Full Day Venice Fishing - Prime Inshore Action
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day inshore fishing targeting redfish and sea troutProfessional captain with 23-foot boat accommodates four guestsEight-hour Venice Marina departure at 6:00 AM daily
When you think about world-class inshore fishing, Venice, Louisiana sits at the top of every angler's bucket list. Captain Mark Wagner runs one of the most sought-after charters in these legendary waters, and his full-day trips deliver exactly what serious fishermen are looking for. You'll launch at 6 AM from Venice Marina aboard his well-equipped 23-foot Fish Master, ready to tackle eight solid hours of fishing in some of the Gulf Coast's most productive waters. This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip - Mark knows these marshes, cuts, and structure like the back of his hand, and he's built his reputation on putting clients on fish consistently.
Your day starts early because that's when the fish are most active, especially during the warmer months when dawn and dusk provide the best bite windows. The 23-foot Fish Master gives you plenty of room to fish comfortably with up to three other anglers, while still being nimble enough to navigate the shallow waters and tight spots where the big reds like to hang out. Captain Mark provides all the tackle you'll need, from light spinning setups perfect for trout to heavier gear that can handle a bull redfish when it decides to make a serious run. The boat is rigged with everything from live wells to keep your bait frisky, to fish boxes that'll keep your catch fresh throughout the long day. You'll cover a lot of water during these eight hours, moving between different spots based on tides, weather, and what's biting best that particular day.
Venice's inshore fishing revolves around reading the water and adapting your approach based on what you're targeting. Captain Mark typically starts the day working live shrimp under popping corks around the grass flats where speckled trout love to ambush prey. As the day progresses, you might switch to bottom fishing with cut bait around bridge pilings and rock piles where sheepshead and black drum hang out. The redfish bite often picks up as you work the marsh edges with gold spoons or soft plastics, especially around points and cuts where the current creates feeding opportunities. Structure fishing is huge here - old oil platforms, shell reefs, and even sunken barges hold different species depending on the season and conditions. Mark knows exactly which spots produce during different tidal phases, and he's constantly adjusting tackle and techniques based on what the fish are telling him that day.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Venice inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers are what most anglers dream about when they book this trip. Louisiana reds are known for their size and fight - you'll regularly see fish in the 20 to 30-inch range, with plenty of bulls mixed in that can stretch your drag and test your arms. They're most active during the cooler months from October through March, but you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What makes reds so special is their aggressive strike and the way they use their broad tails to make powerful runs in shallow water.
Speckled trout might not have the raw power of redfish, but they make up for it with numbers and excellent table fare. These spotted beauties love the grass flats and drop-offs around Venice, especially during spring and fall when water temperatures are in their sweet spot. A good trout bite can keep you busy all day, with fish ranging from keeper-sized 14-inchers up to true gator trout that push 25 inches or more. They're incredibly light biters, so you'll learn to feel for that subtle tick on your line that signals a trout has picked up your bait.
Black drum are the heavyweight champions of the bottom, often weighing in at 20 to 40 pounds or more. These fish are structure magnets - find the right bridge piling, oyster reef, or oil rig, and you might be in for the fight of your life. They're most active during the warmer months and are famous for their bulldogging runs that test both your tackle and your technique. Landing a big drum requires patience and steady pressure rather than trying to horse them to the boat.
Sheepshead are the thieves of the inshore world, famous for stealing bait with surgical precision. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure where they can pick off crabs and barnacles with their human-like teeth. They're incredibly frustrating and addictive at the same time - once you figure out their bite pattern, you can catch them consistently, but they'll humble even experienced anglers with their light touch and quick escapes.
Summer flounder round out the target species list with their unique hunting style and excellent eating quality. These flatfish ambush prey from the bottom, often in areas with sandy or muddy substrate near deeper channels. They're most active during the summer months, hence the name, and provide a nice change of pace from the other species you'll encounter during the day.
