Full Day Redfish and Speckled Trout Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore charter targeting redfish and speckled troutProfessional equipment and fish cleaning service included throughout tripCaptain Guilbeau guides anglers through Louisiana marsh hotspots
Captain Guilbeau knows these Lafitte marshes like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish. This top-rated 7-hour inshore fishing adventure takes you deep into Louisiana's productive bayou country, where redfish cruise the shallows and speckled trout stack up in the cuts. You'll fish multiple spots throughout the day, adjusting tactics as conditions change and following the bite wherever it leads. With all gear, bait, and fish cleaning included, you just need to show up ready to cast. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing reds for years, this charter delivers the kind of action that keeps anglers coming back to Louisiana's legendary waters.
Your day starts early with Captain Guilbeau, who'll have the boat rigged and ready before you arrive at the Lafitte launch. The seven-hour timeframe gives you real flexibility to work different areas as the tide changes and fish move throughout the day. You'll navigate through classic Louisiana marsh country – narrow channels lined with oyster shells, grass flats that hold baitfish, and deeper holes where big fish wait to ambush their next meal. The boat stays within the protected inshore waters, so you won't deal with rough seas, but you'll cover serious ground as the captain follows years of local knowledge to put you on active fish. Expect to make several moves during the day, sometimes running to new spots when the action slows, other times anchoring up and working an area thoroughly when the fish are cooperative. The private charter setup means the day moves at your pace, with plenty of time to perfect your technique and enjoy the unique Louisiana scenery.
Captain Guilbeau runs a full spread of professional-grade spinning gear perfectly matched to inshore conditions. You'll fish with medium-action rods spooled with braided line – the setup gives you excellent sensitivity to feel those subtle trout bites while providing enough backbone to turn a bull redfish away from structure. Live shrimp under popping corks produces consistent action, especially when trout are finicky, but you'll also throw artificial lures when fish are aggressive. Soft plastics rigged on jigheads work great for covering water and searching for schools, while topwater plugs create explosive strikes during early morning and late afternoon periods. The captain adjusts tactics throughout the day based on conditions – if the wind picks up, you might switch to heavier jigs to maintain bottom contact, or if the water's gin-clear, you'll downsize to lighter leaders and more natural presentations. Fresh bait stays lively in the boat's aerated system, and backup tackle means you'll never miss fishing time due to break-offs or snags. Everything gets cleaned and organized between spots, so your gear stays ready for the next opportunity.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and these Lafitte marshes produce some genuine trophies. These copper-colored fighters typically run 20 to 30 inches in the area, with occasional bulls pushing over 40 inches that'll test your drag system and your arms. Reds feed aggressively year-round but peak during fall months when they school up for spawning runs. They cruise shallow flats looking for crabs and shrimp, often with their backs out of water – sight-fishing opportunities that get your heart pumping. What makes redfish special is their fight; they use their broad sides to pull hard and make multiple runs, especially in shallow water where they can't dive deep.
Speckled trout bring a different kind of excitement to the day, requiring more finesse but rewarding patient anglers with steady action. These spotted beauties average 14 to 18 inches around Lafitte, with keeper-sized fish providing excellent table fare. Spring and fall offer the most consistent trout fishing, when they gather in deeper cuts and around structure. Trout have softer mouths than redfish, so you'll need to stay sharp on your hooksets and fight them with steady pressure rather than heavy pulling. They often school up, meaning once you locate active fish, you can catch several before they move on.
Black drum add serious muscle to your cooler, with these bottom-dwelling bruisers commonly reaching 5 to 15 pounds in local waters. They feed heavily on crabs and oysters, crushing their prey with powerful jaws that can straighten hooks if you're not prepared. Peak drum fishing happens during cooler months when they move into shallower areas to feed. Their fight is different from redfish – more of a bulldogging, head-shaking battle that tests your tackle and technique. Drum often travel in groups, so landing one usually means more opportunities are nearby.
