Louisiana Fishing Charters: Full-Day Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday inshore fishing charter on 35foot Aluma Marine vesselIncludes catch preparation at exclusive waterfront restaurant facilityPrivate waterfront cabin accommodations with sunrise and sunset views
This isn't your typical day trip – we're talking about a complete Louisiana fishing experience that starts at sunrise and ends with you sleeping right over the water. Jean Lafitte Harbor Charters puts together something special here: 8 hours of serious fishing on their 35-foot Aluma Marine, followed by a hot meal at "Da Barge" restaurant, and your own private cabin for the night. It's the kind of setup that lets you really soak in Louisiana's coastal fishing culture without rushing back to shore when the fish are still biting.
You'll be fishing Louisiana's productive inshore waters aboard a well-equipped 35-foot Aluma Marine that handles up to 6 anglers comfortably. The boat's size gives you plenty of room to spread out and work different techniques without getting tangled up with your buddies. Captain knows these marshes and bayous like the back of his hand – he'll put you on structure where redfish cruise the shallows and spotted seatrout stack up in the deeper cuts. The day's completely customizable based on what's biting and what you want to target. Maybe you'll start working the grass flats at first light, then move to deeper channels when the tide changes. The beauty of an 8-hour charter is you've got time to adjust and chase whatever's most active.
Louisiana inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to the conditions. You'll likely be throwing soft plastics on jig heads into the grass beds, working topwater plugs over shallow flats during low light, and maybe drifting live or cut bait near structure for the bigger drum and catfish. The captain provides quality rods and reels, but if you've got favorites, bring them along. Spinning gear in the 2500-3000 size range loaded with 15-20 pound braid works great for most situations. Fluorocarbon leaders are essential – these fish see a lot of pressure and can be leader-shy. Depending on the bite, you might be sight-casting to tailing redfish in skinny water or working deeper drop-offs where the trout hold during temperature swings. The variety keeps things interesting all day long.
Redfish: These copper-colored bruisers are Louisiana's signature catch and fight like freight trains. They cruise the shallows year-round but really turn on during fall months when they school up in massive numbers. Reds average 20-30 inches inshore, with plenty of slot fish for the cooler and the occasional bull that'll test your drag. What makes them special is how aggressive they feed – watching a red crush a topwater plug in two feet of water never gets old.
Southern Flounder: These ambush predators lay flat on sandy bottoms waiting for baitfish to swim overhead. Fall brings the best flounder action as they move toward deeper water to spawn. They're excellent table fare and provide a different kind of challenge since you're often fishing structure and working baits slow along the bottom. A good Louisiana flounder runs 15-20 inches, and they hit everything from live mud minnows to berkley gulp shrimp.
Sea Trout (Spotted Seatrout): These beautiful fish are staples of Louisiana's inshore fishery and bite consistently when you find the right depth and structure. They school up in deeper holes during cold fronts and spread across grass flats when conditions are stable. Spring and fall offer the best shot at keeper-sized trout, and they're suckers for soft plastics worked with a steady retrieve. The bigger females, called "gator trout," are real prizes when you hook into one.
Black Drum: The heavyweights of the inshore scene, black drum can reach impressive sizes and provide serious fights on appropriate tackle. They're bottom feeders that love crab and shrimp, making them perfect targets for cut bait fishing around oyster reefs and bridge pilings. Spring brings spawning aggregations that can produce multiple hookups. Young drum make excellent eating, while the big bulls are best released to fight another day.
Channel Catfish: These whiskered fighters add variety to your catch and are absolutely delicious when prepared right. Louisiana's brackish waters produce hefty channel cats that fight harder than their freshwater cousins. They're opportunistic feeders that'll hit live bait, cut bait, and even artificials when they're aggressive. Night fishing often produces the biggest cats, and they're a blast on light tackle.
This complete fishing package delivers way more value than a standard day trip. You're getting world-class inshore fishing, a home-cooked meal at Da Barge, and waterfront lodging all rolled into one price. It's perfect for groups wanting to make a real fishing adventure out of their Louisiana visit. The private cabin over the water means you'll wake up to sunrise over the marsh – something you can't put a price on. Captain's calendar fills up fast, especially during prime fishing seasons, so don't wait around if this sounds like your kind of trip. Give Jean Lafitte Harbor Charters a call and lock in your dates for what might just be your best fishing experience in Louisiana waters.