At $800 for a full eight-hour private charter, Captain Mark's trips offer serious value for groups of up to four anglers. You're getting a dedicated professional guide who knows these waters intimately, quality tackle and equipment, and access to some of the most productive inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast. Don't forget to grab your Louisiana fishing license before you arrive - it's required for all anglers and easily obtained online. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to check Venice off your fishing bucket list or a group wanting to experience world-class inshore action, this trip delivers the goods. The early 6 AM start time means you'll be off the water by mid-afternoon, leaving time to clean your catch and maybe grab some famous Louisiana seafood for dinner. Book your dates early, especially during peak season, because Captain Mark's reputation for putting clients on fish keeps his calendar full with repeat customers and referrals.
Our 23-foot Fish Master center console is built for serious inshore action in Venice's productive waters. The 300 Mercury engine gets you to the hot spots fast, whether we're working the marsh edges for redfish or drifting structure for sheepshead. This bay boat handles the shallow flats and deeper channels with equal confidence, giving you access to prime fishing grounds that hold speckled trout, black drum, and flounder. The spacious deck layout lets four anglers fish comfortably without tangling lines, while the center console design provides excellent sight fishing opportunities when stalking reds in skinny water. With a built-in icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long summer runs, this boat has everything needed for a productive day on the water. The shallow draft lets us slip into back lakes and bayous where the big fish hide, while the stable platform gives you confidence when fighting that bull red or oversized trout.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and shallow structure where they use their powerful jaws to crush shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning, making them much easier to target. You'll find them in 2-15 feet around Venice's abundant oyster reefs and inshore structure. What makes them special is that crushing power - they'll pull drag and test your tackle. Meat quality is best on fish under 15 pounds; bigger ones get tough. Pro tip: use fresh crab or cut mullet on the bottom, and when you feel that telltale tapping, give them a second before setting the hook hard. They're notorious bait stealers but worth the wait.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are Venice's signature species - these copper-colored bruisers with the distinctive black spot near their tail. They range from schoolie 18-27 inchers to bull reds over 30 inches that'll test your drag. Around Venice, you'll find them in 1-6 feet over mud bottoms, around oyster reefs, and in marsh ponds where they tail like bonefish. Fall and spring offer the best action when they school up heavily. What makes them special is their power and willingness to eat almost anything - live shrimp, cut bait, spoons, and topwater plugs all work. The slot fish make excellent eating with mild, flaky meat. The real thrill is sight casting to tailing fish in skinny water. Pro tip: approach them quietly and cast past the fish, then work your bait back through their feeding zone.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are Venice's bread and butter fish, running 14-24 inches with those beautiful black spots covering their silver sides. These grass flat specialists love 2-8 feet of water over seagrass beds where they ambush shrimp and baitfish. They're most active during cooler months and at dawn and dusk when they move shallow to feed. What guests love is their willingness to hit artificials - they'll crush topwater plugs, soft plastics, and live shrimp with equal enthusiasm. The meat is tender and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. In winter they school up in deeper holes, but spring through fall you'll find them scattered across the flats. Pro tip: work your lure slow and steady just over the grass tops. When they hit, don't horse them - their mouths are soft and hooks pull out easily.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of Venice waters with their distinctive black and white stripes. These 2-8 pound structure huggers have human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs. You'll find them around any hard structure - docks, pilings, oil rigs, and oyster beds in 5-25 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they spawn and school up heavily. What makes them special is they're notorious bait thieves with excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. They're picky eaters that prefer live or fresh dead shrimp, fiddler crabs, and barnacles. The trick is getting your bait tight to structure and feeling for those light taps. When you detect that nibbling, set the hook immediately and pull them away from cover fast or they'll cut you off.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are masters of disguise - these flatfish can change color to match the bottom perfectly. Most run 15-20 inches, but we see plenty of 3-5 pounders around Venice's sandy flats and channel edges. They're ambush predators that bury in sand waiting for baitfish to swim by. Fall months from September through November are peak season when they're most active and feeding heavily before winter. What guests love is the challenge - you're sight fishing for fish that are nearly invisible, plus they make excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. They hit live shrimp, finger mullet, and slow-moving jigs. The key is keeping your bait moving just off the bottom. Once hooked, they fight sideways and can surprise you with their strength for a flatfish.
Venice Marina, LA