Expert Guided Full Day Fishing Adventures in Venice LA
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore fishing trip targeting redfish and sea troutProfessional captain provides private charter for up to four guestsDeparts Venice Marina at 6AM aboard twentythree foot Fish Master
Venice, Louisiana sits at the very end of the Mississippi River Delta, where the muddy waters meet the Gulf of Mexico and create one of the richest fishing grounds in North America. Captain Mark Wagner knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious fish during this 8-hour inshore adventure. Starting at 6:00 AM from Venice Marina, you'll climb aboard his 23-foot Fish Master and head out to where the redfish, sea trout, black drum, sheepshead, and summer flounder are feeding. This isn't just another fishing trip - it's your chance to experience world-class angling in Louisiana's legendary marsh country.
Your day kicks off early at Venice Marina, where Captain Mark will have the Fish Master prepped and ready to roll. This 23-foot platform gives your party of up to four anglers plenty of room to spread out and work different techniques without getting in each other's way. The boat's shallow draft design lets Mark navigate the maze of channels, cuts, and grass flats that make Venice such a productive fishery. You'll spend the morning hitting prime feeding areas where baitfish congregate, drawing in hungry predators looking for an easy meal. The beauty of fishing Venice lies in its variety - one cast might produce a hard-fighting redfish while the next brings up a hefty black drum or a beautiful speckled trout. Mark provides all the tackle and knows exactly which baits and lures work best for each species, so you can focus on setting the hook and enjoying the fight.
Venice inshore fishing requires adapting your approach throughout the day as conditions change and fish move between different structures. You'll work everything from shallow grass flats using topwater plugs and soft plastics to deeper channels where live bait really shines. Mark keeps a variety of tackle rigged and ready - spinning gear loaded with speckled trout magnets, baitcasters set up for redfish with gold spoons, and bottom rigs perfect for targeting sheepshead around structure. The key to success here is reading the water and matching your presentation to what the fish want. Some days they'll crush anything you throw at them, while others require finesse and patience. You might find yourself sight-casting to tailing reds in skinny water one hour, then dropping live shrimp near oil rigs the next. The constantly changing environment keeps every angler engaged, regardless of skill level.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Venice inshore fishing, and these copper-colored bruisers provide some of the most exciting action you'll find anywhere. Louisiana reds typically run 20-35 inches and fight like freight trains, making blistering runs and using their broad shoulders to test your drag system. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish feeding aggressively in preparation for their offshore spawning runs. What makes catching redfish so special is their willingness to eat almost anything - from live shrimp and mullet to artificial lures like spoons and soft plastics. When you hook into a big red, expect a battle that'll get your heart pumping.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the bread and butter species that keep action consistent throughout the day. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spotted pattern typically range from 12-20 inches, with the occasional gator trout pushing 25 inches or better. They're most active during cooler months when water temperatures drop, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. Specks love structure like grass beds, shell reefs, and drop-offs where they can ambush unsuspecting baitfish. Their delicate mouths require a light drag setting, but their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights make them a favorite among anglers.
Black drum are the bulldozers of the Venice flats, with mature fish weighing 30-50 pounds and providing arm-burning fights in shallow water. These bottom-feeders use their powerful pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish, making them perfectly suited for the shell-rich environment around Venice. Peak season runs from late winter through early summer when large schools move into the shallows to spawn. What makes drum fishing so addictive is the visual element - you'll often see their backs and tails breaking the surface as they root around in the mud, giving you clear targets for your casts.
Sheepshead are the master thieves of the marsh, famous for their ability to steal bait without getting hooked. These black-and-white striped fish congregate around any type of structure - bridge pilings, oil rigs, rock piles, and oyster reefs. Their human-like teeth are perfectly designed for crushing barnacles and small crustaceans, which makes them notoriously difficult to hook consistently. Landing a nice sheepshead requires patience, sharp hooks, and quick reflexes, but their sweet, white meat makes them one of the best eating fish in these waters.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the chameleons of the Venice fishing scene, perfectly camouflaged against sandy bottoms where they lie in wait for passing prey. These flatfish can grow surprisingly large in Louisiana waters, with fish over 20 inches not uncommon during peak season from late spring through summer. They're ambush predators that rely on lightning-fast strikes to capture baitfish, making them exciting targets for both live bait and artificial lures. When a big flounder inhales your offering, you'll feel that distinctive head-shaking fight that lets you know you've got something special on the line.
