Full Day Fishing Trip In St. Bernard, LA
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Private 7-hour inshore fishing trip for 2 guests maximumTarget Redfish, Black Drum, Sea Trout, and Summer FlounderEarly 6 AM departure with SaltyFrog Charters from Hopedale
When you're looking for serious inshore action in Louisiana, St. Bernard Parish delivers the goods. SaltyFrog Charters runs a top-rated 7-hour fishing adventure that puts you right in the heart of some of the Gulf Coast's most productive waters. This isn't your typical crowded charter boat experience – you're getting a private trip with room for just 2 anglers, which means more fish per rod and personalized attention from your guide. We're talking Redfish, Black Drum, Sea Trout, and Summer Flounder, all within casting distance of the marsh grass and oyster beds that make this area legendary among Gulf Coast anglers.
Your day starts early at 6:00 AM from 5717 Hopedale Hwy, and there's a good reason for that crack-of-dawn launch. The fish are most active in the cooler morning hours, and you'll want every minute of that 7-hour window to work the prime spots. The boat handles up to 4 people comfortably, but with just 2 anglers on board, you've got plenty of space to work and won't be bumping elbows when the action heats up. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand – we're talking decades of experience reading tides, weather patterns, and fish behavior in the St. Bernard Parish marsh system. You'll be working shallow flats, oyster reefs, and grass beds where these inshore species love to hunt and feed. The boat is equipped with everything you need for a successful day, from rods and reels to tackle and bait. Just bring your valid Louisiana fishing license, some snacks and drinks to keep your energy up, and a small cooler for your cleaned fillets. That's right – they'll clean your catch for you, so you can head home with table-ready fish.
This is classic inshore fishing at its finest, using techniques that have been proven in these waters for generations. You'll be working with medium to medium-heavy spinning gear loaded with braided line – perfect for the structure-heavy environment where these fish live. Live bait is king here, with shrimp, croakers, and pogies being the go-to options depending on what's biting and what the tide is doing. When the fish are aggressive, you might switch to artificial lures like soft plastics, spoons, or topwater plugs that can cover more water quickly. The shallow nature of these inshore areas means you're sight-fishing a lot of the time, especially for redfish cruising the flats with their backs out of the water. Your guide will position the boat to take advantage of wind and current, keeping you in the strike zone while you work baits along grass lines, oyster bars, and channel edges. The technique changes throughout the day as the tide moves and fish relocate, but that's part of what makes inshore fishing so engaging – you're constantly adapting and learning.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing, and St. Bernard Parish is prime redfish country. These copper-colored bulldogs typically run 20 to 30 inches in these waters, with plenty of slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table. Redfish are year-round residents here, but they're most active during the warmer months when they're feeding heavily in preparation for their fall spawning runs. What makes them so exciting to catch is their aggressive strike and powerful fight – a good red will strip drag and test your skills in the shallow water where there's nowhere to hide. They're also excellent table fare, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or grilling.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of the inshore scene, and when you hook into a big drum, you know it immediately. These fish can range from keeper-sized 16-inchers up to massive 40-pound bruisers that will put your tackle to the test. They're bottom feeders with a preference for crabs and shrimp, so you'll often target them around oyster reefs and shell beds where their favorite food sources congregate. Spring and fall are prime times for drum fishing, when they move into shallow water to spawn. The fight is all about power and endurance – drums don't jump or make flashy runs, but they'll pull steady and hard, using their broad sides to leverage against the current.
Sea Trout, or speckled trout as locals call them, are the most abundant gamefish in these waters and absolutely fantastic on light tackle. They average 14 to 18 inches, with occasional 4-pound-plus "gator trout" that are the stuff of legends. Specks are most active during the cooler months, from October through March, when they school up in deeper holes and channels. They're also the most finicky of your target species, requiring subtle presentations and quality bait to consistently catch. But when you find a school of feeding trout, the action can be non-stop. They're exceptional eating fish with delicate, flaky meat that's perfect for fish tacos or a classic New Orleans-style preparation.
Summer Flounder round out your target list as the ultimate ambush predators of the inshore world. These flatfish bury themselves in sandy bottoms near structure, waiting to attack unsuspecting baitfish swimming overhead. They're most active during the summer months, as their name suggests, when water temperatures are at their peak. Flounder fishing requires patience and bottom-bouncing techniques, but the payoff is worth it – these fish are widely considered among the best eating in the Gulf. A good flounder will run 16 to 20 inches and provide several meals worth of premium white meat fillets.
This SaltyFrog Charters experience delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for – a no-nonsense, productive day on some of Louisiana's best inshore waters. With just 2 spots available per
Our 23-foot bay boat is built for serious inshore action in St. Bernard's productive waters. With a reliable trolling motor for silent approaches to redfish flats and structure where sea trout hold, you'll get into position without spooking the fish. The built-in live well keeps your bait lively while the fish finder helps locate schools and bottom structure where black drum and flounder hang out. An icebox keeps your drinks cold during the 7-hour trip and stores your cleaned fillets for the ride home. GPS navigation ensures we hit the best spots efficiently, while VHF radio keeps us connected for safety and fishing reports. The boat comfortably handles 2 anglers with plenty of casting room and storage for your gear. Perfect for working the marshes, oyster beds, and shallow flats where Louisiana's best inshore species feed.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, ranging from 5-30 pounds with some bruisers hitting 90+. These dark-colored fighters love oyster beds and muddy flats in 1-10 feet of water. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - makes them much easier to find. What guests love most is the steady, bulldogging fight they put up. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare with firm, white meat. Pro tip: use fresh crab on a circle hook and keep it right on the bottom. These fish won't come up to chase bait, so you've got to get down to their level in the structure.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the crown jewel of Louisiana inshore fishing. These copper-colored fighters with distinctive black spots near their tail typically run 18-30 inches in our shallow waters. You'll find them cruising oyster reefs, grass flats, and marsh edges in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs show above the surface. They bite year-round but fall and spring offer the best action. Guests love their powerful runs and the visual excitement of sight fishing in skinny water. Plus, they're outstanding table fare with mild, firm meat. The trick is staying quiet and making long casts with topwater plugs or soft plastics. Watch for their tails when they're feeding head-down - that's easy money.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful silver fish covered in dark spots. Most run 14-24 inches and put up a scrappy fight with lots of head shakes. They love grass flats and shallow water, especially early morning and late evening. Spring and fall are peak seasons, but night fishing in summer can be fantastic. What makes them special is their delicate, sweet meat - just don't overcook it or it gets mushy. They're also one of the most willing biters we target. My go-to technique is working a soft plastic shrimp or topwater plug over grass beds at dawn. Listen for them "popping" bait on the surface - that's your cue to cast right into the action.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are the masters of disguise on our sandy bottoms. These flatfish typically run 15-20 inches and can change color to match whatever they're lying on. They're ambush predators that bury in sand and mud, waiting to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Fall months from September through November are your best bet when they're most active. Guests get a kick out of watching them "disappear" right before your eyes, plus they're some of the best eating fish we catch - sweet, flaky white meat. The key is using live minnows or mullet on circle hooks and keeping your bait moving just off the bottom. They bite sideways, so give them a second to turn the bait before setting the hook.
St Bernard, LA