5.0(2 Reviews)Half Day Redfish and Black Drum Lafitte Charter
5.0(2 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour private inshore charter targeting redfish and black drumEarly 6 AM departure with Captain Guilbeau in Lafitte watersProfessional fish cleaning included with all gear provided
Want to get into some serious redfish action without burning your whole day? This 4-hour private charter out of Lafitte puts you right where the fish are feeding, and Captain Guilbeau knows these waters like the back of his hand. We're talking about launching at first light and having your cooler full of fillets by 10 AM - that's the kind of efficiency that keeps anglers coming back trip after trip. The Louisiana marsh around Lafitte is world-class redfish territory, and this half-day format lets you maximize your time on the productive water while still getting home for lunch.
Your morning starts with a 6 AM departure when the marsh is just waking up and the fish are actively feeding. Captain Guilbeau runs a tight operation - no wasted time running around looking for fish. He's been working these Lafitte waters for years and knows exactly where to find feeding redfish and black drum based on the tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. This is a private charter for up to two anglers, so you're not sharing the boat with strangers or waiting for someone else to figure out their drag. Whether you're a complete beginner or you've been chasing reds for decades, the captain adjusts his approach to match your skill level. The boat comes fully rigged with quality tackle, fresh bait, and everything you need to put fish in the box. Best part? Professional fish cleaning and bagging is included, so you walk away with restaurant-quality fillets ready for the frying pan.
In the Lafitte marsh, we're primarily sight fishing and working structure where redfish and black drum like to feed. Captain Guilbeau sets you up with medium-heavy spinning gear that can handle these hard-fighting inshore species without being too heavy for the technical presentations these fish often require. Live bait is the name of the game here - fresh shrimp, crabs, and cut bait depending on what the fish are hitting that day. You'll be working shallow flats, oyster reefs, and marsh edges where these species cruise looking for an easy meal. The captain reads the water and adjusts techniques throughout the morning - sometimes we're making long casts to cruising redfish, other times we're dropping baits near structure and letting the fish come to us. The key is staying flexible and letting the fish tell you what they want.
"Captain Mike is the man! He finds the fish quickly, we caught our redfish limit within the first 90 minutes! He was also very friendly and made sure everyone was having fun! I highly recommend Guilbeau Charters!" - Luke
"Captain Terrance is an awesome captain. He put us on fish and made it feel more like fishing with your buddy than fishing with a guide. We caught our limit and had an awesome time." - Patrick
Redfish are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing, and around Lafitte, they're thick as thieves. These copper-colored bruisers range from slot-size fish around 20-27 inches up to bull reds that'll test your drag and your arms. Redfish are year-round residents in these waters, but they're especially active during the cooler months when they school up and feed aggressively. What makes reds so popular is their willingness to eat and their bulldogging fight - they don't jump much, but they'll pull steady and hard, using their broad sides to leverage against your tackle. The Lafitte area produces consistent numbers, and it's not uncommon to limit out on quality fish during a productive morning bite.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the Louisiana marsh, and when you hook into a good one, you'll know it immediately. These fish can push 30-40 pounds or more, and they fight like they're trying to pull your boat to the bottom. Black drum are bottom feeders that love to cruise oyster reefs and shell banks looking for crabs and shrimp. They're most active during the spring months when they move shallow to spawn, but Lafitte produces good drum fishing throughout much of the year. What's exciting about black drum is their size and power - even a 15-pound drum will give you a workout, and the bigger fish are just plain impressive to land on spinning gear.
Sea trout are another staple that keeps things interesting when they're biting. These speckled fighters are more delicate than reds or drum, but they make up for it with aggressive strikes and decent size. Louisiana specks can run anywhere from keeper-size fish around 15 inches up to gator trout pushing 5-6 pounds. They're structure-oriented fish that love to hang around drop-offs, grass beds, and shell reefs. Sea trout are excellent table fare and provide consistent action when conditions are right, especially during the warmer months when they're most active in the shallows.