At $800 for a full day private charter accommodating up to four anglers, Captain Mark Wagner's Venice fishing trip delivers exceptional value for world-class angling. You're getting eight full hours on some of Louisiana's most productive waters with a captain who knows exactly where to find the fish. Remember to grab your Louisiana fishing license before you arrive - you can
Our 23-foot Fish Master center console is built for serious inshore fishing in Venice's productive waters. The 300 Mercury engine gets you to the hotspots quickly and quietly, whether we're working the marsh edges for redfish or targeting structure for sheepshead. This bay boat handles the shallow flats and deeper channels with ease, giving us access to prime fishing grounds that bigger boats can't reach. The center console design keeps the deck open so up to 4 anglers can move around comfortably while fighting fish. Everything's included - rods, reels, tackle, bait, plus an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold during our 8-hour trip. The low-profile hull cuts through chop smoothly, and the shallow draft lets us get back into those productive back bays where the big reds and trout hang out. Perfect setup for targeting multiple species in Louisiana's world-class inshore fishery.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, commonly running 5-30 pounds but capable of hitting 90+ pounds. These gray-black bruisers love shallow muddy flats and oyster beds where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring brings the best action when they school up for spawning around February through April. You'll find them in brackish areas from super shallow water down to 20 feet, often following the tide lines. What makes them special is that bone-jarring initial run - they're bulldogs that'll test your drag system. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My go-to trick is using fresh peeler crab on a Carolina rig and keeping your bait right on bottom - these fish rarely chase anything more than a foot off the mud.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, with their copper-red sides and distinctive black spots near the tail. Most slot fish run 20-27 inches, but we also target bull reds that can push 40+ inches and 30 pounds. They thrive in our shallow marshes, oyster reefs, and grass flats, often in water so shallow their backs show above the surface. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and spring offer peak action. What makes them special is that aggressive strike and powerful run - they're tough fighters that'll make your drag sing. Plus, slot-sized fish are excellent table fare with firm, sweet meat. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, especially during moving tides. The money tip is watching for their wakes and tails in skinny water, then placing your bait about 3 feet ahead of where they're heading. Live shrimp works great, but don't overlook gold spoons and topwater plugs for explosive strikes.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled Trout are our most reliable inshore fish, running 14-24 inches and providing consistent action year-round. These spotted beauties love grass flats, shallow bays, and areas with good tidal flow, typically in 2-8 feet of water. They're most active during spring and fall, but summer nights and winter's warmer afternoons can be prime time. What guests appreciate is their willingness to hit artificial lures and their solid fight on light tackle. The meat is tender and flaky - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They school up in winter in deeper channels, sometimes 15+ feet down. My favorite approach is working topwater plugs at first light over grass beds, but when that slows down, switch to soft plastics bounced along the bottom. The key is varying your retrieve speed until you find what they want - some days they want it fast, others they prefer a slow, subtle presentation.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Louisiana waters with their distinctive black and white stripes and those famous human-like teeth. These guys typically run 1-8 pounds and love hanging around any structure - docks, bridges, oil rigs, and oyster beds. They're year-round residents but fishing peaks in late winter through spring when they move to spawn around structures. What makes them challenging and fun is their notorious bait-stealing ability - they'll pick your hook clean if you're not paying attention. The reward is some of the finest eating fish in the Gulf with sweet, flaky white meat. You'll want to get as close to structure as possible with fresh shrimp or fiddler crab. Here's the trick: once you feel that first nibble, don't wait - set the hook hard and immediately. Sheepshead have tough mouths and they'll drop your bait in a heartbeat if you hesitate.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are masters of disguise that lie flat on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches and 2-4 pounds, though we occasionally hook doormat-sized fish pushing 8+ pounds. These flatfish prefer sandy or muddy bottoms in 10-40 feet of water, especially around channel edges and drop-offs. Fall months from September through November offer the hottest action as they fatten up before their offshore migration. What guests love is the surprise factor - you never know when that gentle tap is going to be a keeper-sized fish. They're also some of the best eating in our waters with sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. The key is using a slow drift with live mullet or minnows hooked through the eyes, and always give them time to fully engulf the bait before setting the hook - they bite sideways and need a second to turn it.
Venice Marina, LA