Full Day Inshore Fishing in St. Bernard, LA
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
7hour private inshore fishing trip for up to 2 anglersTarget redfish, black drum, sea trout, and summer flounderIncludes fish cleaning service and launches at 6:00 AM
If you're looking for a solid day of inshore fishing without all the fluff, SaltyFrog Charters has you covered. This 7-hour private trip takes you and one buddy into the productive waters around St. Bernard, Louisiana, where redfish, sea trout, black drum, and summer flounder are just waiting to test your skills. You'll launch at 6 AM from Hopedale Highway, which puts you right in the heart of some of Louisiana's best inshore fishing territory. Captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish while keeping things straightforward and fun. Just bring your Louisiana fishing license, some snacks, drinks, and a small cooler for your cleaned fillets – everything else is handled.
This trip is all about maximizing your time on productive water. You'll be fishing aboard a well-equipped boat that comfortably handles up to 4 people, but with just 2 anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work and won't be bumping elbows when the action heats up. The captain will target structure, grass flats, and drop-offs where these inshore species like to hang out. Expect to cover different areas throughout the day as conditions and fish activity dictate – that's just smart fishing. The beauty of a 7-hour trip is having time to really work an area when fish are biting, or move on when they're not cooperating. You'll be back at the dock with cleaned fillets ready for the dinner table, which beats spending your evening with a fillet knife.
Inshore fishing in St. Bernard waters calls for versatile approaches, and your captain will adjust tactics based on what's working that day. You'll likely be using medium to medium-heavy spinning gear with live bait like shrimp, mud minnows, or croaker, depending on what's available and what the fish are wanting. Artificial lures play a big role too – soft plastics rigged on jig heads work great for redfish and trout, while topwater plugs can create some heart-stopping strikes during the right conditions. The key is reading the water and matching your presentation to the structure you're fishing. Shallow grass flats call for different techniques than deeper channels or oyster reefs. Your captain will handle all the tackle and bait, so you can focus on learning the techniques and putting fish in the boat.
Redfish are the backbone of Louisiana inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters average 20-27 inches in these waters and will give you a battle that tests your drag and your patience. They're most active during cooler parts of the day, which is why that early 6 AM start pays off. Redfish love shallow water, especially around oyster reefs and grass edges where they can ambush prey. What makes them special is their willingness to eat just about anything – live shrimp, cut bait, or a well-placed soft plastic. When you hook one, expect multiple runs and don't be surprised if they try to wrap you around structure.
Sea trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the other staple of these waters. They're typically more finicky than redfish but make up for it with their excellent table fare. Most specks you'll catch run 14-18 inches, with the occasional gator trout pushing over 20 inches. They prefer slightly deeper water than reds and are often found around drop-offs, channel edges, and deeper grass beds. Sea trout are more temperature sensitive, so early morning and late afternoon tend to be prime time. They have softer mouths than redfish, so keeping steady pressure without horsing them is key to landing your dinner.
Black drum don't get the press that redfish and trout do, but they're incredibly fun to catch and surprisingly good eating when prepared right. These bottom-feeders can range from 2-pound juveniles that fight like fish twice their size up to 15-20 pound adults that will test your tackle. They're suckers for fresh shrimp or crab, especially around structure like bridge pilings, reefs, or channel markers. Black drum are year-round residents, making them a reliable target when other species are being temperamental. Their deep, steady runs are different from the explosive fights of redfish, but no less satisfying.
Summer flounder add variety to your cooler and your fishing experience. These flatfish are masters of camouflage and ambush, lying on sandy or muddy bottoms waiting for prey to swim overhead. They typically run 12-16 inches in these waters, though bigger ones are always possible. Flounder fishing requires different techniques – you're usually bouncing bait along the bottom or working soft plastics with a slow, methodical retrieve. They're excellent table fare with firm, white meat that's perfect for almost any cooking method. Finding flounder often means covering water and paying attention to bottom composition and depth changes.
This trip delivers exactly what it promises – a full day of quality inshore fishing without any unnecessary complications. The 15% deposit makes booking simple, and the 6 AM launch time puts you on the water when fish are most active. Having your fillets cleaned at the end of the trip means you can focus on fishing instead of knife work. Whether you're looking to put dinner on the table, introduce someone to Louisiana inshore fishing, or just spend a day doing what you love, this trip checks all the boxes. The private nature means you're not competing with other anglers for space or the captain's attention. Book your dates soon – good inshore fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when these species are most active.
Our 23-foot bay boat is built for serious inshore fishing in St. Bernard's productive waters. With a reliable trolling motor for those shallow redfish flats and a quality fish finder to locate structure where trout hang out, you'll have the right tools to target your catch. The onboard live well keeps your bait lively, while the spacious icebox handles your drinks and eventual fillets. GPS navigation gets us to the best spots efficiently, and VHF radio keeps us connected for safety. The boat comfortably handles 2 anglers with plenty of casting room and storage for your gear. Whether we're working the marsh edges for reds or drifting deeper water for speckled trout, this rig is designed to put you on fish in Louisiana's prime inshore waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some bruisers pushing 90. These gray-black fish love hanging around oyster beds and shallow muddy flats where they crush crabs and shellfish with their powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're strong fighters that'll test your drag, but stick to the smaller ones under 15 pounds for the dinner table since the big ones get tough and chewy. My go-to trick is using fresh peeler crab on a Carolina rig right on the bottom - they can't resist it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our Louisiana marshes, easily spotted by their copper-red backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. These bruisers typically range 20-35 inches and love super shallow water where you'll often see their backs and tails breaking the surface. They're year-round fighters, but spring and fall produce the most consistent action when they're actively feeding in the shallows. What makes redfish so popular is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fight - they'll make screaming runs that test your equipment. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, firm meat. Pro tip: look for nervous water and mullet jumping - that usually means reds are feeding underneath pushing bait to the surface.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silver fish covered in black spots that typically run 14-24 inches in our waters. They love grass flats and shallow areas, especially at dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding on shrimp and small baitfish. While you can catch them year-round, cooler months often produce better action as they school up in deeper holes. What draws folks to trout fishing is their willingness to hit artificial lures and their excellent eating quality - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the table. The key trick here is working topwater plugs early morning over grass beds. That explosive surface strike will get your heart pumping every time.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms, changing colors like chameleons to match their surroundings. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches and are ambush predators that lay buried in sand waiting for baitfish to swim by. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're most active. What makes them special is that incredible table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're tricky to hook since they bite sideways, so patience is key. Here's the local secret: when you feel that tap-tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook. They need time to turn that bait around in their mouth.
St Bernard, LA