Beginner Angler Inshore Fishing Charter in Louisiana
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing charter targeting redfish and black drumExpert captain provides instruction, tackle, and live bait includedBeginnerfriendly experience accommodating up to four guests
Looking for a solid introduction to Louisiana's world-class inshore fishing scene? This 8-hour charter with Fishtales Guide Service covers all the prime water from Golden Meadow down to Grand Isle, giving you a real taste of what makes South Louisiana fishing so legendary. Whether you've never held a rod or just want to learn the local tricks, this trip sets you up with everything you need to start catching fish right away.
Your captain knows these marshes, bayous, and nearshore waters like the back of their hand, and they're genuinely excited to share that knowledge with newcomers. You'll spend the day moving between productive spots, learning to read the water and understand why fish hold in certain areas. The boat comes rigged with top-rated Daiwa tackle that's perfect for the species you'll be targeting, plus professionally prepared live bait that's proven to get bites. If you're into fly fishing, feel free to bring your own gear – there's nothing quite like watching a redfish crush a fly in shallow water. With space for up to 4 anglers, you get plenty of personal attention without feeling crowded. The pace stays relaxed but productive, with your guide adjusting techniques based on what's working and what the fish are telling you.
South Louisiana inshore fishing is all about versatility, and your guide will walk you through the different approaches that work best in these waters. You'll likely start with live bait under popping corks – a customer favorite technique that's perfect for beginners and deadly effective on trout and redfish. The Daiwa spinning gear is forgiving enough for new anglers but sensitive enough to feel every bump and bite. Depending on conditions, you might work soft plastics around structure, drift live shrimp over grass flats, or even sight-fish in the shallows when the water's clear. Your captain handles all the rigging and re-baiting, so you can focus on learning to cast, work your bait, and fight fish properly. The live bait program here is seriously dialed in – fresh shrimp, croakers, and pogies that are prepped to stay lively and attractive all day long.
The variety of fish you can encounter in these waters keeps every cast interesting. Southern Flounder are the ultimate ambush predators, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting for an easy meal. These flatfish can reach impressive sizes, especially during their fall migration toward deeper water, and they put up a surprisingly strong fight for their body shape. What makes them special is how they completely disappear against the bottom – you'll swear there's nothing there until one explodes off the sand to grab your bait. Black Drum are the heavyweight champions of the inshore scene, with mature fish often topping 30 pounds and providing the kind of drag-screaming runs that test your tackle and technique. They're year-round residents that love oyster reefs and structure, using their powerful pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish. The thrill comes from never knowing if that gentle tap is a small drum or a monster that's about to strip line off your reel. Sea Trout are probably the most cooperative fish you'll encounter, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes and channels. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spotted flanks and soft mouths are perfect for beginners – they bite readily, fight cleanly, and make excellent table fare. The key is learning to handle their delicate mouths and using the right drag settings. Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, known for their bronze backs, distinctive black spots, and absolutely bulldoggish fighting style. These fish are curious and aggressive, often found in shallow water where you can watch them hunt and react to your presentation. Bull reds over 27 inches provide some of the best fights you'll find in shallow water, while the slot-sized fish make for premium eating.
This charter delivers exactly what beginning anglers need most – patient instruction, proven techniques, and access to some of the most productive inshore waters in the country. You'll leave understanding not just how to catch fish, but why certain approaches work in specific conditions. The combination of expert guidance, quality tackle, and prime fishing locations gives you the best possible shot at success, whether you measure that in fish caught, techniques learned, or just plain fun on the water. Don't wait too long to secure your date – these beginner-friendly trips book up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is hot and the weather's cooperating.
Meet The Blue Wave, your ticket to Louisiana's productive inshore waters. This 2021 Bay boat packs serious power with a 400HP Mercury engine that'll get you from Golden Meadow to Grand Isle's prime fishing spots at a smooth 55-knot cruise. Built for serious angling, she's loaded with the gear that matters – a wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches when redfish are spooky, GPS to mark your honey holes, and a quality fish finder to locate those black drum schools. Whether you're learning to read the water or perfecting your technique, this boat handles Louisiana's shallow bays and nearshore runs with ease. Room for up to 4 anglers means you and your crew can spread out and fish comfortably while your captain works the best spots from sunrise to sunset.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, regularly hitting 15-30 pounds with some bruisers pushing 50-plus. These powerful fish have crushing jaws built for oysters and crabs, making them serious fighters when hooked. You'll find them around oyster reefs, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 2-15 feet of water. Spring spawning season is money time - they school up and you can hear them drumming underwater. What guests love is the hard pull and head-shaking fight these fish deliver. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating, but the big ones get tough. My go-to trick is using fresh peeler crab on a Carolina rig - the scent drives them crazy and crab stays on the hook better than shrimp when other fish are around.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature species and the fish that put our waters on the map. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20-30 inches inshore, known for that distinctive black spot near their tail. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall is peak time when they school up in big numbers. What hooks guests is watching them cruise the shallows and that bulldogging fight when you hook up. They're also excellent table fare with firm, mild meat. The local secret is sight fishing with gold spoons or topwater plugs early morning when they're tailing in skinny water. Keep noise down and make long casts - they spook easy in shallow spots.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing. These spotted beauties average 14-18 inches and put up a scrappy fight on light tackle. They love grass flats, shell beds, and drop-offs in 3-8 feet of water, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Best fishing happens in spring and fall when water temps are comfortable, plus they bite well at night under lights. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're some of the best eating fish in the marsh - white, flaky meat with mild flavor. The trick is to fish moving water around structure changes. I like to work a soft plastic shrimp or spoon through the grass beds, keeping it just above the bottom where they're waiting to strike.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to ambush prey. They typically run 15-18 inches and around 5 pounds, with both eyes on their left side giving them that distinctive look. You'll find them in our shallow bays, estuaries, and marsh edges where they hunt shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they're moving toward deeper water to spawn. What makes them special is the challenge of spotting them on bottom structure and their excellent table fare - sweet, flaky meat that's hard to beat. The key trick here is to fish slow with live shrimp or mullet on a light jig head, keeping your bait right on the bottom where they're waiting.
South Louisiana