New Orleans Red Snapper Fishing
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
Target red snapper during limited 4month season windowFish Gulf of Mexico rigs for multiple snapper speciesSingle angler charter with Performance Fishing Charters
When snapper season opens up in the Gulf of Mexico, there's no better place to wet your line than the legendary rigs and reefs off New Orleans. This top-rated fishing charter takes you straight to where the action is - those famous oil platforms and natural structure that hold some of the Gulf's most prized gamefish. With Performance Fishing Charters, you're getting a world-class experience during that precious four-month window when red snapper fishing is at its absolute peak. The Gulf's underwater landscape creates perfect habitat for snapper and other bottom dwellers, making every drop of your line a potential trophy catch.
This is fishing the way it's meant to be done - heading out to the deep blue where those massive oil rigs rise from the seafloor like underwater skyscrapers. The Gulf's rig fishing scene is something else entirely, with structure that attracts everything from keeper red snapper to hefty cobia cruising the surface. You'll be fishing in 60-150 feet of water where the bottom is loaded with marine growth, baitfish, and hungry predators looking for their next meal. The boat positioning is crucial out here - your captain knows exactly how to work these structures, reading the current and wind to put you right where the fish are stacked up. Between the artificial reefs created by decades of oil exploration and the natural hard bottom scattered throughout the area, you've got miles of prime fishing real estate that most anglers only dream about.
Rig fishing is all about precision and patience - you're dropping heavy lead straight down to the bottom where these fish live and feed. The standard setup involves chicken rigs or knocker rigs loaded with fresh cut bait, typically squid, cigar minnows, or whatever baitfish are running thick that day. The key is getting your bait down through the current and keeping it in the strike zone without hanging up on the rig structure. You'll be using stout tackle - think 6-8 foot conventional rods paired with reels that can handle 40-60 pound test line, because these fish don't mess around when they're hooked near structure. Circle hooks are the name of the game for snapper, helping with both hookup ratios and fish survival. Your captain will have the boat positioned perfectly, using GPS and fish finder technology to stay right on top of the productive spots while managing drift and current.
The variety of fish you can pull up from these Gulf rigs is what keeps anglers coming back year after year. Red snapper are obviously the headliners during the open season - these ruby-red beauties are pound-for-pound some of the strongest fighters in the Gulf. They'll test every knot and connection on your rig when they make their run for the structure below. Mangrove snapper add another dimension to the fishing, often found in the same areas but requiring a bit more finesse with lighter tackle and smaller baits. Lane snapper might be smaller, but they're scrappy fighters and excellent table fare. The mutton snapper, or B-liners as locals call them, are the wildcards - when you hook into a good one, you know you've got something special on the other end. Cobia are the bonus fish that can show up anytime, often cruising near the surface around the rigs and providing heart-stopping surface strikes.
Black drum are the powerhouses of the Gulf's inshore and nearshore waters, with fish regularly pushing 30-50 pounds around the deeper structure. These copper-colored bruisers are most active during cooler months, typically fall through early spring, when they move into their spawning areas. What makes black drum so special is their incredible pulling power - they don't jump or run like other gamefish, but instead use their broad shoulders and stubborn nature to test your drag system to its limits. The meat is excellent when prepared right, with a firm white flesh that's perfect for blackening or grilling. Anglers love targeting drum because they're predictable fighters that give you time to enjoy the battle without the crazy runs that can break you off on structure.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as they're known locally, are the most popular inshore species in Louisiana waters and for good reason. These beautiful spotted fish are most active during spring and fall when water temperatures are in that sweet 65-75 degree range. They're ambush predators that love to hang around structure, making them perfect targets when fishing the shallower rigs and platforms. What gets anglers fired up about trout is their aggressive strike and acrobatic fighting style - they'll jump, shake their heads, and make multiple runs before coming to the net. The 3-5 pound fish are the bread and butter, but trophy trout over 25 inches are always a possibility and represent the kind of fish that make lasting memories.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Gulf Coast fishing, with their bronze-colored sides and distinctive black spots making them instantly recognizable. These fish are available year-round but really turn on during fall months when they school up for their spawning runs. Bull reds over 27 inches are pure muscle, capable of stripping line off your reel in long, powerful runs that can last several minutes. What makes redfish so sought-after is their combination of beauty, fight, and table quality - plus they're one of the few species where you might hook into anything from a 20-inch slot fish to a 40-pound bull on the same trip. The way they use their broad tails to fight in shallow water creates an unforgettable experience that keeps anglers planning their next redfish adventure before they've even landed their first one.
With red snapper season only open for about four months each year, these prime Gulf fishing dates fill up faster than you can set the hook. Performance Fishing Charters has earned their reputation by consistently putting clients on fish during these limited windows, combining local knowledge with
Get ready to target red snapper and other Gulf species aboard this tech-loaded motorboat built for serious wreck fishing. The boat comes equipped with advanced radar and GPS navigation to precisely locate those productive offshore structures where the big snappers hold. A wireless trolling motor lets you quietly position over wrecks without spooking the fish, while the fish finder reveals exactly what's swimming below. XM weather keeps you informed of changing conditions, and VHF radio ensures safe communication on the water. With an autopilot trolling motor handling positioning, you can focus on dropping baits to the bottom where red snapper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, and cobia are waiting. The limited snapper season makes every trip count, so this boat's high-tech setup gives you the edge needed to make the most of your time on the water targeting these prized Gulf species around New Orleans' productive offshore wrecks and structure.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of Louisiana's inshore waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with monsters pushing 90 pounds. These grey-black bruisers love crushing oysters and crabs with their powerful jaws around shallow muddy flats, oyster reefs, and brackish areas. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They fight hard and steady, making long runs that'll test your drag. Smaller ones under 15 pounds eat great, but the big bulls get tough and stringy. Here's the trick: use fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig and keep it right on the bottom. They won't chase bait, so put it where they can smell it.
Sciaenops OcellatusLouisiana's copper-colored reds are pure gold for sight fishing, running 20-35 inches in our shallow marshes and flats. These bronze beauties with their signature black spots cruise 1-4 feet of water around oyster reefs, grass beds, and mud flats. Fall and spring offer the best action when they're actively feeding and easier to spot. What gets people hooked is watching them tail in skinny water and that bulldogging fight once hooked. They're also fantastic eating - mild, sweet meat that grills perfectly. Year-round fishing means consistent action. The secret is staying quiet and making long casts ahead of cruising fish. Use gold spoons, topwater plugs, or live shrimp under a cork. Match their travel direction and let the bait intercept their path.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are one of our most reliable targets in the marsh, averaging 14-24 inches with some pushing 5 pounds. These silver beauties with dark spots love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs in 2-8 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods - dawn, dusk, and overcast days are money time. What makes them special is their willingness to hit topwater lures and their excellent table fare - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. They school up in winter around deeper channels and structures. The key is working soft plastics under a popping cork or throwing topwater plugs over grass beds early morning. Keep your retrieve steady but not too fast - they like to track their prey before striking.
New Orleans, LA