Weekend Inshore Fishing Charter in Louisiana
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore charter targeting redfish and black drumProfessional tackle and live bait provided by experienced captainAccommodates up to four anglers with instruction included
Looking for a top-rated weekend fishing trip that'll put you on Louisiana's best inshore action? This 8-hour charter with Fishtales Guide Service takes you through the legendary waters from Golden Meadow to Grand Isle, where redfish, black drum, and speckled trout are waiting. Perfect for up to 4 anglers, whether you're a weekend warrior or seasoned pro, this trip delivers consistent action with professional guidance every cast of the way.
Your day starts early with your experienced captain who knows these Louisiana marshes like the back of their hand. We're talking about waters that have been producing fish for generations, and your guide will put you on the best spots based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. The boat comes loaded with high-quality Daiwa tackle perfectly suited for jigging and popping techniques that work magic in these waters. Live bait is professionally prepared and ready to go, but if you're a fly fishing enthusiast, bring your own gear and we'll find you some perfect sight-fishing opportunities in the shallows. This isn't just a boat ride – it's a full day of fishing education where you'll learn techniques that'll make you a better angler long after you head home.
The beauty of inshore fishing in South Louisiana lies in the variety of techniques that work year-round. Your captain will have you working soft plastics on jig heads around structure, popping topwater baits over shallow grass beds, and maybe even sight-casting to cruising redfish in crystal clear water. The Daiwa rods and reels are matched perfectly for these techniques – sensitive enough to feel that subtle trout bite, but with enough backbone to horse a bull redfish away from oyster shells. Live bait fishing is equally productive here, especially when working deeper channels and drop-offs where the bigger fish hang out. Your guide will teach you how to read the water, identify productive structure, and adjust your presentation based on conditions. These are skills that separate successful anglers from the rest, and you'll pick them up naturally throughout the day.
Southern Flounder are the masters of disguise in these Louisiana waters, lying perfectly camouflaged on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish. These flatfish are most active during moving tides, especially around structure changes like channel edges and grass lines. Fall months from September through November offer the best flounder action as they fatten up for their offshore spawning run. What makes flounder so exciting to catch is their aggressive strike – when they decide to eat, they mean business. Plus, they're absolutely delicious on the dinner table, making them a customer favorite for anglers who love to bring home a meal.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the inshore world, and Louisiana's waters hold some true giants. These fish are bottom feeders with incredible pulling power, often mistaken for redfish until they get close to the boat and show their distinctive barbels. Spring months bring the best black drum fishing as they move into shallow waters to spawn, with fish ranging from 5-pound "puppy" drum to monsters pushing 40 pounds or more. They're suckers for fresh shrimp and blue crab, and once hooked, they'll test your drag system and your arms. Black drum are perfect for anglers who want to feel that deep, steady pull that makes your rod double over.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing. These beautiful fish are structure-oriented, hanging around oyster reefs, grass beds, and drop-offs where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, though you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What makes specks so appealing is their willingness to bite artificial lures – they'll hammer a properly worked soft plastic or topwater bait with authority. They're also excellent table fare, with sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for a fish fry.
Redfish are Louisiana's signature species and the reason many anglers make the trip to these waters. These copper-colored fighters are aggressive, beautiful, and incredibly fun to catch. They're year-round residents in these marshes, though fall months offer the best action as they school up in massive numbers. Redfish will eat just about anything – live shrimp, cut bait, soft plastics, topwater plugs, and fly patterns all produce. What makes reds so special is their versatility – you might catch them in 6 inches of water or 20 feet deep, around structure or cruising open flats. When hooked, they make blistering runs and fight dirty, using their broad tails and thick bodies to test your tackle. Many anglers consider Louisiana redfish the finest inshore game fish in the Gulf.
This world-class inshore fishing experience delivers everything serious anglers want in a Louisiana charter – professional guidance, quality tackle, productive waters, and fish that'll bend your rod and test your skills. With Fishtales Guide Service, you're not just booking a fishing trip, you're investing in a day that'll make you a better angler while creating memories that'll last long after the fish pics fade. The boat only holds 4 anglers, so spots fill up fast, especially during prime season. Don't wait – book your weekend inshore adventure today and see why Louisiana's Golden Meadow to Grand Isle corridor is considered some of the best inshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Blue Wave is your ticket to Louisiana's prime inshore waters, built in 2021 specifically for serious fishing. This bay boat packs a serious punch with its 400HP Mercury engine, cutting through the marsh channels and open water between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle at speeds up to 55 knots. When you need to get on the fish fast, this boat delivers. Once you reach the fishing grounds, the wireless trolling motor takes over for silent positioning around spooky redfish and black drum. The onboard GPS keeps you locked onto productive spots, while the fish finder reveals what's swimming below. Whether you're working grass flats for reds or targeting deeper structure for drum, this 4-person setup gives everyone room to fish comfortably without tangling lines. The boat handles Louisiana's shallow marsh perfectly, getting you into backwater spots where the big fish hide. When the tide's moving and fish are feeding, you'll appreciate having a captain who knows these waters and a boat built for the task.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 50+. These powerful fish cruise oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow channels using their strong jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. What guests love is their bulldogging fight - they'll test your drag and arms. Smaller drum under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, white meat, while the big ones are better released. They're bottom feeders, so fresh crab or shrimp works best. Here's my go-to tip: when you're over oyster beds, listen for their distinctive drumming sounds underwater - that's how you know you're in the right spot. Use enough weight to keep your bait on bottom in the current.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, known for their bronze backs and signature black spots near the tail. These copper-colored fighters range from schooling rats around 16-20 inches to bull reds pushing 30+ pounds. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges in water so skinny their backs show. They feed year-round here, but fall brings the best action as they school up. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and that distinctive spot that fools predators into attacking the wrong end. Smaller ones are fantastic eating - firm, mildly sweet meat. My local secret: look for nervous water or wakes in shallow areas, especially around oyster bars during incoming tides. Cast ahead of cruising fish and let your bait settle - they spook easily in skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most reliable inshore targets, running 14-24 inches with beautiful silver sides covered in black spots. These grass flat specialists love shallow water around structure - oyster bars, drop-offs, and channels near marshes. Best fishing happens during moving tides, especially dawn and dusk. Spring through fall produces consistent action, with winter schooling offering some of our biggest fish in deeper holes. What makes them popular is their willingness to bite artificials and their sweet, delicate meat that's perfect fried or grilled. They're aggressive fighters that'll make several runs. Local tip: work soft plastics under a popping cork over grass beds. The cork draws them in, and when it goes under, set the hook immediately - trout have soft mouths that tear easily if you wait too long.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are masters of disguise that bury themselves in sandy and muddy bottoms, waiting to ambush prey. These flatfish run 15-18 inches typically, with both eyes on their left side and distinctive spotted patterns. You'll find them in our shallow bays, marshes, and nearshore waters year-round, though fall and winter offer the best action when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. What makes them special is their incredible camouflage ability and excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They put up a solid fight once hooked. My local trick: drift slowly over mud flats with live shrimp on a light jig head, letting it bounce bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, give them a second to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
South Louisiana