Full Day St. Bernard Louisiana Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8hour inshore fishing charter with complete package includedAll fuel, live bait, ice, and fish cleaning services providedExpert crew guidance for anglers of all experience levels
When you're looking for a serious fishing adventure without any surprises on your bill, Captain Thomas has you covered. This full 8-hour charter in St. Bernard's prime waters gives you everything you need for a top-rated fishing experience - fuel, live bait, ice, and fish cleaning are all included. No hidden fees, no last-minute add-ons, just pure fishing from sunrise to sunset. Whether you've been working these Louisiana waters for years or you're picking up a rod for the first time, you're going to love what these marshes and nearshore waters have to offer. The boat holds up to 3 anglers, so you'll have plenty of room to work without bumping elbows.
St. Bernard Parish sits right where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf, creating some of Louisiana's most productive inshore fishing grounds. You'll be working a mix of shallow marshes, deeper channels, and nearshore structure where fish stack up year-round. The trip starts early - Captain Thomas knows the best bite times and will have you on the water when the fish are most active. With 8 hours to work with, you'll hit multiple spots throughout the day, adjusting tactics based on tides, weather, and what the fish are telling you. The boat comes equipped with quality tackle, but feel free to bring your favorite rods if you've got them. Live bait is provided and makes a huge difference when targeting these species - nothing beats a fresh shrimp or finger mullet when redfish and trout are being picky.
The beauty of St. Bernard fishing lies in the variety of techniques you'll use throughout the day. In the shallow grass flats, you'll work topwater plugs and soft plastics around structure, watching for redfish tailing in skinny water. When targeting speckled trout in the deeper cuts, live shrimp under popping corks is deadly effective. For black drum and sheepshead around pilings and rocks, bottom fishing with crabs and cut bait produces consistent results. Captain Thomas reads the water like a book and will put you on the right technique for each spot. The marsh fishing here requires local knowledge - knowing which passes hold bait, where the drop-offs are, and how the tides move fish around. You'll learn to read bird activity, water color changes, and current lines that indicate where predator fish are feeding. The gear is matched to the conditions, from light spinning tackle in the shallows to heavier setups when working structure for bigger drum and sheepshead.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard waters hold some real bulls. These copper-colored fighters average 20-30 inches but can push well over 40 inches in these nutrient-rich waters. Fall and spring offer the best action, when reds school up in massive numbers. What makes them so exciting is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make screaming runs toward structure and test your drag system. Look for them tailing in shallow water or busting bait in the open marsh.
Speckled trout, or sea trout, are the bread and butter of Louisiana fishing. These silvery predators love the grass flats and drop-offs throughout St. Bernard Parish. They're most active during cooler months, with winter producing some of the biggest specimens. A good trout will go 3-5 pounds, but the marshes here produce plenty of "gator trout" pushing 7 pounds or more. They're incredibly light biters, so you need to stay sharp, but when you hook one, they'll jump and shake like a largemouth bass.
Black drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, with mature fish reaching 30-50 pounds in these waters. They're most active in spring when they move shallow to spawn, but you can find them year-round around structure. What's exciting about drum fishing is the sheer power - these fish will test every knot and put serious pressure on your equipment. They're bottom feeders, so you'll be fishing crabs and cut bait near pilings, rocks, and shell reefs.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that keeps things interesting. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth and are notorious bait stealers. They school around any hard structure - docks, pilings, and rock piles. The trick is detecting their light bite and setting the hook before they spit the bait. A good sheepshead runs 3-5 pounds and makes excellent table fare. They're most active in cooler months when they move inshore to spawn.
Summer flounder round out the mix, particularly during warmer months when they move into the shallows to feed. These flatfish are ambush predators that bury in sand and mud, striking at passing baitfish. Louisiana flounder can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 5 pounds not uncommon in St. Bernard waters. They're sight feeders, so clear water and live bait produce the best results. Finding them requires working sandy bottoms near grass lines and channel edges.
