Full Day Guided Fishing in Slidell, LA
When you're looking for a top-rated inshore fishing experience that delivers non-stop action, this full-day charter out of Slidell has everything you need. Launching from The Pointe Marina, you'll hit the productive waters of Lake Pontchartrain and the legendary Biloxi Marsh system. These waters are absolutely loaded with speckled trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum. Captain and crew know exactly where to find the fish based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. Whether you're a weekend warrior or someone just getting into saltwater fishing, this trip is designed to put you on fish while soaking up some of the most scenic marsh country Louisiana has to offer. All the quality gear is provided, so you just need to bring yourself and get ready for a day you'll be talking about for years.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts early at The Pointe Marina, where you'll meet your captain and get a quick rundown of the game plan. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – with a full day ahead, there's time to really work the best spots and adjust tactics as conditions change. The boat holds up to 2 anglers, which means personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. You'll be covering serious ground, from the shallow grass flats where redfish love to cruise, to the deeper structure where trout stack up during different times of year. The Biloxi Marsh system is a maze of bayous, points, and drop-offs that hold incredible numbers of fish. Your captain reads these waters like a book, knowing which spots fire up with the morning bite and where to relocate as the sun gets higher. Expect to see plenty of wildlife along the way – dolphins, pelicans, and maybe even an alligator or two sunning on the bank.
Techniques & Tackle
This charter runs a mix of techniques depending on what's biting and where you're fishing. Live bait is king in these waters – expect to throw live shrimp under popping corks for trout, and use cut bait for the bigger drum and redfish. When the fish are aggressive, artificial lures like soft plastics and spoons can produce fast action. The captain provides all the rods, reels, and tackle you'll need, from light spinning gear perfect for trout to heavier setups when you're targeting those bull reds. Popping corks are a staple here – that clicking sound drives speckled trout absolutely crazy. You'll learn to work soft plastics along the bottom for flounder, and how to present baits around structure where sheepshead like to hang out. The boat is rigged with everything from a live well to keep bait fresh, to fish boxes with plenty of ice. GPS and fish finder technology help locate structure and bait schools, but it's the captain's local knowledge that really makes the difference.
Target Species
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of inshore fishing around Slidell, and these waters produce some beauties. Most trout here run 14 to 18 inches, but keepers over 20 inches aren't uncommon, especially during cooler months. They love grass flats with moving water, and nothing beats the strike of a trout hitting a live shrimp under a popping cork. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, though summer early morning and late evening bites can be world-class. Trout are perfect for anglers wanting steady action – they school up and when you find them, you can often catch several from the same spot.
Redfish are the bulldogs of the marsh, and Louisiana reds are legendary for their size and fight. Slot-sized fish from 16 to 27 inches are common, with plenty of oversized bull reds mixed in for catch and release fun. These copper-colored fighters love shallow water structure – oyster reefs, marsh edges, and grass flats. They'll eat live or cut bait readily, and watching a big red blow up on a topwater lure is pure adrenaline. Fall months are particularly hot for redfish as they stage up before moving to deeper water. The fight is what makes reds special – they'll drag you around the boat and test your drag system.
Summer flounder, or fluke as some call them, are the masters of camouflage hiding on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 14 to 18 inches, but doormat-sized fish over 20 inches make appearances. They're structure-oriented, loving drop-offs, channel edges, and around pilings. Flounder fishing requires patience – they often mouth the bait before committing, so you need to give them time. The reward is some of the best eating fish in the marsh. Summer months produce the most consistent flounder action, especially around moving tides.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped tricksters that will test your patience and skill. They have incredible eyesight and are notorious bait stealers, but hook one and you'll understand why they're called the "poor man's snapper." Most range from 12 to 16 inches, with larger fish showing up around deeper structure. They love barnacle-covered pilings, rocks, and oyster reefs where they feed on crustaceans. Fresh shrimp and fiddler crabs are top baits. Winter months are prime time for sheepshead fishing when they move inshore to spawn.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the group, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized 14-inchers to massive bulls pushing 30-plus pounds. They're bottom feeders that love oyster reefs and muddy areas where they root around for crabs and worms. Big drum provide incredible fights on appropriate tackle – they're not fast but they're incredibly strong and stubborn. Cut bait works best, especially blue crab. Spring months see the biggest concentrations as drum move shallow to spawn, though they're catchable year-roun