Summer flounder provide excellent variety when they move into the marsh during warmer months. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sandy bottoms waiting to ambush passing baitfish. Flounder require a different approach – slower presentations along the bottom with soft plastics or live bait work best. They're fantastic eating and their unique appearance always creates excitement, especially for anglers new to saltwater fishing. The Lafitte area produces flounder from keeper size up to genuine doormat proportions.
Sheepshead round out the mixed bag opportunities, particularly around any hard structure like pilings, rocks, or oyster beds. These black-and-white striped fish are notorious bait thieves with incredible finesse, earning them the nickname "convict fish" for both their appearance and their tendency to steal your bait. They require small hooks, light leaders, and quick hooksets, but their fight is surprisingly strong for their size. Sheepshead are excellent table fare with firm, white meat that rivals any restaurant fish.
This world-class inshore fishing experience delivers the complete Louisiana charter package – experienced local guidance, quality gear, productive fishing grounds, and the kind of memories that last long after
This 2020 22' Blazer Bay center console is built for serious Louisiana marsh fishing. Powered by a reliable 175HP Suzuki that'll get you to the fishing grounds fast, hitting 40 knots when you need to chase the bite. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working the shallows for redfish and speckled trout, while the fish finder helps locate structure and bait schools. GPS navigation makes moving between Captain Guilbeau's seasonal hotspots a breeze during your full day on the water. With an icebox to keep drinks cold and plenty of deck space for two anglers to work comfortably, this center console is perfect for covering the prime inshore waters around Lafitte. The shallow draft design lets you access those back-country spots where the big reds like to hang out.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our Louisiana marshes, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some giants pushing 90. These grey-black bruisers love hanging around oyster beds and structure where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we find the best action. They're strong fighters that'll test your drag, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with firm, white meat. Here's the trick: use fresh crab and keep your bait right on the bottom. They're notorious for light bites, so stay alert and set the hook hard when you feel that telltale tap.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature species, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and black eyespot near the tail. Most run 20-35 inches in our marshes, with bull reds over 27 inches providing serious fights. They love shallow flats, oyster reefs, and grassy areas - sometimes in water so skinny their backs show. Fall and spring offer peak action, but they bite year-round here. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes and never-give-up attitude once hooked. Smaller "slot" reds are fantastic eating too. They'll eat almost anything - live shrimp, crabs, or artificial lures. My favorite local trick: sight-fish the shallow flats with gold spoons, casting ahead of cruising fish and working it just fast enough to stay off bottom.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing, averaging 14-24 inches with those prized "gator trout" pushing 5+ pounds. These spotted beauties cruise grass flats and shallow bays, especially active during dawn and dusk. Cool weather months often produce the biggest fish when they school up in deeper channels. They're scrappy fighters with excellent table fare - just don't overcook the delicate, flaky meat. What guests love is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials. Look for them around structure changes where current meets grass beds. Here's my go-to tip: work topwater plugs early morning over grass flats, then switch to soft plastics under a popping cork as the sun gets higher.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Louisiana waters with their distinctive black and white stripes and human-like teeth. Most run 1-8 pounds, but 20-pounders lurk around the best structure. These crafty fish live around docks, bridge pilings, and anywhere barnacles grow thick. Spring brings the best fishing when they school up, but they're catchable year-round. They're notorious bait thieves with delicate bites, but once hooked, they fight hard and make excellent eating with sweet, white meat. The key is getting tight to structure with fresh crab or shrimp and setting the hook aggressively the instant you feel them nibbling - they'll steal your bait every time if you wait too long.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are master ambush predators that blend perfectly with sandy and muddy bottoms throughout our Louisiana waters. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can surprise you at 26 pounds. Fall months from September through November offer the best action when they're most active and feeding heavily. What makes them special is their incredible camouflage - they're like underwater chameleons. The meat is fantastic eating with a mild, flaky texture that's hard to beat. Best fishing happens on structure changes and drop-offs where they wait to ambush baitfish. Pro tip: use a slow drift with live minnows or sea worms on circle hooks, and give them time to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
Lafitte