This full-day charter delivers serious value for anglers who want a complete fishing experience without worrying about extra costs. With fuel, bait, ice, and cleaning all handled, you can focus on what matters - putting fish in the box. Captain Thomas knows these St. Bernard waters inside and out, and with only 3 spots available, you'll get the personal attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great one. The fish are here year-round, the captain knows where to find them, and everything's included in the price. Don't wait too long to secure your dates - the best fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when the redfish are schooling and the trout are biting.
This reliable 1997 Parker center console is your ticket to Louisiana's productive inshore waters. At 23 feet, she cuts through the marsh channels and coastal flats with ease, powered by a dependable 250HP Yamaha that'll get you to the fish fast at speeds up to 40 knots. The spacious center console design gives all three anglers plenty of room to work their lines without bumping elbows. You'll stay on top of the action with the onboard fish finder helping locate schools and structure, while GPS navigation ensures we hit all the honey holes efficiently. The built-in icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh throughout the day. Whether you're targeting redfish in the shallows or speckled trout around the oil rigs, this boat handles St. Bernard's diverse fishing grounds like a champ. She's seen plenty of Louisiana fishing action over the years and knows these waters well.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These grey-black bruisers love our brackish waters and oyster beds, using their powerful jaws to crush shellfish and crabs. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning around February through April. You'll find them on shallow flats, around structures, and near creek mouths. What makes them special is that fight - they're bulldogs that'll test your tackle. The meat's great on smaller fish under 15 pounds, but the big ones are better released. Pro tip: use fresh crab for bait and fish it right on the bottom near oyster beds. They're notorious for that subtle bite, so stay alert and set the hook hard when you feel them.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Louisiana legends - copper-colored bruisers that cruise our shallow flats with their signature black spots near the tail. They range from schoolie-sized 20-inchers up to bull reds pushing 40+ pounds. You'll find them in 1-4 feet of water around oyster beds, grass flats, and marsh edges, sometimes with their backs out of the water. Year-round fishing is good, but fall brings the big schools. What hooks people is their powerful runs and that tail-walking fight. The smaller ones are excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. They're not picky eaters - live shrimp, cut bait, spoons, and topwater plugs all work. My favorite trick is sight-fishing with topwater lures on calm mornings. Look for wakes, tailing fish, or nervous baitfish to pinpoint their location.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our go-to inshore target, running 1-5 pounds with those distinctive spots covering their silver sides. They love grass flats and shallow bays, especially at night when they move up to feed. Spring and fall provide the best action, though we catch them year-round. Winter finds them schooled up in deeper holes. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit topwater plugs at first light - nothing beats that explosive strike on a calm morning. The meat is tender and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. They respond well to live shrimp, soft plastics, and spoons worked around grass beds. Local tip: focus on moving water near grass lines during tide changes, and don't overlook those shallow pockets at dawn. They'll often give themselves away with surface activity.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead earn their "convict fish" nickname with those black and white stripes, but what really gets people talking are their human-like teeth. These 1-8 pound fish hang tight around any structure - docks, bridges, pilings, and oyster beds where they munch on barnacles and crabs. Spring is your best shot, especially February through April when they gather to spawn. Guests love the challenge because these guys are notorious bait thieves with a delicate bite. The payoff is sweet, mild white meat that's hard to beat. They rarely stray far from cover, so get your bait right against the structure. Here's the key: use fiddler crabs or barnacles, keep your bait pinned tight to the hook, and when you feel that subtle nibble, set the hook hard. Their strong jaws require some authority.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish change color to match the bottom while they wait to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches, but we see some pushing 5+ pounds. They're bottom dwellers in our estuaries and nearshore waters, lying in sandy areas with both eyes on one side watching for baitfish. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're most active. Guests love the challenge of finding them and the sweet, flaky white meat that makes great table fare. They hit live minnows, croakers, and sea worms fished on circle hooks. My go-to trick is hooking smaller baitfish through the eye and letting it work naturally near the bottom. Use enough weight to stay down, and be ready - they can be picky about taking the bait.
St Bernard