Family Fishing Fun in Venice, Louisiana
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour private inshore fishing trip for families of fourTarget Redfish, Sea Trout, and Sheepshead from stable boatProfessional captain provides kid-friendly fishing experience
If you're looking to get the kids hooked on fishing, this half-day trip with Captain Mark Wagner is exactly what you need. Venice, Louisiana sits right at the mouth of the Mississippi River where freshwater meets the Gulf, creating some of the most productive inshore waters you'll find anywhere. This 6-hour adventure starts early at 6 AM from Venice Marina, giving your family the best bite times when fish are most active. At $800 for up to 4 people, it's a solid value for a private charter that's designed specifically with young anglers in mind. Captain Mark knows how to keep kids engaged and excited about fishing, making this the perfect introduction to Louisiana's world-class inshore fishery.
Captain Mark runs a stable 23-foot Fish Master that's perfect for families with kids. This boat handles the inshore waters around Venice beautifully and gives everyone plenty of room to fish without getting tangled up. You'll be targeting the marshes, grass flats, and shallow water structure where Redfish, Sea Trout, and Sheepshead love to hang out. The beauty of this trip is that it's designed for high-action fishing – we're not sitting around waiting for that one big bite. Kids need constant action to stay interested, and these inshore species deliver exactly that. The water around Venice is relatively protected, so you won't be dealing with big swells that might make the little ones uncomfortable. Captain Mark provides all the tackle and bait, and he'll spend time teaching proper casting techniques, how to feel a bite, and the right way to fight a fish. Don't forget that adults need a Louisiana fishing license – kids under 16 fish free, but make sure you're legal before you hit the water.
This trip focuses on light tackle fishing that's perfect for kids to handle. We're talking spinning reels with 15-20 pound test line that won't overpower young hands but still has enough backbone to land some solid fish. Captain Mark typically sets everyone up with live shrimp, cut bait, or soft plastics depending on what's biting best. The techniques are simple but effective – we might be sight fishing for tailing Redfish in shallow water, bottom fishing around structure for Sheepshead, or working grass flats for Sea Trout. Kids love the variety because they're constantly learning something new. One minute they're watching their rod tip for that telltale tap of a Sheepshead, the next they're casting at a school of Redfish cruising the shallows. The boat comes equipped with a good fish finder, but in these shallow inshore waters, you'll often be fishing visually. Captain Mark has been working these waters long enough to know where fish hold during different tides and seasons, so you're fishing the most productive spots instead of just hoping for the best.
Redfish are the stars of the show in Venice's inshore waters, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers fight hard and grow big in Louisiana's nutrient-rich marshes. You'll find them in water anywhere from 6 inches to 6 feet deep, often tailing in the grass or cruising the edges of oyster bars. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish ranging from 16-inch schoolies up to bull Reds pushing 30+ inches. Kids love Redfish because they hit hard, fight strong, and make that unforgettable screaming drag run that gets everyone excited. The sight fishing opportunities are incredible – there's nothing like watching a kid's face light up when they see their first Redfish tailing in skinny water.
Sheepshead might be the most underrated fish in these waters. These black-and-white striped convict fish are absolute bait thieves, but once kids figure out the technique, they become addictive to catch. Sheepshead hang around structure like pilings, rocks, and oyster bars, using their human-like teeth to crush crabs, barnacles, and shrimp. They're year-round residents, but spring brings the best numbers as they move shallow to spawn. Kids quickly learn to feel for that subtle tap-tap bite and set the hook immediately. These fish are excellent table fare too, with sweet white meat that even picky eaters love.
Sea Trout are another kid-friendly species that populate Venice's grass flats and shallow bays. These spotted beauties are aggressive feeders that hit artificials and live bait with equal enthusiasm. Spring and fall offer peak action, with fish ranging from 12-inch schoolies perfect for young anglers up to 4-pound "gator trout" that will test their skills. Sea Trout are forgiving fish – they don't require perfect presentations, and they'll often give you multiple chances if you miss the first hookset. The popping sound they make when you bring them to the boat always gets kids laughing.
