Full Day St. Bernard Family Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour family fishing charter targeting redfish and troutLive bait, tackle, and fish cleaning included in tripUp to three guests with comfortable pacing for families
Captain Thomas knows what makes a perfect family fishing day – plenty of action without the stress. This 8-hour charter launches at 6 AM from St. Bernard, Louisiana, giving your crew the best shot at filling the cooler while everyone stays comfortable. At $850 for up to three anglers, with extra spots at $140 each, you're getting serious value for a full day on some of Louisiana's most productive inshore waters. Everything's included – live bait, ice, tackle, fuel, and fish cleaning – so you can focus on what matters: watching the kids land their first redfish and making memories that'll last way longer than the sunburn.
Captain Thomas runs a family-friendly operation that balances excitement with comfort. The day starts early to beat the heat and catch fish during prime feeding times, but don't worry – the pace stays relaxed enough for anglers of all ages and skill levels. You'll be targeting the marshes, grass flats, and structure around St. Bernard Parish, where the mix of fresh and salt water creates perfect habitat for redfish, speckled trout, black drum, sheepshead, and flounder. The boat's set up to handle three guests comfortably, with plenty of room to move around and help the younger anglers when they hook up. Captain Thomas provides all the gear and knows exactly where to put you on the fish, whether that's working oyster reefs for sheepshead or drifting grass beds for specks.
This charter covers all the classic Louisiana inshore techniques that produce fish year-round. You'll be using live shrimp, croakers, and pogies – the go-to baits that everything in these waters loves to eat. Captain Thomas switches up the approach based on conditions and what's biting: popping corks over grass for speckled trout, bottom rigs around structure for black drum and sheepshead, or sight-casting to tailing reds in shallow water. The tackle's all provided and sized right for the species you're after – medium spinning gear that's perfect for kids and adults alike. When the bite's hot, you might be working multiple lines, and when it slows down, Captain Thomas knows how to move and find active fish. The live wells stay stocked, and there's always a backup plan when the fish get finicky.
St. Bernard's marshes and inshore waters hold some of Louisiana's best fishing for multiple species. Redfish are the stars here – these copper-colored fighters love the shallow flats and oyster beds, typically running 18-27 inches and putting up serious fights that get everyone excited. They're year-round residents, but fall and winter bring the biggest schools. Speckled trout work the grass beds and drop-offs, especially during moving water, and when you find them, you usually find them in numbers. Black drum cruise the deeper holes and structure, often surprising anglers with their size – these bottom-dwellers can push 20+ pounds and provide arm-burning battles. Sheepshead hang around anything with barnacles or oysters, and while they're notorious bait thieves, they're fantastic eating and fun to catch once you get the hang of detecting their subtle bites. Summer flounder lie in ambush near sandy bottoms and channel edges, and their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights make them a favorite target when conditions are right.
This charter delivers exactly what families need: a full day of quality fishing without the hassle of planning, prepping, or cleaning up afterward. Captain Thomas handles the details so you can enjoy watching your kids experience the magic of Louisiana fishing. The $850 price point for three people makes it accessible, and adding extra anglers at $140 each keeps larger groups affordable. With everything included except your Louisiana fishing license, you're getting top-rated guided fishing that consistently puts families on fish while creating memories that'll have everyone talking about the next trip before this one's over. St. Bernard's waters fish well year-round, but booking ahead ensures you get your preferred dates and the best shot at ideal conditions.
Get ready to chase redfish and speckled trout aboard this reliable 1997 Parker center console! This 23-footer cuts through Louisiana's marshes and shallow waters with ease, powered by a strong 250HP Yamaha that'll get you to the hotspots fast. The spacious deck gives your family plenty of room to cast lines and land fish, while the built-in icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long summer days. Our fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating schools, and the GPS ensures we'll hit all the productive spots around St. Bernard Parish. Whether you're targeting drum in the deeper channels or working the grass lines for trout, this boat handles it all. The center console design means everyone has easy access to the action, perfect for teaching kids how to work a drag or net their first keeper redfish.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the bruisers of our local waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some giants hitting 90+. These gray-black fish have powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, which is exactly where you'll find them. We target them around oyster beds, shallow muddy flats, and creek mouths in brackish water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're nicknamed "drums" for a reason. What makes them special is that aggressive pull once hooked, plus the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Here's a local trick: use fresh peeled shrimp or soft crab on the bottom, and when you feel that telltale tap-tap-tap, give them a second before setting the hook hard. They're notorious bait stealers but worth the patience.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore fishing, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and that distinctive black spot near the tail. Around here, most run 20-35 inches, though we've caught some real bulls pushing 40+ inches and 30 pounds. They love super shallow water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out - around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges. You can fish for them year-round, but spring and fall offer the best action when they're feeding heavily. What guests love is watching them cruise the shallows and that explosive strike when they take your bait. They're also fantastic eating when kept at legal size, with sweet, firm meat. The fight is memorable too - they'll make long runs and use their broad sides to pull drag. My local tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish, then cast live shrimp or a gold spoon just ahead of where they're heading. Let it sink and work it slow along the bottom.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are beautiful spotted fish that typically run 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They've got that classic torpedo shape with silver sides covered in distinctive black spots. You'll find them cruising grass flats and shallow bays, especially around structure like oyster bars and drop-offs. They love areas where fresh and salt water mix. Night fishing and early morning are prime times, particularly during spring and fall when they're most active. What makes them a favorite is their aggressive strikes on topwater lures and their excellent table fare - tender white meat that's perfect for families. The meat is delicate, so don't overcook it. Here's a local secret: work the grass flats with live shrimp under a popping cork, keeping it about 2 feet off the bottom. When they hit, you'll see that cork disappear. They're fighters that will make several runs before coming to the boat.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are some of the craftiest fish we target, known for their gray bodies with dark vertical stripes that earned them the nickname "convict fish." What really sets them apart are those human-like teeth they use to crush barnacles and crabs. Most run 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches, but we've pulled some 20-pounders from our local structure. You'll find them around any hard cover - docks, bridge pilings, oil rigs, and jetties where they feed on barnacles and small crustaceans. Spring fishing from February through April is best when they're spawning and schooled up. Guests love the challenge because they're notorious bait thieves with light mouths, but the payoff is sweet - excellent white meat that's mild and flaky. My go-to tip is to use fiddler crabs or shrimp, get as close to structure as possible, and set the hook aggressively the moment you feel weight. They'll steal your bait otherwise.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are one of the most unique fish you'll encounter - flatfish with both eyes on one side that lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. They typically run 15-20 inches, though we've seen some push 26 pounds over the years. These "chameleons of the sea" can actually change color to match their surroundings, making them fun to spot when you're looking down. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're actively feeding before moving offshore. What guests love is the challenge of the hunt and the reward - they're some of the best eating fish in our waters with sweet, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The trick I always share is to hook live baitfish through the eye and let them work the bottom near structure. When you feel that subtle weight, don't rush it - they bite sideways and need time to turn the bait.
St Bernard