Full Day Beginner-Friendly Fishing In Slidell
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day inshore fishing for redfish and speckled troutBeginner-friendly with all gear and guidance provided by Captain FrankSmall group experience with maximum two guests per trip
Captain Frank knows exactly what it takes to turn first-time anglers into confident fishermen. This full-day trip launches from The Pointe Marina in Slidell and puts you right in the heart of Louisiana's best inshore action. You'll spend your day cruising Lake Pontchartrain and working the productive marshes where redfish cruise the shallows and speckled trout hunt baitfish. With all gear provided and hands-on instruction every step of the way, this top-rated charter makes it easy for beginners to experience the rush of hooking their first Louisiana slam.
Your day starts early at The Pointe Marina, where Captain Frank will have everything rigged and ready to go. You'll head out on Lake Pontchartrain's vast waters before working into the maze of marshes that make this area a renowned fishing destination. The boat holds up to two guests, so you get personalized attention whether you're learning to cast a spinning reel or trying to figure out how to set the hook. Captain Frank provides all rods, reels, tackle, and bait – you just need to bring yourself and maybe some snacks for the day. The pace is relaxed but productive, with plenty of time to learn proper techniques while still putting fish in the boat. These marshes offer protection from rough water, making it comfortable for anyone who might be worried about seasickness.
You'll be fishing with light tackle spinning gear that's perfect for beginners – no complicated reels or heavy equipment to wrestle with. Captain Frank will show you how to work soft plastics under popping corks, one of the most effective and beginner-friendly techniques in Louisiana waters. You'll learn to read the water, looking for signs like diving birds, nervous baitfish, or the telltale bronze flash of a redfish's back. The shallow marshes mean you'll often sight-fish, watching redfish cruise through knee-deep water before making your cast. For speckled trout, you'll work slightly deeper areas with live shrimp under corks or learn to bounce jigs along grass beds. The captain will handle the boat positioning and give you step-by-step guidance on everything from casting to fighting fish. By the end of the day, you'll understand why Louisiana's inshore fishing is considered world-class.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and these copper-colored fighters put up battles that'll have your drag screaming. They school up in the marshes year-round, but fall brings the best action when cooler water temperatures make them more active. These fish average 20-27 inches in the slot limit, perfect eating size, and they're known for their bulldogging fights that test your arm strength. What makes redfish so exciting is you can often see them before you cast – watching a school of reds push through shallow water gets your heart pounding every time.
Speckled trout, or specks as locals call them, are the most popular target for Louisiana anglers. These beautiful fish with distinctive black spots love to ambush baitfish around grass beds and oyster reefs. They're most active during cooler months from October through March, and they're absolute suckers for live shrimp under a popping cork. Specks are excellent table fare and provide steady action throughout the day. They're also perfect for beginners because they're aggressive biters and don't require precise technique to hook up.
Sheepshead are the marshal arts experts of the fish world – they'll steal your bait so fast you won't know what happened. These black-and-white striped fish love structure like dock pilings and rock jetties, and they're incredibly smart. Landing one takes patience and quick reflexes, which makes them a favorite challenge for anglers who want to test their skills. They're best targeted in cooler months and are considered one of the finest eating fish in the Gulf. Their human-like teeth make for great photos too.
Black drum are the heavyweight champions of the marsh, with big bulls weighing 40+ pounds not uncommon in these waters. Younger drum in the 3-8 pound range provide excellent action and make fantastic table fare. They're bottom feeders that love blue crab and shrimp, and they put up surprisingly strong fights for their size. Black drum are active year-round but peak during spring spawning runs. They're perfect for beginners because they're not picky eaters and give you plenty of time to set the hook.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the chameleons of the marsh. These flatfish bury themselves in sandy bottoms and ambush prey swimming overhead. They're most active during warmer months and provide exciting action because they hit baits aggressively. Flounder are excellent eating and their unique appearance always surprises first-time anglers. They're typically found along channel edges and drop-offs where they can easily grab passing baitfish.
This customer favorite trip books up quickly, especially during peak fall and spring months when the fishing is at its best. Captain Frank's hands-on teaching style and productive fishing grounds make this the perfect introduction to Louisiana's world-class inshore fishing. You'll leave with new skills, great memories, and hopefully a cooler full of fresh fish for dinner. The combination of beginner-friendly instruction and consistently productive waters makes this a trending choice for anyone wanting to experience authentic Louisiana fishing. Don't wait – these spots fill fast, and the fish are biting now.
Captain Frank's 22' Sea Fox bay boat is your ticket to Louisiana's prime fishing grounds around Lake Pontchartrain and the marshes near Slidell. This 2016 center console runs on a reliable 200HP Yamaha that'll get you to the hot spots quickly, hitting speeds up to 40 knots when needed. The boat's built for inshore action with a fish finder to locate schools of trout and redfish, plus GPS to navigate the maze of channels and cuts where the big ones hide. A wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on spooky fish without spooking them, while the onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh. Perfect for beginners who want to learn the ropes of Louisiana fishing – the stable platform makes it easy to cast, fight fish, and move around safely while you're learning to read the water and work different lures.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our local waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. These gray-black bruisers hang around oyster beds and shallow muddy flats where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're strong fighters that'll test your drag, and smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent eating with firm, white meat. My tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and keep it right on the bottom. They're notorious bait pickers, so when you feel that telltale tap-tap, set the hook hard. These fish have incredible jaw strength, so don't hesitate.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana fishing - copper-colored beauties with that distinctive black spot near the tail. They cruise super shallow water, sometimes with their backs showing, around grass flats and oyster reefs. We target them year-round, but spring and fall offer the most consistent action. These fish are perfect for all skill levels since they eat just about anything and put up a great fight without being too overwhelming. The smaller ones under 27 inches are fantastic table fare. Here's what works: look for nervous water or tailing fish in shallow areas. A gold spoon or topwater plug worked slowly over grass beds drives them crazy. When you see one, make your cast past them and work the lure into their path.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, running 14-24 inches with those beautiful spotted sides. They love grass flats and shallow areas, especially around dawn and dusk when the bite really turns on. Spring and fall are prime, but we catch them consistently through most seasons. What makes them special is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials - they're perfect for beginners but still challenge experienced anglers. The meat is tender and mild, though don't overcook it or it gets mushy. My go-to technique: work a soft plastic shrimp or topwater plug over grass beds in 2-4 feet of water. Early morning and late evening are magic times when they'll blow up on surface lures.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of Louisiana waters with their black and gray stripes, but what really gets people talking are those human-like teeth. These 1-8 pound fighters love hanging around any structure - docks, bridges, and especially barnacle-covered pilings where they feed. Spring brings the best action when they school up, though we catch them year-round. They're notorious bait thieves with those powerful jaws, but that's what makes landing one satisfying. The white, flaky meat is some of the best eating around. Pro tip: get your bait tight to the structure and use fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small circle hook. When you feel them nibbling, don't wait - they'll steal your bait every time. Set that hook firm and fast.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish change colors to match the bottom while both eyes sit on their left side. They're ambush predators that bury in sand and mud, waiting to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Most run 15-20 inches, but we see some nice ones pushing 4-5 pounds. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're feeding heavily before winter. They put up a surprisingly good scrap for a flatfish, and the meat is outstanding - sweet, white fillets that are hard to beat on the dinner table. Here's the key: use a bucktail jig tipped with squid or minnow, and work it slow along the bottom. When you feel that subtle weight, don't jerk - just lift steady and keep tension.
Slidell, LA