Summer flounder add some variety to the mix and are fantastic eating fish. These flatfish are ambush predators that bury themselves in sandy bottoms and wait for baitfish to swim overhead. Louisiana flounder can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 20 inches not uncommon in the right spots. They're most active during the summer months, as their name suggests, and provide a different kind of fishing challenge since they require more finesse and patience. When you hook a good flounder, they put up a surprisingly strong fight for a flatfish, and they're hard to beat on the dinner table.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch - these black and white striped fish are notorious bait thieves with incredible bite detection skills. They hang around structure like pilings, rocks, and oyster reefs, picking off crabs and barnacles with their human-like teeth. Sheepshead require sharp hooks, light leaders, and quick hook sets because they'll steal your bait faster than you can blink. But when you
Captain Guilbeau's 2020 Blazer Bay delivers the perfect setup for targeting redfish and black drum in Lafitte's productive waters. This 22-foot center console cuts through the marsh with a reliable 175HP Suzuki, giving you quick access to the best fishing spots while the wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're working the shallows. The fish finder helps locate schools and structure, while GPS keeps you on the most productive areas. With an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold during the 4-hour morning session, you'll have everything needed for a successful day on the water. The boat comfortably handles two anglers with plenty of room to fight fish and move around the deck.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These powerful fish love our shallow muddy flats and oyster beds around Lafitte, where they use their crushing jaws to feed on crabs and shellfish. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater during spring spawning season - that's prime time when they school up and become easier to target. What makes them special is that raw power when hooked, plus smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab bait and keep it pinned tight on the bottom - they're notorious bait stealers who'll clean your hook before you know they're there.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter species - bronze beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails, typically 20-30 inches and built like tanks. They cruise super shallow flats, sometimes with their backs showing above water while "tailing" for crabs and shrimp. These fish are year-round targets, but spring and fall offer the best action when they're most aggressive. What guests love is their explosive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll make multiple runs and test your drag. Plus, slot-sized fish are fantastic eating with firm, mild meat. You'll spot them on mud flats, around oyster beds, and near marsh edges. My secret: look for nervous water or "pushes" on calm days - that's usually redfish moving shallow, and a topwater plug worked slowly over them will drive them crazy.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are gorgeous fish with spots covering their silver sides, usually running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They love our grass flats and shallow waters, especially active during cooler months and low-light periods like dawn and dusk. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures, creating explosive surface strikes that get everyone's heart pumping. They're also excellent eating - tender white meat that's perfect fried or grilled, but don't overcook them or they'll get mushy. Spring and fall are peak times when they school up in deeper channels. Best tip I can share: work topwater plugs over grass flats early morning, and when you see that telltale splash, resist the urge to set immediately - let them turn down with the bait first.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black bars, typically weighing 1-8 pounds around our docks and pilings. These crafty fish have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off structure. Spring is prime time when they gather for spawning, making them easier to locate. What makes them frustrating and fun is they're notorious bait thieves - they'll nibble your offering clean off before you realize they're there. Despite the challenge, they're top-notch eating with sweet white meat. You'll find them tight to any structure: bridges, oil platforms, barnacle-covered pilings. Here's the trick: use small hooks with fresh fiddler crab, keep your bait snug against the structure, and set the hook hard the instant you feel them.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on sandy bottoms, typically running 15-20 inches but capable of reaching 26 pounds. These ambush predators lie flat waiting for baitfish to pass overhead, changing colors to match the seafloor perfectly. Fall fishing from September through November is when they're most active and aggressive. What guests love is the challenge - they bite sideways and can be tricky to hook, but they're outstanding table fare with delicate white meat. You'll find them on sandy flats and around structure where current brings food. My go-to technique is hooking live minnows through the eye and letting them work just off bottom - when you feel that subtle tap, give them a second before setting the hook.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Mike is the man! He finds the fish quickly, we caught our redfish limit within the first 90 minutes! He was also very fr...
Captain Terrance is an awesome captain. He put us on fish and made it feel more like fishing with your buddy than fishing with a g...
Lafitte