Full Day St. Bernard Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour inshore fishing charter with expert crew guidanceAll equipment, bait, fuel, and fish cleaning services includedMaximum three guests for personalized fishing experience
When you're looking for a serious fishing trip that covers all the bases, Captain Thomas has you covered with this full-day charter out of St. Bernard. We're talking eight solid hours on some of Louisiana's most productive inshore waters, with absolutely everything included – no surprises, no hidden costs, just pure fishing from dawn to dusk. The waters around St. Bernard Parish are legendary among local anglers, and for good reason. These marshes, bayous, and nearshore waters hold some of the Gulf's healthiest fish populations, making every cast a real opportunity for something special.
This isn't your typical half-day tourist trip – we're talking about a legitimate eight-hour fishing experience designed for anglers who want to maximize their time on the water. Captain Thomas provides everything you need: fuel, live bait, ice, and they'll even clean your catch at the end of the day. The boat accommodates up to three guests, which means plenty of room to fish without getting tangled up in each other's lines. You'll be working the shallow flats, deeper channels, and structure-rich areas where St. Bernard's target species like to hang out. The captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, so you'll be fishing the spots that consistently produce, not just the obvious tourist locations. Whether you're an experienced angler who knows how to work a spoon or someone who's still figuring out which end of the rod to hold, the crew will adjust the approach to match your skill level.
St. Bernard inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting your approach throughout the day. We'll be using a mix of live bait fishing and artificial lures, depending on what the fish are telling us. The live bait – usually shrimp, croaker, or pogies – gets rigged on circle hooks for the bigger predators cruising the deeper water. When we're working the shallow flats, we'll switch to lighter tackle with soft plastics, spoons, and topwater plugs that won't spook fish in skinny water. The boat is equipped with quality rods and reels, but if you've got your own gear and prefer to use it, that's totally fine too. We'll be drift fishing over oyster reefs, anchoring up on productive structure, and making targeted casts to visible fish when conditions allow it. The key here is staying mobile and following the bite – if one spot isn't producing after a reasonable effort, we'll pick up and move to the next promising area.
Black Drum are the heavy hitters of St. Bernard waters, with fish regularly pushing 20-30 pounds and occasional monsters hitting 40-plus. These bruisers love hanging around oyster reefs and bridge pilings, where they use their powerful pharyngeal teeth to crush shellfish. Spring and fall are prime time for big drum, though you'll find keeper-sized fish year-round. When you hook into a decent drum, you'll know it immediately – they make long, powerful runs and use their body weight to fight you every inch of the way back to the boat.
Summer Flounder, or fluke as many anglers call them, are the ultimate ambush predators in these waters. They bury themselves in sandy bottoms near drop-offs and channel edges, waiting to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Most of our flounder run 14-20 inches, with occasional doormat-sized fish over 24 inches that'll have you grinning for days. Summer through early fall is peak season, and they're absolute table fare – firm, white meat that's perfect for the dinner plate.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of the bunch, with mouths full of human-like teeth designed for picking barnacles and small crabs off structure. They're notorious bait stealers, but once you figure out their rhythm, they become addictive to target. We find them around any hard structure – docks, pilings, reefs – and they fight much harder than their size suggests. A 3-4 pound sheepshead will test your skills and keep you honest.
Sea Trout are the bread-and-butter species that keep the action consistent throughout the day. These spotted beauties cruise the grass flats and channel edges, feeding aggressively on shrimp and small baitfish. They hit both live bait and artificials with enthusiasm, making them perfect for anglers who want steady action. Spring and fall see the biggest trout, with fish over 20 inches showing up regularly in the cooler water.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard waters hold some true giants. These copper-colored fighters are incredibly strong, making blistering runs across the flats when hooked. We target them in shallow water where you can often see their backs and tails as they root around for crabs and shrimp. Bull reds over 27 inches are catch-and-release only, but the slot-sized fish (16-27 inches) are phenomenal eating and put up an equally impressive fight.
