meat is fantastic eating, but you've got to be careful not to overcook it. They feed heavily on shrimp, small crabs, and baitfish around grass beds and drop-offs. During winter months, they school up in deeper channels. My go-to tip: work topwater plugs early morning over grass flats, or try a shrimp-tipped jig bounced along the bottom near structure changes - they can't resist it.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our waters with those distinctive black and gray stripes running down their sides. What really sets them apart are those human-like teeth - they're built for crushing barnacles and crabs off pilings. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, but we see some 20-pounders around deeper structures. They hang tight to any structure - docks, bridges, oil rigs, anywhere with barnacle-covered pilings. Spring months from February through April are peak season when they spawn in large groups. Guests love the challenge because they're notorious bait thieves with light bites, but once hooked, they put up a solid fight. The white, flaky meat is some of the best eating around. Here's the key: get your bait as close to structure as possible and set the hook hard the moment you feel them nibbling - they'll steal your bait every time if you hesitate.
Lafayette