Black Drum are the gentle giants of the inshore scene, offering kids a chance to battle something with real pulling power. These bottom dwellers love crab and shrimp around oyster bars and muddy flats. While they don't jump or make blazing runs, they use their broad bodies and stubborn nature to provide a tug-of-war that teaches young anglers about steady pressure and patience. Fall and winter bring the best Black Drum fishing, with fish ranging from 2-pound "puppy drum" up to monsters pushing 30+ pounds.
Summer Flounder round out your target species list and provide a different kind of excitement. These masters of camouflage lie buried in sand and mud, waiting to ambush passing prey. Kids get a kick out of the way Flounder hit – often just a subtle weight on the line that suddenly comes to life. They're most active during warmer months around shell beds, channel edges, and sandy flats. Flounder fishing teaches patience and the importance of feeling your bait, skills that translate to all types of angling.
Meet our 23-foot Fish Master center console, your ticket to some serious inshore action in Venice's productive waters. This bay boat runs on a powerful 300 Mercury engine that'll get you to the fish fast and keep you stable once we're on the spots. Built for families, she holds up to 4 anglers comfortably with plenty of room to move around when the kids hook into those hard-fighting redfish and sheepshead. The center console design gives everyone easy access to cast lines without tangling up, plus we've got all the gear ready to go - rods, reels, tackle, and bait. The built-in icebox keeps your drinks cold and gives us space to ice down your catch for the ride home. Perfect for working the grass flats and oyster reefs where speckled trout hide, or sliding into the shallows after those bronze beauties we call redfish. This boat handles Venice's inshore waters like a champ, whether we're fishing the passes or hunting flounder in the marsh.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some monsters hitting 90+ pounds. These silver-gray bruisers love shallow muddy flats and oyster beds where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. They're notorious fighters that'll test your drag, and the smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab or cut mullet on the bottom and be patient - they're picky eaters but once hooked, they'll give you a workout you won't forget.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of our inshore waters, easily spotted by their copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. These 20-40 inch beauties love super shallow water from 1-4 feet, often cruising oyster bars and grass flats with their backs exposed. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall brings monster schools that'll keep your rod bent all day. What guests love most is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll peel drag like nothing else in the shallows. The meat on smaller reds is sweet and mild, perfect for the grill. Pro tip: look for nervous water and tailing fish on the flats, then cast topwater plugs or live shrimp just ahead of their path for explosive action.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are silver beauties with distinctive black spots that love our grass flats and shallow bays. These 1-5 pound fighters prefer 2-8 feet of water over sandy bottoms with scattered grass. Dawn and dusk fishing produces the most consistent action, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper channels. What makes them special is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus they're fantastic table fare with delicate white meat. The key to consistent trout fishing is working the edges of grass beds with soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork - keep it subtle and let the bait do the work.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with their distinctive black and gray stripes, but don't let their looks fool you - they're some of the best eating around. These 1-8 pound structure huggers have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off dock pilings and oil rigs. Winter and spring bring the best action when they school up near inshore structures in 10-30 feet of water. Families love targeting them because they're always hungry and fight surprisingly hard for their size. The challenge is their notorious bait-stealing behavior. Here's the trick: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, get tight to structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel them nibbling - they're sneaky but worth the effort.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, changing colors to match their surroundings. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches but can surprise you with doormat-sized specimens over 5 pounds. They're ambush predators that bury in sand and mud, waiting for baitfish to swim by. Fall months from September through November offer the hottest bite when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. Kids love the challenge of feeling their subtle bite, and the sweet white meat is hard to beat on the dinner table. My go-to trick: use a slow retrieve with live finger mullet or mud minnows near structure - patience pays off with these crafty bottom dwellers.
Venice Marina, LA