Louisiana Fishing Charters | 8 Hour Trip
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore fishing charter accommodates six guests maximumCatch and cook dining experience at exclusive waterfront restaurantPrivate cabin lodging with sunrise and sunset water views
Looking for the real deal when it comes to Louisiana inshore fishing? Jean Lafitte Harbor Charters delivers an 8-hour adventure that goes way beyond your typical day on the water. We're talking about a fully customizable fishing trip aboard a spacious 35' Aluma Marine that can handle up to 6 anglers comfortably. What makes this charter special isn't just the world-class fishing – it's the complete package. After you've worn yourself out fighting redfish and speckled trout, you'll feast on a home-cooked meal at "Da Barge" restaurant, then crash in your own private cabin right over the water. Wake up to a Louisiana sunrise that'll make you forget all about the city grind.
Your day starts early when you meet Captain at the dock, coffee in hand and tackle boxes loaded. The 35' Aluma Marine is built for Louisiana's inshore waters – shallow draft, stable platform, and plenty of room to move around when the fish are biting. We'll cruise out to the marshes, bayous, and grass flats where the fish live year-round. This isn't some cookie-cutter trip where everyone does the same thing. Tell us what you want to target, and we'll adjust our game plan. Want to sight-fish redfish in skinny water? We're on it. Prefer to drift the deeper channels for black drum? No problem. The captain knows these waters like his backyard and will put you on fish based on conditions, tides, and what's been biting lately. The boat's equipped with quality rods, reels, and tackle, but feel free to bring your own gear if you've got favorites.
Louisiana's inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach. We'll be working everything from shallow grass flats where you can see redfish tailing, to deeper channels where black drum cruise the bottom. Live bait is king out here – we're talking about live shrimp, mud minnows, and croakers that drive these fish crazy. When the bite is hot, we might switch to artificials like soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs that'll give you some serious arm-burning action. The captain will show you how to work a popping cork rig, which is absolutely deadly on speckled trout when they're schooled up. Bottom fishing with fresh-cut bait produces the bigger drum and catfish, especially around structure and drop-offs. The marshy terrain means we're constantly moving between different environments – one minute you're casting to cypress stumps, the next you're working an oyster reef. Tide movement is everything here, so we time our spots to hit them when the water's moving and the fish are feeding.
Southern Flounder are the masters of camouflage in Louisiana waters, lying flat on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush unsuspecting baitfish. These flatfish typically run 2-5 pounds, with the occasional doormat pushing 8+ pounds that'll make your day. Fall months from September through November are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawning run. Flounder hit live mud minnows and soft plastic jigs worked slowly along the bottom. The fight isn't flashy, but that first run when they realize they're hooked will surprise you every time.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the marsh, with fish ranging from 5-pound "puppy drum" all the way up to 40+ pound bulls that'll test your drag system. These bottom-dwellers love structure like oyster reefs, bridges, and channel edges where they root around for crabs and shellfish. They're year-round residents, but spring and fall offer the best action when they're most active. Fresh-cut blue crab is like candy to drum, and the way they pick up bait and slowly swim off with it before the hook sets makes for some heart-pounding moments.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as we call them down here, are the bread and butter of Louisiana inshore fishing. These beautiful fish with their spotted flanks typically run 1-4 pounds, with the occasional 6+ pound "gator trout" that anglers dream about. They school up around grass beds, drop-offs, and moving water where they feed aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish. Peak season runs from April through October, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the classic setup, but when they're really fired up, topwater plugs at sunrise will give you explosive surface strikes.
Redfish are Louisiana's signature species and the reason so many anglers become obsessed with these waters. Bronze-colored bulldogs that typically weigh 5-15 pounds, with occasional 20+ pounders that'll smoke your reel. They're shallow water specialists, cruising grass flats, marsh edges, and oyster bars year-round. Summer months offer the best sight-fishing opportunities when you can watch them cruise in 2-3 feet of water, tails occasionally breaking the surface. The way a redfish strips line on that first run, combined with their never-give-up attitude, makes them a customer favorite that keeps people coming back to Louisiana.
Channel Catfish might not be the most glamorous species, but they're some of the best eating fish in these waters. These whisker-faced fighters typically run 2-8 pounds and are scattered throughout the bayous and channels. They're most active during warmer months and will hit just about any fresh bait you put in front of them. When the other species aren't cooperating, catfish provide steady action and a fish fry that'll make the trip worthwhile.