Meet your fishing headquarters for the day - our 35' Aluma Marine deck boat powered by twin 300HP Yamaha engines that'll get you to the hot spots fast at 45 knots. Built in 2010, this beauty handles Louisiana's inshore waters like a dream and keeps up to 6 anglers comfortable with onboard air conditioning. The wireless trolling motor lets you sneak up on structure without spooking fish, while our GPS, radar, and fish finder take the guesswork out of finding where they're biting. After you've filled the cooler, we'll cook up your catch at "Da Barge" restaurant, then you can crash in waterfront cabins right over the water. Watch the Louisiana sunrise with coffee in hand before another day of fishing, or kick back after dinner and listen to the water lap underneath your room. This isn't just a fishing trip - it's your home base on the water for serious anglers who want the full Louisiana experience.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Louisiana's inshore waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some bruisers hitting 50-plus. These powerful fish cruise shallow muddy flats and oyster beds using their strong jaws to crush shellfish and crabs. Spring is your best bet when they school up for spawning - you can actually hear them drumming underwater. They're tough fighters that'll test your drag, making them a favorite for guests who want to feel some real power. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm, white meat. Bigger fish get tough and are better released. They prefer brackish water around structure like oyster reefs and creek mouths. Pro tip: use fresh blue crab or cut mullet on the bottom with enough weight to stay put. These fish are bottom feeders, so keep your bait down there.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel Catfish are Louisiana's reliable workhorses, typically weighing 2-10 pounds with some reaching 20-plus. These whiskered fighters live in our rivers, lakes, and bayous, preferring deeper holes and structure during the day. They're most active at night and in low-light conditions when they use their incredible sense of smell and taste to hunt. Summer and fall are peak times when warm water gets them feeding heavily. What guests appreciate is their willingness to bite and strong, steady fights - no fancy jumps, just pure bulldogging power. They're also outstanding eating with sweet, firm white meat that's perfect for frying. These fish will eat almost anything, but they really key in on smelly baits. They prefer areas with current breaks, fallen trees, and deep bends in rivers. Here's what works every time: fresh cut bait like shad or skipjack on the bottom near structure. The stinkier, the better - their taste buds cover their entire body.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature species - bronze-backed beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails. They range from slot-size around 20-27 inches up to massive bull reds over 40 inches and 30+ pounds. You'll find them in super shallow water, sometimes with their backs exposed, cruising oyster reefs, marsh edges, and grass flats. They love structure and will use anything from old pilings to natural shell beds. Fall and spring offer the best action, but they bite year-round here. What guests love most is sight fishing - watching these copper-colored fish cruise the shallows and making precise casts. They're strong fighters that'll make long runs and test your equipment. Plus, slot fish are outstanding table fare with firm, sweet meat. My secret: throw a gold spoon over shallow shell beds on moving water. The flash and vibration drives them crazy, especially when the water's a bit murky.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are Louisiana's most popular inshore game fish. They typically run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, with that beautiful silver body covered in black spots. You'll find them in grass flats, around oyster reefs, and near dropoffs in 2-8 feet of water. Spring through fall are prime time, especially dawn and dusk when they feed aggressively in the shallows. Winter pushes them to deeper channels. Guests love them because they hit hard, jump, and make excellent table fare - soft, white, flaky meat that's perfect for our cook-and-eat trips. They're also great for beginners since they're willing biters. These fish feed heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Here's my go-to trick: work a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. The noise brings them up, and that natural shrimp action seals the deal.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of camouflage, hiding in sandy and muddy bottoms with both eyes on their left side. These flat fish typically run 15-18 inches, though you can find them up to 33 inches in our Louisiana waters. They love shallow coastal areas, bays, and estuaries where they ambush prey like shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Fall and winter are prime time when they move through our waters heading to spawn offshore. What makes them fun to target is their sneaky nature - they'll bury themselves and wait for bait to drift by, then strike hard. The meat is excellent, white and flaky. My tip: use live shrimp on a light jighead and work it slow along the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap, wait a second before setting the hook - they like to grab prey sideways first.
Lafitte, LA