This full-day charter represents serious value for anglers who want to fish hard without worrying about additional costs piling up. Captain Thomas has built a reputation for putting guests on fish while maintaining a relaxed, professional atmosphere on the water. The all-inclusive pricing means you can focus on fishing instead of calculating expenses, and the eight-hour duration gives you multiple opportunities to adapt to changing conditions and fish behavior throughout the day. St. Bernard's waters are among Louisiana's most consistent producers, and with an experienced captain who knows where to find the fish, you're setting yourself up for the kind of day that becomes a permanent fishing memory. Don't wait too long to secure your spot – the best fishing days book up quickly, especially during peak seasons when the fish are most active.
Get ready to hit the productive waters of St. Bernard aboard our reliable 23-foot Parker center console! This well-maintained 1997 boat packs serious power with its 250HP Yamaha engine, cruising at speeds up to 40 knots to get you to the hottest fishing spots fast. The center console design gives you easy access to cast from all angles while our captain navigates using GPS and fish finder technology to locate where the fish are biting. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox along with cold drinks for the crew. Built for Louisiana's inshore waters, this Parker handles everything from calm marsh channels to choppier bay conditions. With room for up to 3 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work your lines without bumping elbows. The boat's shallow draft lets us access those hidden honey holes where the big ones like to hide. Whether you're targeting redfish in the shallows or speckled trout along the grass lines, this setup gets the job done. Solid, dependable, and ready to put you on the fish!
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our local waters, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love hanging around oyster beds and shallow muddy flats where they crush shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we find the best action. What makes them special is that distinctive drumming sound they make underwater, plus they're surprisingly strong fighters for bottom-dwellers. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare with flaky white meat. My go-to tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and fish it right on the bottom near structure. When you feel that telltale tap-tap, give them a second before setting the hook - they like to mouth the bait first.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our shallow water fishing - copper-colored beauties with that signature black eyespot near the tail. They typically run 20-35 inches and can push 50 pounds, with the big bulls putting up legendary fights. These fish love super shallow water, sometimes with their backs showing above the surface around oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges. Spring and fall are prime time, but we catch them year-round. What guests love most is the visual aspect - seeing that red back cruising in skinny water before making your cast. They're also fantastic table fare when kept at legal size, with firm white meat and mild flavor. The key is staying quiet and making long, accurate casts to avoid spooking them. Try a gold spoon or soft plastic paddle tail - they'll absolutely crush it when they're feeding.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing - beautiful silver fish covered in distinctive black spots that cruise grass flats and shallow waters. Most run 14-24 inches and about 1-5 pounds, though we occasionally see some real slabs. They're most active during cooler months and love to feed over grass beds in 2-8 feet of water. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures at dawn and dusk - nothing beats that explosive surface strike. The meat is tender and flaky with a mild flavor that's perfect for the dinner table. These fish are pretty temperature-sensitive, so they move to deeper channels when it gets cold. My best advice: fish early morning or late evening with a popping cork and live shrimp about 18 inches below. Work it slow over grass beds and be ready for that distinctive thump.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are hands-down the most unique fish we target - they've got human-like teeth that'll make you do a double-take. These black-striped "convict fish" typically run 1-8 pounds around docks, bridges, and any barnacle-covered structure. Spring is when they really stack up for spawning, making them easier to find. What guests love most is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with light bites, but once hooked, they put up a solid scrap. The payoff is worth it too; their sweet, flaky white meat rivals any fish in these waters. They're picky eaters that love fiddler crabs and shrimp around pilings. Pro tip: use small hooks and get your bait right against the structure. When you feel that subtle tick-tick, set the hook hard immediately - hesitate and they'll steal your bait every time.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are one of the coolest fish we target - they're basically underwater chameleons that lie flat on sandy bottoms with both eyes on one side of their head. Most run 15-20 inches, but we've seen some push 26 pounds. They're ambush predators that bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to strike unsuspecting baitfish. Fall fishing from September through November is when they really turn on before their offshore migration. Guests love them because they fight surprisingly hard for a flatfish and make some of the best eating you'll find - sweet, white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. Here's a local trick: when you're drifting over structure, use a bucktail jig tipped with squid strips and bounce it slowly along the bottom. They'll often hit on the drop, so stay alert.
St Bernard