This top-rated charter experience books up fast, especially during peak fishing seasons when the bite is hot
Get ready to fish Louisiana's productive inshore waters aboard this well-equipped 35' Aluma Marine deck boat. Built in 2010 and powered by twin 300HP Yamaha outboards, she'll get you to the hot spots quickly while providing a stable platform for casting lines. The boat features air conditioning to keep you comfortable during those long summer days, plus a wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on spooky redfish and speckled trout in shallow water. Navigation is covered with GPS and radar systems, while the fish finder helps locate structure and bait schools. With space for up to 6 anglers, there's plenty of room to spread out and work different techniques. Your 8-hour charter includes a catch and cook meal at "Da Barge" restaurant, plus overnight lodging in waterfront cabins where you can watch the sunrise over Louisiana's marshes. The captain knows these waters inside and out, putting you on everything from redfish to flounder depending on conditions and what's biting.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of Louisiana's inshore scene, commonly running 15-40 pounds with some real giants pushing 60+ pounds. These bruisers love our oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow bay areas where they use powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear them "drumming" underwater, a sound you can actually feel through the boat hull. They're bulldogs that test your drag and endurance with long, steady runs. Smaller fish under 15 pounds are excellent table fare, while the big ones make for great photos before release. The meat gets tougher as they age, so we usually keep the slot-sized ones. Pro tip: fresh blue crab or cut mullet on the bottom near oyster reefs is hard to beat. Use heavy tackle - these fish will find every oyster shell and piling to wrap you around.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel catfish are Louisiana's reliable fighters, especially in our rivers and deeper bayous. These whiskered warriors typically run 2-8 pounds, but 15-20 pounders aren't uncommon in the right spots. They love structure like fallen trees, bridge pilings, and deep holes with current breaks. Summer nights and cloudy days produce the best action when they move shallow to feed. What makes them fun is that hard pull and bulldogging fight - they use their whole body and the current against you. They're also excellent eating with firm, sweet meat that's hard to beat fried up fresh. These fish have incredible senses - their whole body is covered in taste buds, so scent is key. My secret weapon is fresh cut shad or chicken liver fished on the bottom near structure. Use a slip sinker rig and let them run with it a few seconds before setting the hook. Their mouths are tough, so sharp hooks are a must.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana's signature species, those copper-colored beauties with the distinctive black eyespot near their tail. Most of our fish run 20-32 inches and 5-15 pounds, perfect for both sport and the dinner table. These tough fighters love super shallow water - we're talking 1-3 feet over oyster bars, marsh edges, and grass flats. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings the best action when they push baitfish in the shallows. What guests love is watching them "tail" in skinny water and the explosive topwater strikes. They fight hard with long runs and head shakes that'll test your drag. The meat is firm and mild, great for blackening Cajun-style. My favorite technique is sight fishing with gold spoons or topwater plugs early morning. Look for nervous water, diving birds, or those copper backs cruising the shallows. Keep your casts ahead of moving fish - they spook easily in thin water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are Louisiana's bread-and-butter fish, running 12-18 inches on average with plenty of 3-5 pounders mixed in during good years. These beautiful spotted fish love our grass flats, drop-offs, and shell reefs in 3-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months - fall through early spring - when water temps drop and baitfish concentrate. What makes them special is their aggressive strikes on both live bait and artificials, plus they're absolutely delicious with tender, flaky white meat. Dawn and dusk fishing around structure produces the best action. They school up in winter, making for fast fishing when you find them. My go-to setup is a 1/4 oz jig head with a plastic shrimp or paddle tail, worked slowly along the bottom near shell beds. The key is covering water until you find the school - then you'll usually catch several before they move.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are unique flatfish that lie camouflaged on sandy and muddy bottoms throughout Louisiana's coastal waters. These ambush predators typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch plenty up to 25+ inches. Both eyes sit on their left side - a weird but cool adaptation that always gets guests talking. They're masters of disguise, changing color to match the bottom. Fall through early spring offers the best action when they move through our passes and deeper channels. What makes them special is the fight - they pull hard and shake their heads like crazy once hooked. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, flaky white meat. My tip: use live bull minnows or shrimp on a carolina rig and drift slowly over structure. When you feel that subtle tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook - they like to mouth the bait first.
Lafitte, LA